On October 6th, 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 and Becca Sampson, 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.

Rolling in first, were two pink twenty-inch wheeled mountain bikes with helmets to match. The daughters of Don Lubach displayed enthusiasm and skill beyond their years. Almost immediately, other kids started arriving and signing up for a chance to win a Schwinn mountain bike from the International Mountain Biking Association. At least eight families were present before the start of the first group ride.

After a short introductory talk on SBMTV, trail etiquette, and the use of bike bells, Jed led the first group of kids and parents across the mesa. The first interpretive stop was at Vanyo Point where Patti and her son passed out kid-sized binoculars and described the types of birds that could be seen around the Elings area. As fortune would have it, the group spotted a hawk perched on a light above the Elings soccer fields.

As the first group of kids passed by the sign-up tent to head toward the upper Elings trail loop, the second group of kids where having their introductory talk. Bici Centro, the local bicycle repair co-op, recruited several kids from Casa de la Raza for their very first mountain bike ride. Bici’s Erika Lindemann led the kids through the challenge of flat tires and steep grades, from Milpas Street to the top of Elings Park -- no small feat for first time riders who, although winded, remained smiling and excited. Many of these kids had never been to Elings Park, much less on a mountain bike.

At the second interpretive stop along the trail, both groups visited with Aaron Laplant, a local hang glider and colorful story-teller. Aaron had kids, parents and volunteers alike enthralled and laughing with accounts of his harrowing hang gliding adventures.

Both groups also rode the upper Elings cross-country loop, with Ron’s sons leading the first group, and the Bici Centros of the second group closely chasing Chris Orr through the corners. Between the trail ride and the arrival of a graciously donated and delicious Santa Barbara Chicken Ranch lunch, there was some time to sit down and talk bikes, or play on the wooden race start ramp. For a pair of young girls on pink bikes, however, recruiting another girl passing through on her bike to go practice two jumps of the downhill course was a sight to see.

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!