On October 3th, SBMTV hosted this year’s National Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day on the mesa top trails of Elings Park. With expansive 360 degree views of the ocean, city, and mountains, matched with a warm temperature and breeze, the day could not have been finer. SBMTV volunteers Damon Eckert, Kat Post, Jed Hirsh, and the Hernings, along with Bici Centro volunteer Ed France, set up the sign-in booth and mechanic stop just as the first participants arrived with parents in tow.

Six families were present before the start of the first group ride.

The day started out with an interpretive talk with a local raptor volunteer and the incredible red tailed hawk she brought along. Afterwords, Jed led the group of kids and parents across the mesa. The group rode the upper Elings cross-country loop. Between the trail ride and the snacks donated by the International Mountain Biking Association, there was some time to sit down and talk bikes, or go for additional trail loops with excited five and six year olds.It was a great day for us “old-timers” to get to know the future of mountain biking in Santa Barbara. And the future looks bright, friends. Indeed! Chris Orr for SBMTV