2016 Summer Camp Registration to open April 11th at 7pm

Devo Summer Camps 2016
Registration Opens April 11, 2016 at 1900 Hours/7:00pm!

Durango Devo’s success in the Durango community is proven in both our results and the local kids’ smiles.  Devo wants to continue to create this love of cycling by providing summer all-day camps for Durango kids who just want more, as well as, for out-of-town families who want their kids to experience the Devo magic of teaching mountain biking.

Devo will offer different camps this Summer!

  1. Devo Cycling Science Camps
  2. Devo Purgatory Bike Camps
  3. Devo Polo Camp
  4. Devo U-14 Summer Program
  5. Devo Preschool Camp

The Durango Cycling Science Camp, combining mountain bike exploration in the mornings, and bike-related hands-on science in the afternoon at the Powerhouse Museum.

The Purgatory camps incorporate trail building, exploring the numerous high country trails on bikes, decending the flow trail at Purgatory, lift service riding, creative bike activities, and more!

When your ready, click the camp you want to register for and you will be directed to the registration page then click register now, upper right.

Preschool Summer Camp

June 20-23, 9:00-10:30am (4-5 year olds) $90 
This camp is designed for Preschoolers to get 4 days of riding in a row. You will see your little cyclist take strides in their riding throughout the week and and see big smiles riding with their peers. Must be riding a bike with pedals. No Strider bikes please.

Devo  Cyclin’ Science  Summer Camps: 

Devo/cycling science Camp #1 June 27-July 1, 9am-3pm (8-10 year olds) $250
Devo/cycling science Camp #2 July 11-15, 9am-3pm (10-12 year olds) $250

Like biking? Like science? We have found your dream camp! Week-long camp combining mountain bike exploration in the mornings, and bike-related hands-on science at the Power House each afternoon! In this lab portion, explore topics including anatomy and physiology of biking, nutrition, bike engineering and simple machines, physics of biking, and more. One thing’s for sure: your kids will sleep well after each day of this camp! Register with Devo at www.durangodevo.com. Registration for this opens April 11 at 7:00pm. Participants must have a helmet, a bike with hand-brakes, and some experience on a bike. Scholarships are available through the Powerhouse. Please get form here.

Purgatory Mountain Camps:

Devo/Purgatory Bike Camp #1 July 18-22 9am-3pm (7-14 year olds) $350
Devo/Purgatory Bike Camp #2 July 25-29 9am-3pm (7-14 year olds) $350
Devo/Purgatory Bike Camp #3 August 8-12 9am-3pm (7-14 year olds) $350
Devo/Purgatory Bike Camp #4 August 15-19 9am-3pm (7-14 year olds) $350

 

Description:

The Devo camp will be held at Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort in one week segments Beginning in late July.  The camp is for ages 7 -14 year olds. Kids must have their own bike and helmet (Devo does have some loaners). The camp runs from 9-3pm with transportation in the Devo vans from the transit center in downtown Durango (bikes loaded on Devo racks). Pick up 8:30 at Transit Center and 8:45 at Hermosa. Drop Off at 3:30 at Hermosa and 3:45 at Transit Center.

Coaches: Devo coaches will lead rides and serve as your kid’s camp counselor all day. Groups: Kids will be placed in groups based upon ability (beg/int/adv) Typical Day: 8:30 am meet in town for bus transport to Purgatory 9 am Groups meet and drop off lunches 9:15 Talk about the day events 9:30 Skill Sesh in base area (film kids to show later) 10:30 Snack 10:45 Ride chair 4 to access more trails 12 lunch together at base area 1 Bike Maintenance seminar 2:30 Show skills video 3:00 Bus returns back to Durango Other camp activities include; special guest appearances, gravity skill sesh, bike fit, trail building, family ride for int/ advanced with shuttle support on the classic five star Hermosa Trail. Reg fee includes: 5:1 coaching both in the Purgatory Bike Park and on the mountain utilizing the chairlift (camp 9-3, pick up 8:30 in town and 8:45 in Hermosa and drop off at 3:30 at Hermosa and 3:45 in town, Devo coaches will be on the buses with the kids) One week of lift access, free transport to and from downtown to Purgatory (bike transport as well) Not included: lunch, snack, equipment (bike, helmet, camelback, etc.)

Typical Day:

  • 8:15  am meet in town for bike loading and bus transport to Purgatory;
  • 9:15 Drop Lunches group meeting to talk about the day events ;
  • 9:30 Skill Sesh in base area (film kids to show later);
  • 10:30 Snack;
  • 10:45 Ride chair 4 to access more trails;
  • HIGH NOON! lunch together at base area;
  • 1:00 Bike Maintenance seminar;
  • 2:30 Show skills video;
  • 3:00 Bus returns back to Durango ;

Other camp activities include; special guest appearances, gravity skill sesh, bike fit, trail building, family ride for int/ advanced with shuttle support on the classic five star Hermosa Trail.

