11 teams strong, the Oregon Scholastic MTB League is ready for first race season

Just some of the teams (Portland riders are on the bottom left) that have sprung up across Oregon to take part in the inaugural season.
(Photos: Oregon MTB League)

Just five weeks from now the first-ever officially-sanctioned Oregon scholastic mountain bike race will take place.

The Newport Gnarnia on September 9th will be first in a four-race series organized by the Oregon Interscholastic Cycling League. Other races are set for Mt. Hood (9/23), Stub Stewart State Park (10/14), and Bend (11/4). A chapter of the National Interscholastic Cycling Assocation, the Oregon League got its start eight months ago and enthusiasm for the idea has spread statewide. There are now 11 teams ready to compete in the inaugural season.

“Seeing photos of teams out riding together is pretty surreal,” League Director Heather Wolfgang shared with us via email yesterday. “I have gratitude for all the people that helped and are helping make this dream a reality, especially the coaches.”

Around 60 volunteer coaches have stepped up in communities across Oregon and there are about 100 student-athletes signed-up so far. Racers are signed up onto composite teams based in cities or regions. Eventually there might be enough participation to have individual schools competing against each other.

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“This really isn’t about racing… it’s about bringing youth and their families together to spend time outside in nature.”
— Heather Wolfgang, Oregon League director

Here’s the list of teams:

Bend Composite
Camas Freedom Riders Composite
Corvallis Composite
Eugene Composite
Klamath Falls Composite
Newport Composite
Portland Metro Composite
Rogue Composite
Salem Composite
Tualatin Valley Composite
Umpqua Valley Composite

Asked what her hope is for this first season, Wolfgang said, “That people realize that this really isn’t about racing, but that it’s about bringing youth and their families together to spend time outside in nature. Our RACE (Really Awesome Challenging Event) weekends are going to be so much fun, both for new and experienced riders.”

There’s still time to form or join a team. Check out the League’s website for more information. You can also stay connected via @oregonmtb on Instagram.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

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