John Wilson

OBRA, this email has just gone out to all the Oregon High School Athletic
Directors. If you have a moment, care about the future of Cyclocross, have
or know kids who are racing, then please take a look, and find some
motivation to help this cause move forward.

I challenge every OBRA team to ADOPT a High School CX team this year. I
encourage parents of HS age bike racers to get involved. It won't happen
without your support.

My Team, Willamette Valley Cycling Team (WVCT) sponsored by Pacific Power
purchased 5 brand new CX bikes last year for Juniors to race on.
Additionally we provided coaching, training, and mentoring. We adopted the
Corvallis United High School CX team. It was a great relationship between
our WVCT race team and High School CX team. This year we plan on buying some
more bikes. High School kids joined the OBRA WVCT team and then got further
discounts through our sponsor relationships. Several have moved on to Road
Racing this year. It takes a village to raise new bike racers. This is a
great way to do it. I challenge you OBRA race teams!

Spread the word! There are about 6 weeks of school left to help kids know
about this to set the hook for summer team organization, and training
(August time frame). Read below, check out the attachments that are hosted
by the OBRA web page (Thanks Cheryl Willson). Make sure to boink on the
hyperlinks in the PDF for Athletic Directors. A great article from the Bend
Bulletin.

Thanks OBRA!

Begin Email:

In 2010 Oregon became the first state in the country to form a High School
Cyclocross league. In partnership with the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association
11 High School teams were formed for the fledgling year. Most teams were
composite (made up of multiple HS within a region). It was a great start.
Where will it go? I want to tell you more about it.

California, Washington, Colorado, Texas, and Minnesota all have formed High
School Mt Bike leagues as part of the National Interscholastic Cycling
Association (NICA founded in 2001). But only Oregon has tried Cyclocross. So
far. Key point: Cycling and High School is not new, and is progressing.

Cyclocross is the fastest growing form of bicycle racing in the world today.
The Pacific Northwest boasts the most successful amateur Cyclocross racing
in the country, perhaps the world. OBRA is a recognized national leader in
organized bicycle racing offering more races per year than any other state.
More than California that has 10x the population. Oregon also leads the
country in bike racers per capita. The demographics are dominated by adults
of all ages. Cyclocross is a healthy recreational sport/activity and many
participate into their 60's and 70's.

For the first time in the history of professional Cyclocross the World
Championship race will be held in the United States: 2013 in Louisville
Kentucky (the first World Championships was held in 1950, Paris France).
Awarding this race is in recognition of the sport's popularity & growth in
the USA.

Cyclocross is a fun and fantastic sport. I want to help introduce this great
sport to our younger population and get more kids involved. It was that
motivation that inspired me to start the Oregon Junior Cyclocross Series in
2009, and the Oregon High School Series in 2010.

In only its second year, 2010, the Oregon Junior & High School Cyclocross
Series had the highest participation attendance per race in the country
averaging 86 Junior racers per event in the 5 race HS series*

Cyclocross is well suited for a High School sports program, boys and girls.
We have a good start. Let me tell you more...

John Wilson
Director of the Oregon Junior & High School Cyclocross Series

Please check out the following information and don't hesitate to contact me
if you have any questions. All my contact information is at the end of the
first PDF link below.

Info for High School Athletic Directors:
http://www.obra.org/junior_cyclocross_series/pdfs/hs_athletic_directors_2011
.pdf

Poster/Flyer for 2011:
http://www.obra.org/junior_cyclocross_series/pdfs/hs_poster_2011.pdf

Junior Cyclocross Web Page Hosted by OBRA:
http://www.obra.org/junior_cyclocross_series/

The Oregon Bicycle Racing Association Web Page:
http://obra.org/