Reg fee includes: 5:1 coaching both in the Purgatory Bike Park and on the mountain utilizing the chairlift (camp 9-3, pick up 8:30 in town and 8:45 in Hermosa and drop off at 3:30 at Hermosa and 3:45 in town, Devo coaches will be on the buses with the kids) One week of lift access Free transport to and from downtown to Purgatory (bike transport as well) Not included: lunch, snack, equipment (bike, helmet, camelback, etc.)

Devo Polo Camp

Devo Polo Camp (10–18 years) June 6-9, 10:30am-2pm $100

Bike Polo camp is for ages 10-18 to explore the sport of Bike Polo.  Practices will include learning rules of the game, tactics, bike handing and ball handling drills, live games and building a mallot and will be coached by Alex Howard with special guests. You do not have to be a current Devo rider to participate.  All levels welcome!  Practices are at Buckley.
Limit to 16 campers (4 teams of 4).

DEVO U14 Summer Program

Monday-Friday, June 11-July 1 with a trip to Crested Butte for a bike festival June 24th-26th.
Ages: Current Middle Schoolers (6th, 7th and 8th grade)
Costs: $450 (does not include food, race fees or camping costs).

Description: DEVO U14 is for middle school age kids interested in continuing to build skills and begin to pursue racing:  Racing is not mandatory.  Promoting the sport in a fun environment and learning skills is still the overall goal of U14, but some specific training is involved. The summer season will be a 3 week “training camp” which will have one travel fun trip to Crested Butte for the Crested Butte Bike Week.  The group will be co-ed and limited to 13 riders.  Head coaches Tina and Lee will lead these groups with help from other Devo coaches.  Each day will focus on a skill and a trail.  We will incorporate polo, bike maintenance, short tracks, time trails, and lots of skills!

 

Volunteer for the DEVO Bike Swap!

We’re using VolunteerSpot (the leading online Sign-up and reminder tool) to organize the DEVO Swap volunteers.  Find the sign ups here.

Here’s how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our Sign-up on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/pdmzbz
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It’s Easy – you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on VolunteerSpot.

Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone.

DEVO Bike Swap April 30th!

The annual Durango DEVO Bike Swap will be April 30th 2016 at the Chapman Hill Rink!

20% of your sale goes to Durango DEVO!

The scoop:

April 29th Drop-off 3-8pm
April 30th Swap 8:00 am-6:00 pm
May 1st Pick-up 9:00 am-12:00pm

If you have bikes you would like to donate to Devo, e-mail Jamie, (jamie@durangodevo.com) and we will come pick them up any time between now and the swap.

All proceeds from your donations go to Durango Devo!

This is a good way to clean out your garage and give back to Devo. We are always in need kids bikes at the swap.

Raffle tickets will be available to buy for 2 new TREK Bikes!

More details to come!

 

Fat Biking

IMG_0342

View from a section of the Silverton Whiteout Course.

Get ready for the 2nd Annual Silverton Whiteout February 6, 2016. Fat bike family fun! See more information here.  If you’ve never ridden a fat bike, you can rent one at the Durango Cyclery. Partial rental price goes to DEVO!

 

Donate to DEVO!

IMG_09321In 2015, DEVO managed to inspire, coach, and teach an upwards of 900 youth within it’s 10 programs it offers throughout the year.  Offered to youth 2 years through 19 years, DEVO is one of the largest cycling programs in the nation and has developed national champions, and world-class cyclists.   A breakdown of the rider groups for the 2015 season include:

Total DEVO Junior Riders: 548

Upper Level DEVO Riders
Explorers: 49

Flyers: 26
U14: 52
High School: 32

    Summer Camps: ~200
Coaches – DEVO Junior:  53
Coaches – Upper Level:  21
Total Number of Durango DEVO Riders 907 (record setting year!)

 

Established in 2006, Durango Junior Development Mountain Bike Team (DEVO) is a Colorado 501©3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to develop each individual in a team setting into life long cyclists. DEVO strives to create healthy kids having fun in a team camaraderie environment, and be a part of giving back to the Durango community.

DEVO has grown tremendously in the past 9 ½ years, and without the communities financial support it would not be where it is today as one of the largest—if not the largest—and most successful youth development cycling program in the nation. DEVO thanks you for the past support and is hoping that you will consider donating today through our website. We value the community collaboration and the relationship that we have been able to build.





You can also donate and send a check to:
Durango DEVO
10 Town Plaza #110
Durango, CO 81301
Thanks for your support!

Snowdown Has Cycling Events!

Cyclists, make sure to check out wednesday’s roller races at the Steaming Bean! 530pm is when they begin and signups start today at noon. Be there, as its a legendary Snowdown event that has been running for like 20 years!Also check out Superbowl Sundays Devo gravity event at Chapman Hill. Yep on the snow is right!

