School News: A Middle School Mountain Biking Program

Winter 2019

With a grant from the Specialized Foundation, Denver Academy (CO) has added a middle school mountain biking club this school year. The foundation’s nationwide Riding for Focus program integrates biking into schools’ physical education curriculum to showcase cycling’s ability to improve students’ academic performance, health, and well-being—particularly for those with learning differences such as ADHD.
             

Denver Academy sophomore Nick Zarlengo competed in the Cloud City Challenge in Leadville, Colorado, in September. Photo by Ry Keel


Through the grant, the middle school has obtained a fleet of Specialized bikes, a starter maintenance kit, and helmets. The Specialized Foundation also provided its curriculum and held a training session to help the school—which is dedicated to serving diverse learners, including those with dyslexia and ADHD—integrate the sport into its athletics program.
             
Denver Academy also now offers mountain biking to its high school students. This fall, the team competed in the Colorado High School League.

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