Here is a quick look at Devo’s options for middle schoolers:
Devo U14 Girls team coached by Annie Cheeney and Sage Wilderman: This is an all girls team for middle school girls who like to ride with their friends! Fun and skill developement is the main focus for this practice. The season is split into Spring, Summer and/or Fall to make it easy for kids to fit it into their schedule. Rides are Monday and Wednesday from 4-6 during school and 8-10 am during the summer. Racing and competition is introduced but is not mandatory. Our goal, as always is to create life long cyclists in a team environment. Sometimes this group will ride with the boys U14 to really create that team feeling!
Devo U14 Boys team coaches by Mint and Lukas: This is an all boys team for middle school boys who like to ride with their friends! Fun and skill developement is the main focus for this practice. The season is split into Spring, Summer and/or Fall to make it easy for kids to fit it into their schedule. Rides are Monday and Wednesday from 4-6 during school and 8-10 am during the summer. Racing and competition is introduced but is not mandatory. Our goal, as always is to create life long cyclists in a team environment. Sometimes this group will ride with the girls U14 to really create that team feeling!
Devo Explorers coached by John Bailey and Russell from the Cyclery: This is for middle schoolers and high schoolers who want to explore on their bike. This co-ed group focuses on the bike being used as a tool for adventure, exploring, and commuting. An example of a practice would be to ride on a trail to explore a cave or swimming hole. This group ends with a self supported trip leaving from Durango with panniers to camp together. Bike maintenance is taught and the group is currently building up 8 Explorer bikes to be used by the club. The season is split into Spring, Summer and/or Fall to make it easy for kids to fit it into their schedule. Rides are Tuesdays from 4-6 during school and 8-10 am during the summer.
Devo Flyers coached by Dusty Bender, Ron Thompson and Cliff from Pedal the Peaks: This is a gravity/freeride group for middle schoolers and high schoolers. These 3 very experienced coaches focus on downhill skills such as jumping, descending, and drops. Each coach (as with all our coaches) has the kids’ safety as priority, but with this group comes an inherent risk greater than the other groups. Flyers has grown into a part of our program that has gained quite a bit of recognition for some incredible bike handling break throughs by the athletes in the program. Currently, this is a summer only program meeting on Thursdays from 8-10 am. The group does a weekend trip to Angel Fire or Telluride.
Question?
Can my son or daughter do more than one? Yes, the days are situated so that a kid can explore all 3 if they want.
Do the groups ever come together? Yes, Top Secret is our pre-season camp out/training weekend with all Devo groups (except Devo Jr). At races we travel and stay together.
Can I move my 5th grader up to U14 or my 8th grader up to U19? Coaches make those recommendations to me based upon our mission and training philosophy. If a coach makes a recommendation, all coaches come together to discuss the possibility, implications, etc. and come up with a plan that works for that athlete.
Can I meet with coaches? Yes, on March 27th at the Rec Center for 6-7 pm, you’ll get a chance to meet the coaches. But they are also all available via email or phone.
Devo Jr fills up, do these groups fill up as well? Yes, they do. We limit the size of the groups for safety and quality reasons
Can my son or daughter switch from one to the other? Yes, once you are a Devo athlete, we can easily switch you from U14 to Flyers or Explorer’s (or vise versa!)
How do I register? Registration opens March 1st via our website www.durangodevo.com
Still have questions? Contact Sarah Tescher (Director) at sarah@durangodevo.com/ (970)779-8480 or Chad Cheeney (Team Manager) at chad@durangodevo.com or (970)764-5909
Where do I get equipment? U14 and Flyers groups can go to 2nd Avenue for a Devo discount, Explorer’s to Cyclery. Also May 19th is the Devo Bike Swap at Chapman. Please remember that discounts by shops are for athetes only…sorry parents!
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