BIKE EVENT at FORT FLAGLER

This is an article from the Port Townsend LEADER

'Killer Whales' host high school bike race March 25 at Fort Flagler Olympic Mountain Bike Team is part of Washington High School Cycling League

Members of the Olympic Mountain Bike Team start a practice ride. The team’s first-ever match is at a Washington High School Cycling League event on Sunday, March 25 at Fort Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island. Photo by Lowell Jons Help out race day at Fort Flagler Volunteers are also welcomed at Fort Flagler State Park the morning of Sunday, March 25 to help set up the course, Doug Ross said. Contact Ross at 821-1802 or dougross@olympus.net. There are six potential races on March 25, depending on the number of young riders. Action starts with girls’ varsity (19 miles) at 10 a.m. Varsity boys (24 miles) start at 11:40 p.m. Racing continues until midafternoon, followed by an awards ceremony. The Fort Flagler course is described as a 4.75-mile combination fast doubletrack and wooded single track. The venue, along a high bluff overlooking Puget Sound with mountain views, includes many spectator-friendly posts. A pre-race ride is recommended; the course is open 1-5 p.m., Saturday, March 24, and 8-9:30 a.m., March 25. A Discover Pass is needed to park your vehicle at this Washington state park. By Patrick J. Sullivan of the Leader The “Killer Whales” Olympic Mountain Bike team starts competition by hosting a race on Sunday, March 25 at Fort Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island. “We’re hoping to get locals to come out to the race, especially eighth-graders who may be interested in racing next year,” said Doug Ross, team director. There are 12 team members, ages 14-16. The group meets 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and 1-3 p.m. on Sundays at Blue Heron Middle School, then it’s off to the trails. Any high-school-age participant is welcome. The girls’ team has three ninth-graders, and for the boys, a junior, two sophomores and six freshmen. Racers represent Port Townsend and Chimacum high schools, Jefferson Community School, the Chimacum Pi program, with two racers being home-schooled. Seven coaches, all volunteers, provide skills, from trail technique to biking etiquette. The staff includes current racers and several teachers, writers and business owners. Training takes place on local trails, such as Cappy’s, Larry Scott, and Fort Worden and Fort Flagler state parks. “We are fortunate to have such a great mix of trails right in our own backyard,” Ross said. “As we have been out on the trails interacting with the walkers, hikers, other riders, we’ve had great feedback from the locals happy to see our local youth getting exercise on our local trails.” Ross, a Port Townsend resident for seven years, started the team because his ninth-grade daughter wanted to participate. He has been “overwhelmed” by how quickly supporters turned out, including volunteer coaches Garth Gourley, Christian Young, Lowell Jons, Deb Romaine, Elizabeth Salvo, Bob Larson, Mitch Brennan and Paul Hershberger. “We teach a lot of safety, but also good trail etiquette,” Ross said, which includes dealing with pedestrians, dogs and equestrians. “We don’t want these kids to be known as ‘those kids’ on the local trails.”