Biking is usually considered a recreational pastime, but a group of cyclists are changing this narrative at Watauga High School.
“It's incredibly competitive...All the races I've entered are incredibly competitive, there are hundreds of absolutely incredible riders and it's getting more and more competitive, especially as more people get into the sport,” says Micah Rushin, a bike racer and junior at Watauga High.
Biking is becoming more than a leisure activity, it is becoming a competitive, and at times dangerous, sport. Competitive cycling is a rapidly growing activity that has many different forms such as cross country biking, road biking, and downhill biking.
Micah, who races in cross country biking says, “Since the start of the pandemic bike sales have absolutely skyrocketed, and there’s like double the amount of people out on the trails as there were before covid.”
One of the biggest reasons that biking is growing in Boone is the popularization of the Rocky Knob bike park at the same time. Rocky Knob park has added three new jump trails, revitalized it’s beginner level trails and is currently working on building a new technical trail. There is an all time high number of riders at Rocky Knob this year, and it looks like that number is continuing to grow.
The pandemic ended sports for many people, so they had to find alternative ways to get outside. Biking was one of those outdoor activities. Biking is a relatively easy to learn, inclusive activity that has a wide range of skill levels and involves a lot of creativity and freedom.
When asked what aspects of biking make him enjoy riding, Noah Jamison, a sophomore at Watauga, said, “The freedom and creativity you can have with it.”
There are a lot of really interesting aspects to biking that make it attractive, it is a lot more than just riding down a hill. Biking can be a very expressive sport, and similarly to snowboarding and skiing, there are a lot of distinct ways to ride. There are loads of different tricks and an infinite amount of possibilities to be reached on a bike. There is always some new trick or track to master, meaning you always have something to strive for.
Micah says biking allows him to “get out in the woods and express myself in my own way on the bike.”
Despite all this, biking still remains pretty undervalued as a sport in comparison to giants like football. There is no official bike team at the high school level here in Watauga.
“I absolutely think it should be a sport at school. It's inclusive and it gets kids outside in nature, “ says Micah.
When asked why he thinks biking doesn't receive as much attention Micah says,“ The background, there's not as much money in it also its a much more select… football is a lot easier to understand and view and watch. It's an easy spectator sport, while mountain biking is one, harder to understand and appreciate, and two, not really a spectator sport.”
Biking may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the people who do get into it have an inspiring passion for the sport. It’s a sport that can be fun and enjoyable as well as intense, and it gets kids outside and in nature.
“ Competitive biking is definitely a niche, you like it or you hate it. It’s been a great outlet during COVID, to compete and to meet new people and get outside. For the non competitive aspect it's a great way to get out and enjoy the woods and be a part of a community and have fun,” Micah says.
Written by: Nathan Bishop
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