All good things must come to an end, and as Whole Athlete
completes its ten-year sponsorship of the country's top mountain bike
development program, the team leaves behind a legacy of excellence and
success. Underscoring the program's decade-long mission, Whole Athlete
Team alumni reached the pinnacle of the sport this past weekend as Kate
Courtney won the Elite World Championship title while Christopher
Blevins took silver in the U23 race!
Christopher Blevins found continuous success with Whole Athlete as he prepared for the next level. (photo: PB Creative)
Kate Courtney flourished in the Whole Athlete Development Program throughout her Junior racing years. (photo: PB Creative)
What
began in 2008 with the goal of bridging the gap between NICA high
school racing and the world-level of the sport within a philosophy of
dedication, integrity, and fun, ends with 26 Junior and U23 National
Titles and 28 Junior/U23 athletes named to US World Championship Teams
over its rich ten-year history.
Whole Athlete riders lead out the 2017 STXC National Championships in Snowshoe. (photo: PB Creative)
And while the team has experienced unparalleled national and international success over the years, the Whole Athlete Development Program's
legacy lives on through its alumni, many of whom have graduated to
the highest levels of the sport - including newly crowned World
Champion Kate Courtney, U23 silver medalist Christopher Blevins,
Neilson Powless, Sean Bennett, Haley Batten, and Keegan Swenson, just
to name a few.
Neilson Powless got his first taste of international success with the Whole Athlete Program. (photo: Whole Athlete)
Undoubtedly, the success of the Whole Athlete Development program
could not have been possible without the tremendous support of its
partners and donors, including longtime co-title and presenting sponsors
Specialized Bicycle Components and DNA Cycling. It's truly been a team
effort, and we are deeply grateful to all who have supported our mission
over the years.
Two-time U23 winner, Cypress Gorry, leads the pack at National Championships in Mammoth. (photo: PB Creative)
And although its sponsorship of the team may be coming to an end, Whole Athlete
forges ahead as one of the country's top coaching organizations. From
its performance center base in Northern California, the company will
shift its team sponsorship focus to cycling camps
for teens and adults in 2019. Teen mountain bike camps in particular
will continue with much of what the Junior/U23 team approach provided
young athletes - opportunities to learn and grow through Whole Athlete's holistic approach.
2018 U23 National Champion Savilia Blunk at the Bear Mountain Canada Cup. (photo: Jay Wallace)
Kelsey Urban takes the National title in the 2016 STXC. (photo: Whole Athlete)
Two-time fat bike National Champion Anders Johnson at the Colorado Springs ProXCT. (photo: PB Creative)
Quinn Simmons earns his first of several National Titles in 2016 at Mammoth Mountain. (photo: Kenny Wehn)
Dropping the rock garden at Nationals in Snowshoe, WV. (photo: Kenny Wehn)
A non-profit Junior / U23 development program, the Whole Athlete p/b DNA Team's mission has been to invest in the future
of our youth and the sport of cycling by developing young athletes at the national and international levels with dedication, integrity, and fun.
Our mission has been enabled by
coaches, mentors, volunteers, and donors of the Velo Development Foundation,
a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
