Combine enthusiastic teens, mountain biking, enduring obstacles and a fun, wet environment.
The result?
Students battling it out in the recent state cyclocross championships, which tried the skill and endurance of about 100 young people around the state.
Ten students from Kurunjang Secondary College joined in the competition where they were tested for their balance, agility and determination.
The competition required competitors to tackle challenging obstacles on their mountain bikes over varied terrain.
The rain pelted down, but that didn’t deter year 8 student Kaylah Darcy, who won the junior secondary girls division and has been invited to compete with the Geelong Cycling Club.
Kurunjang Secondary College sports co-ordinator Tom Cullum said his students loved the challenge of tackling a cyclocross track.
“We didn’t know anything about cyclo- cross so we had to learn its rules, get our heads around getting on and off the bike quickly, the best ways of carrying the bike,” Mr Cullum said.
“We watched a lot of videos.”
Mr Cullum said it was a new experience for the students whose perseverance was intensely tested. He said despite the sport’s demands on stamina, the students clearly enjoyed the challenge.
