KERKHOVEN — Participating in sports can take high school athletes everywhere from tennis and basketball courts to soccer fields.
This sport takes them on outdoor adventures, from scenic forest trails to rolling prairie hills.
“We get to go to some pretty nice places and see the countryside in that sense,” said Riley Bergsthaler, the team’s coach.
Students on the KMS Composite Mountain Bike Team talk about competitive mountain biking, a sport they have enjoyed for three years.
Macy Moore/West Central Tribune
“This is a really great sport,” said Justin Rosenbloom, a senior at Kerkhoven-Murdoch Zumburg High School and a three-year veteran of the team.
“Everybody’s rooting for everybody,” Rosenbloom said. He explained that during a race, athletes are competing against themselves to improve rather than trying to beat other riders.
“I get to meet a lot of friendly people and race with a lot of great people,” he said during a break during practice last week.
This year’s competition took these athletes to trails that weave through the heights of Spirit Mountain in Duluth and Detroit Mountain in Detroit Lakes, as well as rugged terrain near Austin and Shakopee. This weekend, the final game of the regular season, players will take on Mount Cato near Mankato.
Time on the trail is just one part of this outdoor experience. This team loves camping and gathering around the campfire at night, and families are part of the experience. The competition is his two-day event over the weekend, and the team prefers to find campsites for most of his five races that are part of the season.
They also choose their own locations to explore. Maplewood State Park near Pelican Rapids was the team’s choice for practice earlier this year. Some team members travel 40 to 50 miles a day to explore the wooded trails on weekends.
Macy Moore/West Central Tribune
“One of my words this year was adventure,” Coach Burgstaaler said. He was assisted by his two assistants, Terry Soin and Eric Peterson.
He also receives a lot of support from his parents. They will take on tasks such as reserving campgrounds and transporting equipment needed for the tournament.
Burgstahler said the sport is forming a community of friends. He especially likes the involvement of his family.
Macy Moore/West Central Tribune
The sport is offered through the Minnesota Bicycle Association. This is not a Minnesota High School League activity. The KMS Composite team is made up of his 10 participants, a mix of students from KMS and Willmar’s Christian School community, hence the title “Composite” in the name.
The statewide Minnesota Bicycle Association reports more than 2,600 student-athletes from more than 80 teams are participating. They come from over 125 of his schools. Most teams are sponsored by nonprofit organizations. What makes this team special is that it has the support of KMS schools.
Macy Moore/West Central Tribune
Burgstahler is an elementary school teacher at KMS. He said a few years ago Superintendent Martin Heidelberger asked him if he had heard of the Minnesota Bicycle Association and if he was interested in coaching a mountain bike team. “Maybe. I don’t know what that means, but I’ll look into it,” he replied cautiously.
Since then, Burgstaaler said he has been learning right along with his students. There’s a lot more to mountain biking than just pedaling. A variety of technical skills are required to control the bike and meet the challenges of the course.
Macy Moore/West Central Tribune
Burgstaler said his approach is to introduce students to the sport as an activity they can enjoy for a lifetime.
Practice began last July and the season continues until October. Some team members participate in high school sports such as cross country and football.
The team practices twice a week after school. They will gather at the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center on Tuesdays, and he will gather on the grounds of KMS High School on Thursdays.
Without a doubt, this is a sport that builds physical health and stamina. When asked what he loves most about the sport, team member Ben Strickland (junior) was quick to reply, “It’s all about the sport. It feels good. ” He quickly added, “It’s good to be part of the team.”
Macy Moore/West Central Tribune
Burgstaaler said mountain biking remains a male-dominated sport, but the Minnesota Bicycling Association and others are working to encourage more girls to participate.
The mountain bike contest is open to students in grades 6 and up. It’s a sport that students of all athletic abilities can enjoy, the coach added.
Macy Moore/West Central Tribune
The race is divided into divisions for junior high school students and above. Students can compete at the level they feel most comfortable with. The coach said the team is competing at the so-called JV2 level, which means the race will cover two laps, or about eight miles.
The Bicycle Association runs a free loan program that provides bicycles to participants. Koch said many people buy their own bikes. Most bicycles are purchased in the price range from $800 to $1,500. You can spend up to $3,000 or more on a bike. According to coaches, only athletes who truly aim for a “podium finish” are likely to invest such funds.
contributed
Burgstaaler said he hopes other schools in the area will help get the team started. The Alexandria and Hutchinson teams helped launch the KMS team. Bike stores have also been cooperative, Koch said, with many offering discounts to students.
The coach said he and others would like to see more trails developed in the area to help grow the sport. Two of his locations, Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center in Glenwood and Birdsness Park, have trails dedicated to mountain biking.
