Archive for the ‘Take a Kid Mountain Biking’ Category

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Take a Kid Mountain Biking 2012 to be Oct 6 in Malibu Creek State Park

Friday, September 28th, 2012

On October 6, in conjunction with the IMBA Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, CORBA Kid’s Club will be having a fun ride at Malibu Creek State Park at 9:00 am. This will be a ride followed by a barbecue. All ages are welcome! If the kids are too young to ride, feel free to bring a bike trailer or trail-a-bike and tow them along. These can be your own kids, nieces, nephews, friends kids, neighbor kids… Kids must have their own bikes and helmets.

There will be a few different ride options for different age groups. Feel free to participate even if you don’t have any kids to bring.

Childhood obesity in the United States has reached an all-time high. Experts say that the current generation of U.S. children could actually have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. IMBA and CORBA believe mountain biking can help reverse this trend. We need your help to get kids back on bikes.

For for more information email info@corbamtb.com

To get to Malibu Creek State Park (Google Map with directions), take the Ventura Freeway (101) to Calabasas, exit Las Virgenes Road/Malibu Canyon. Go south 3.5 miles. You will cross Mulholland Highway and go another 1/4 mile to the entrance to Malibu Creek State Park on the right.

From Santa Monica, take Pacific Coast Highway north to Malibu Canyon Road and turn Right. Go 6 miles to the park entrance on your left. Just past the ranger kiosk to the left is a large parking lot. Look for the CORBA Tent and flags.

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Youth-Oriented Publication Available Soon, Take A Kid Celebration Slated for Oct. 6

Sunday, July 1st, 2012

With major support from Shimano, IMBA will publish two special editions of IMBA Trail News in 2012. Copies of ITN Youth Edition will be available on IMBA’s online store, free of cost except for shipping fees. These full-color, print magazines will focus on providing resources for adult leaders of youth-oriented mountain bike programs, plus stories, photos and tips that young riders aged 12 to 18 will enjoy reading.
This October, in support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” initiative, IMBA has pledged to get 30,000 children participating in 300 cycling events for the annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day celebration. We could use your help in reaching this goal on Oct. 6. Broadcast Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day to your chapter/club networks, host a ride or sponsor the IMBA outreach program.
Since we believe that kids should be on bikes everyday, we’re encouraging all participants to sign up for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA), whereby you pledge to be active at least 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Youth (6-17 years) should get moving for at least 60 minutes per day, and adults (18 years or older) should be active for 30 minutes per day. What better way to get active than to be out riding a bike?

From the International Mountain Bicycling Association‘s quarterly publication Trail News, Spring 2012

Posted in Health, IMBA News, National, Take a Kid Mountain Biking, Youth | No Comments »

Boy Scouts Take on Mountain Biking

Friday, June 15th, 2012

Over the past three years, CORBA’s trail crew has assisted in several eagle scout projects. Most were from eagle scout candidates who were also involved in the High School Mountain Bike League.   After discussions with local Boy Scout Troops and Councils, we put together a suggested set of requirements for a Mountain Biking Merit Badge in 2010. Apparently demand for a mountain biking badge was more widespread than what we saw locally, and the BSA leaders have listened.

During the 1990′s, IMBA and CORBA had approached the BSA about this very issue. At the time mountain biking wasn’t a mainstream sport, and wasn’t nearly as popular as it is now, especially with the younger generations, and the requests and suggestions fell on deaf ears.

How times have changed. Mountain biking has gone mainstream, and been legitimized as an Olympic sport. NICA is making great strives towards establishing the sports as a legitimate high school sport. The time is ripe for things to change.

According to a June 5 post by Scouting Magazine blogger Bryan Wendell, “The trail to Cycling merit badge just got a bit rougher.”  He explained: “The BSA has approved a mountain biking option for Cycling, a merit badge mainstay since 1911. So for the first time, Scouts who prefer fat tires instead of thin can earn the badge.”

We’re excited about this news, and commend the BSA for listening to their membership’s needs. Because the Boy Scouts like to keep a relatively steady number of available badges, it was much easier to have a mountain biking option added to the existing cycling merit badge instead of adding a new badge. This makes complete sense, as there is a lot of overlap in the skills, fitness, basic mechanical knowledge and safety aspects in both cycling disciplines.

We also feel that mountain biking has a definite place in the Scouting movement, as many of the scouting principles can be directly applied to the sport. Mountain bikers must be prepared, they need to be kind and exercise good trail etiquette to share trails with other users, the sport encourages health and fitness, and stewardship of our public lands.

CORBA invites any and all boy scouts (and the general public) to our free Skills Clinics, offered on the first Saturday of each month at Malibu Creek State Park. These free clinics will help get new riders the basic skills to get started in mountain biking.  IMBA also offers a youth-oriented publication, aimed at teen mountain bikers.

