By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
A local man is trying to gather youth for a mountain bike team based in Hays.
A national mountain bike league has opportunities to expand in western Kansas.
Keith Gustin, a mountain bike enthusiast, is serving as a league volunteer.
Gustin is seeking youth in sixth through 12th grades who are interested in competing, donors to support the team, volunteer coaches and assistance in building mountain bike trails in Ellis County.
The trails are a minimum of four miles of single track. It's usually a loop.
The National Interscholastic Cycling Association has teams in 32 states. This is the fifth season Kansas has had a competitive league, with 11 teams in the state.
The mission of the organization is to "Build strong minds, bodies, character and community through cycling."
The association conducted a bike race at Wilson Lake on April 6.
Other Kansas courses are in Manhattan, Topeka, Lawrence and Louisburg, which is south of Kansas City.
The season runs from April through May.
There is usually travel involved in the races. Most events are two days. Gustin said there are often camping opportunities for families hoping to save money on travel costs.
Gustin said he is researching race courses and practice locations for a potential team.
Gustin said parents often serve as coaches and ride with the youth during practice.
Most youth own their bikes. However, the league doesn't want ownership of a bike to be a barrier to participation, Gustin said.
Youth can ride entry-level bikes purchased from a bike shop, which typically cost between $400 and $600. A street bike from a big box store probably would not hold up to the rigors of the sport, he said.
The league has scholarships to help with expenses, Gustin said.
Safety equipment is also required.
The season starts in January with students learning basic bike safety skills before they hit the courses.
Mountain biking is an Olympic sport with a national team. Colleges around the country also have teams with some opportunities for scholarships, Gustin said.
Gustin's son is too young to compete yet, but Gustin and his family are passionate about cycling.
"It's a great activity. It's a good way to get outdoors. It's great exercise. The team, there's a community element to it," Gustin said.
He said he thought establishing trails in Ellis County could attract events to Hays and have a positive impact on economic development.
"You go camp out at the roundabouts, and you see a lot of people passing through on I-70, and a lot of them have bikes. Those are not cheap bikes," he said.
For more information, contact Keith Gustin at 785-259-9456.
You can also fill out an interest form at https://forms.gle/7tsFaMLxbz8L6AhE8