Chapman Snowdown Throwdown! Sunday, Feb 2nd.

The main event will be a dual slalom, where racers will compete head to head in a double elimination bracket! Depending on snow conditions, A long jump competition will be held for participants to see just how far a bike can go on the snow. Lastly, a mini-slopestyle course will be built for a small competition of tricks and style. Course set-up at 9:00AM, and practice @ 10:00AM!

 

 

Sad sendoff for DEVO mainstays

Co-founder Chad Cheeney and wife bound for Bend, Ore.

By John Peel Herald staff writer

Article Last Updated: Thursday, January 23, 2014 11:50pm

DEVO coach Chad Cheeney gathers a group of friends for a bicycle ride to Ska Brewing Co. on Thursday evening for a goodbye party. Cheeney and his wife, Annie, are headed to Bend, Ore., where Annie will study counseling.Enlarge photo

JENNAYE DERGE/Durango Herald

DEVO coach Chad Cheeney gathers a group of friends for a bicycle ride to Ska Brewing Co. on Thursday evening for a goodbye party. Cheeney and his wife, Annie, are headed to Bend, Ore., where Annie will study counseling.

For nearly the last decade, Chad Cheeney has arguably been the heart of what has become an impressive Durango success story.

So reaction to the news that he and his wife, Annie, are leaving the area has understandably been one of sadness.

Along with co-founder Sarah Tescher, Cheeney has nursed DEVO – a junior development cycling organization – from a humble beginning to a program that now has 40-plus coaches and 700 registrants a year. Chad and Annie are heading for Bend, Ore., where he will seek coaching and other opportunities, and Annie, also a DEVO mainstay as coach and former director, will pursue a master’s degree in counseling.

Tescher recalled this week her reaction to the news during a lunch with Cheeney.

“What are you talking about?” she said to him. “We just made it over the hump (as a stable nonprofit); 2014 is the year we’re going to thrive.”

The community gave the Cheeneys a heartfelt going away party Thursday night at Ska Brewing Co. Characteristically, the party began with a fun group bike ride from the Durango Community Recreation Center along the Animas River Trail to Ska.

Fortunately for Cheeney fans, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel. The couple plan to return to Durango in three years after Annie Cheeney completes her master’s program though Oregon State University.

“I can’t wait to come back,” Chad Cheeney said. “It’s definitely a little paradise here.”

Nearly 30 coaches, youth cyclists and former cyclists gathered at the rec center Thursday at dusk. Quickly, a game of bike balancing broke out, which matched the No. 1 lesson Chad Cheeney has always tried to instill: Cycling is fun.

“He brings a lot of enthusiasm to cycling,” said Lucas LeMaire, a DEVO coach since 2009. “He just loves cycling so much. … Kids love him so much because he’s so good around kids.”

Chad Cheeney moved here in 1998 to attend Fort Lewis College. In the last 15 years, the fun-loving Cheeney has become a pillar of the Durango cycling scene. He has coached with DEVO, Fort Lewis College, Durango Mountain Bike Camp and Durango Parks and Recreation. He has raced. He has worked as an announcer. He has built trails with Trails 2000. Annie Cheeney was also a coach since DEVO’s inception.

He wants to assure locals that DEVO is in good hands. After years of toil and sweat, he’s certain a good team of instructors is ready to fill his shoes.

“I don’t feel nervous or scared that I’m losing my baby,” he said. “I feel totally confident DEVO will go on being what it is.”

The program has been around long enough – about eight years – that former “middle school rugrats” are now college-aged DEVO coaches. “And it’s cool to see,” Chad Cheeney said.

Tescher said she and Cheeney never envisioned the program’s success and its breadth – it now works with ages 2 to 25 from push-bike to race teams.

“The coaches and the people with DEVO are so passionate,” she said. “They just kind of fed on Chad’s passion.”

Nathan Cavalca, a sophomore from Brazil, races for the FLC team and joined the ride to Ska to salute his departing coach. He said Chad Cheeney is full of knowledge to help riders improve skills and race performance. But the lighter side comes through.

“He always tries to make riding and training fun,” Cavalca said. “What matters is having fun. The rest will come eventually.”

DEVO recently hired Amy Haggart as its executive director, leaving Tescher available to do more work with coaches and to coach. Tescher said that Cheeney will continue as a DEVO board member: “We’ll be Skyping him into meetings.”

Chad Cheeney, a Bend native, said that it’s similar to Durango as far as outdoors opportunities, although he did give a nod to Durango for having more technical trails. While he doesn’t have an exact plan for his next three years, he knows he wants to broaden his coaching skills by working with coaches there and experiencing other techniques.

The Cheeneys plan to leave Durango on Jan. 31. They give every indication they’ll return.

“Three years and counting,” Cheeney said.