 

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Posted in Advocacy, CORBA Youth Adventures, Free Basic Skills Clinic, High School League, Take a Kid Mountain Biking, Youth | No Comments »

Annual IMBA Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

On Saturday October 1, 47 riders came out for the IMBA’s Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day at Malibu Creek State Park.  Riders on unicycles, trailer bikes, tandem bikes, and various sized mountain bikes dotted the trail on a pleasantly warm October morning.

While families arrived and signed in, early-birds rode around the parking lot to warm up after readying their bikes. After reviewing trail etiquette,  fearless leader Hans Keifer, CORBA Kids Club members, and many new comers hit the trails.

 

The first challenge was a dry creek crossing, and the kids were troopers, as you can ssee when you view our photo gallery of this event.  After a short break where we waited for the slower members of the group to catch up, we headed back past the visitors center, and some riders rode up the big hill leading to the MASH site before heading back for a fine BBQ lunch!

If you liked this event, or you misssed it and you want to try riding with other families, please join us at our next CORBA Kids Club ride on Saturday November 5 from 9 to noon in Cheeseboro Canyon. 

Email kidsclub@corbamtb.com for more information.

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Posted in California, Rides and Events, Santa Monica Mountains, Take a Kid Mountain Biking | No Comments »

Take a Kid Mountain Biking October 1, 2011

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Saturday October 1, 2011 – Saturday October 1, 2011

1925 Las Virgines RD

View MapMap and Directions | Register

Description:

Take a Kid Mountain Biking

On October 1st, in conjunction with the IMBA Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, CORBA will be having a fun ride at Malibu Creek State Park at 9:00 am. This will be a ride followed by a barbecue. All ages are welcome!

If the kids are too young to ride, feel free to bring a bike trailer or trail-a-bike and tow them along. These can be your own kids, nieces, nephews, friends kids, neighbor kids… Kids must have their own bikes and helmets.

There will be a few different ride options for different age groups. Feel free to participate even if you don’t have any kids to bring.

Childhood obesity in the United States has reached an all-time high. Experts say that the current generation of U.S. children could actually have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. IMBA and CORBA believe mountain biking can help reverse this trend. We need your help to get kids back on bikes.

To get to Malibu Creek State Park, take the Ventura Freeway (101) to Calabasas, exit Las Virgenes Road/Malibu Canyon. Go south 3.5 miles. You will cross Mulholland Highway and go another 1/4 mile to the entrance to Malibu Creek State Park on the right.

From Santa Monica, take Pacific Coast Highway north to Malibu Canyon Road and turn Right. Go 6 miles to the park entrance on your left. Just past the ranger kiosk to the left is a large gravel parking …

Meet at upper parking lot.

 

 

Register

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More New Riders Join September CORBA Kids Ride

Monday, September 19th, 2011

On Saturday September 3rd, the CORBA Kids Club rode again with several new riders and a lot of excitement to see each other again after our last big ride in June.

Dave reviewed trail ettiquette and safety tips with everybody, we welcomed the newcomers, set our walkie-talkies, and then all 17 riders saddled up and headed out. It was the club’s second time at Sycamore Canyon/Point Magu, which was the perfect place to avoid the heat. Adult riders were Joy, David, Dave, Suzy, John, Kat, and Lorenz.  Kid riders were RJ, William, Julia, Nolan, Sean, Natalie, Ethan, Josiah, Emma, and Simon.  Larry and youngest son, Elliot, cheered us on and took photographs (see the photo gallery of this ride).

There was a surprising amount of poisen oak along the sides of the trail. Kat pointed it out to the new riders, and made sure everybody was careful not to put their bikes into it while waiting for the others to catch up.

All but two of the water crossing were completely dry, and most kids completed them with no problems. We took our first break where the kids used the facilities, ate their snacks, and climbed a downed tree.

At the end of the ride,  several adults and kids played in the beach cove, while Dave readied the BBQ, and cooked everyone lunch.   After lunch and snacks, we reluctantly broke up the party.  

We hope you will join us next month for the IMBA’s annual Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day at Malibu Creek State Park.  Meet at the upper parking lot 9 a.m.  Different ride options will be available, and a free BBQ lunch will be served.

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Round-up of June CORBA Kids Ride and Photos

Monday, June 27th, 2011

The CORBA Kids Club monthly ride was held Saturday June 4 at Point Mugu State Park/Sycamore Canyon.  Despite forcasts for windy chilly weather, the marine layer kept it pleasantly calm and cool, and when the sun came out, everyone was happy to peel off a layer.

