The below article was published in the Ontario Cycling Association's
CYCLE ONTARIO - Autumn 2007
The Ontario Cycling Association is a volunteer association supported by professional staff.
Planting a “Seed” in Mountain Biking
By Jenny Brown, B. PhEd.
Niagara’s largest women’s cycling team called “The Bikefit Sunflower Squad” is planting sunflowers and starting with the seed. The female youth cycling division is called the “Seeds”.
Like the successful adult division, girls need to have a mentoring and fun atmosphere where they can learn the skills, have their confidence boosted, develop their fitness, and enter into competition.
This grassroots program has been running for four years and has an excellent retention rate (approximately 85%). The program is focused on creating long term participation in cycling. The coaches encourage the youth to enter into races starting locally with our 2 Niagara events. Out of 17 youth, we are proud to have 4 Ontario Cup racers who have tried out Ontario Cups and plan on becoming licensed next year in the pee-wee and minime divisions.
We have a weekly practice session which is provided by 2-3 NCCP cycling coaches and parent volunteers. In addition, the majority of the seed’s team participates in local training races, sunflower rides, and social events.
The seeds team is active on a community level. We have a partnership with the St. Catharine’s-Thorold division of the Big Brother, Big Sister agency. We fundraised as well as obtaining funding that provided high quality bicycles and equipment from Bikefit, to increase participation thereby reducing barriers. Big and little sisters join the Seeds rides to have a fabulous experience with both learning the sport.
“The seeds are hardy, strong, and developing a strong root in the sport” according to head coach and founder, Jenny Brown as she shares her extensive cycling career with the seeds.
For more information on the seeds program, please contact Coach Jenny at www.reactivated.ca or 905-988-8852.
123 Geneva Street, St. Catharines 905-688-4387
© 2008, BIKEFIT SUNFLOWER SQUAD, All rights reserved
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