- The Inter-Mountain photos by Brooke Hinzman
Camp members ages 14 to 18 participated in skill-strengthening activities on the campus of Davis & Elkins College.
- Campers practiced their skills in an obstacle-jumping exercise in order to condition themselves for racing.
The Inter-Mountain photos by Brooke Hinzman
Camp members ages 14 to 18 participated in skill-strengthening activities on the campus of Davis & Elkins College.
ELKINS — Davis & Elkins College recently served as the home for the USA Cycling East Coast Mountain Bike Talent ID Camp.
“Davis & Elkins College has one of the busiest summers on record, hosting Summer School, Upward Bound, American Legion Auxiliary Rhododendron Girls State, Augusta and the Boy Scouts of Belgium,” Scott Goddard, vice president for student affairs at D&E, said.
“This week we welcome some of the top male and female mountain bike riders in the country, all between the ages of 13 and 19.
USA Cycling East Coast Mountain Bike Talent ID Camp Director Kristin Dieffenbach and her team of coaches have put together a great week for this group. From trail riding to nutrition, they have all of the bases covered,” Goddard said.
The camp attracts some of the top teenagers in mountain biking from across the country.
Campers practiced their skills in an obstacle-jumping exercise in order to condition themselves for racing.
“This is part of the USA Cycling Camp Series. All of the kids are at a pretty good level, and they’re all trying to get to the next level and race a little harder. We spend the week doing skills work,” said Dieffenbach, Ph.D., CMPC.
Throughout the week, campers spent their time biking and practicing new skills in addition to learning about proper nutrition and sports psychology. During their time in the area, campers practiced racing at Snowshoe Mountain Resort and Big Bear in Maryland.
“They get a lot or riding in, and a lot of these kids are going to be racing nationals in a few weeks,” said Dieffenbach.
The D&E-hosted camp is one of three mountain bike-centric USA Cycling Talent ID Camps that took place simultaneously over the course of the week, the other two being in Colorado and Washington State.
“Sometimes we take it for granted that our area is truly a hotspot for outdoor recreation. The terrain and beauty of the area lured the USA Cycling Camp to Davis & Elkins College and the Elkins area,” said Goddard.