After reviewing trail etiquette, safety guidlines, and describing the upcoming water crossings, the riders started out on the main fire road. Along for the ride were 7 kids (Josiah, Julia, William, RJ, Elliot, Ethan, and Nolan and 6 adults (Larry, John, Joy, Dave and Dave, on bikes and Kat on foot).

The first water crossing allowed for an easy introduction for those who were comfortable enough to get a little wet. There was a shallow section to the right, and everyone who rode it glided through and made it up the hill on the other side. The water crossings provided more teaching and rest opportunities as the kids encouraged each other along the way.

When we reached the 3rd water crossing, we had to wait for a family of Mallard ducks to pass before putting our wheels back in the water.

Several varieties of wildflowers dotted the way, as did the poison oak.  Luckily the trail was wide, and it was easy to avoid.  Kat pointed out purple and black sage,  white yarrow, and golden yarrow to Julia and Joy on the way back.

After the ride, the kids piled into Dave’s truck for snacks and water.

You can see all the pictures from this ride in our June photo gallery.

Next ride will be at Malibu Creek State Park on Saturday July 2 from 9 to noon. Hope you can join us! Please register online to let us know you’ll be coming.

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CORBA Kids Club ride – July 2th, 2011

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

Saturday July 2, 2011 – Saturday July 2, 2011

1925 Las Virgenes Road

View MapMap and Directions | Register

Description:

Organized parent/children mountain bike ride to build confidence, promote health and wellness, share knowledge of trails and riding techniques, teach respect for each other and the environment; inspire the next generation of mountain bikers and CORBA volunteers!

Meet at Malibu Creek State Park lower parking lot at 9 a.m.

For info contact:
corbakids@corbamtb.com

Kids must have their own bikes and helmets.

Register

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May CORBA Kids Club Ride

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

The CORBA Kids Club monthly ride was held on Saturday May 7 at Cheeseboro Canyon. After a hot week in SoCal, the weather cooled, and the kids enjoyed perfect riding conditions. Out for the ride were 8 kids (William, Julia, Josiah, Elliot, Ethan, RJ, Nolan, and Sean) and 5 adults (Larry, John, Joy, Dave, and Dave). As usual, the kids were super excited to see each other, make new friends, and get their tires onto the dirt.

After Larry reviewed safety guidelines and trail etiquette, we left the Cheeseboro trailhead with one Dave in the lead and another Dave on sweep. Most of the gang took the short single track option and pedaled up to the picnic tables for our first break. After some drinks, snacks, and tomfoolery, we did some hill climbing practice on the short but steep hill behind the picnic tables. Hats off to William, the only kid who cleared the climb!

After the break, we rode on past “The Bees” and to the up-and-over at the sulphur creek. Entry to the creek was wet and muddy and very, very smelly! Fortunately, the tree that had blocked the trail during our April ride was all clear and we were able to continue. From there, we rode up to one of the first rock wall areas before turning back. After another break, drinks, and snacks, the crew arrived back at the parking lot, completing a ride of about 6 ½ miles. The kids did great on the ride and we were all proud of their effort and skills on the trail. The kids celebrated with more snacks and play. And as usual, everyone was having such a good time, it was hard to break up the party. You can view our photo gallery of the ride. We are all looking forward to the next CORBA kids ride in June and hope you and yours will join in on the fun.

The next ride will take place at Point Magu State Park, Saturday June 4 from 9 to noon.

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New Riders Join CORBA Kids Club in Cheeseboro Canyon

Saturday, April 16th, 2011

 

April’s CORBA Kids ride welcomed four new riders!  Despite record heat two days prior, the weather was cool and comfortable. We had such a successful ride in Cheeseboro that we are going to ride it again next month.

Before riding, ride leaders David and Larry introduced themselves to the new riders and briefed the group on trail etiquette, speed control, and described the trail.
David agreed to be sweeper with Larry riding ahead with son Elliot on a tow-a-bike. The first stop was the picnic tables on the main trail, where everybody rested, snacked, and Kat pointed out some native plants.  Wildflowers we saw along the trail included fiddlenecks, wild hyacinth, and California Peony.

The plan to ride to “The Rock” or “The Bees,” (as it is commonly known) didn’t materialize due to a fallen tree that completely blocked the main trail about two and a half miles in.  We left our bikes, hiked up to the tree and several of the kids climbed aboard it for another rest stop.  We decided to make this our turn-around point. 

Before heading back, we reminded everyone to control their speed since the majority of the trail would be downhill.  We met a family of riders at the parking lot using a trail-a-bike, and we gave them one of our fliers. 

Next ride is scheduled for Cheeseboro Canyon Saturday May 7th from 9 to noon. Look for the Gray Honda minivan with the CORBA/IMBA stickers; hope to see you there!

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