Summer Shred brings community together for a day of biking and fun

LEAVENWORTH — “Summer Shred,” a day of bike racing kids of all ages presented by Mountain Sprouts preschool at Leavenworth’s mountain biking hub, Ski Hill, was held on July 21 to benefit the Mountain Sprouts Scholarship Program. Title sponsor Arlberg Sports provided an on-site mechanic and other volunteers for the event, which saw over one hundred participants and raised $5,000 for the scholarship program.

The festivities kicked off with a course preview and skills practice to set the stage for a day of competitive spirit and community camaraderie. Then the youngest riders took center stage in the “Strider Shredders” ride for children of any age straddling strider bikes. Shortly after, the “Pedal Shredders,” consisting of kids five years and under on pedal bikes, navigated two short laps on a gentle course.

The excitement continued with the “Mini Shredders” event, during which riders aged five to eight tackled a .25-mile loop with a modest climb and descent. For those seeking more of a challenge, an extension added an additional .75-mile loop, making it a full mile ride. The “Squarely School Age Shredders” took to the pedals next, racing a 1.0-mile loop with varying terrain, followed by the “Rebel Shredders” who faced a 1.5-mile course designed to test their climbing and descending skills. The fixtures culminated with a teen costume relay race. 

After the contests, the event transitioned into a lively afternoon of post-race festivities. Kids played and rode around while parents enjoyed a bustling beer garden with brews from Icicle and Blewett breweries. Bavarian Bagel Co., La Javelina, and Kauai Girls Shave Ice supplied the food, while Seth Garrido and Sergio Cuevas played music throughout the afternoon, followed by The Welter Brothers.

It was a day filled with a spirit of inclusivity and enthusiasm for mountain biking across all ages as members of Icicle Bicycle Club, the local middle and high school racing team, and an array of other mountain bike advocates, participated and volunteered. The day’s contagion of exuberance may have been best expressed by Mountain Sprouts’ Director, Hannah Pick: “The first annual Mountain Sprouts Summer Shred at Ski Hill was incredible! We plan to host this event annually, and we are thrilled by the amount of community support we received in our inaugural year.”

Caroline Menna is an intern for Ward Media and a rising senior (Class of 2025) at Cascade High School. She will serve as Editor-in-Chief of the Cascade High School Publications Group for the 2024-2025 academic year.