This Sunday at 9:00am, the best mountain bikers of the Caribbean meet for the annual Caribbean Mountain Bike Championship to see who brings their island the glory! This year's event takes place for the first time in St. Maarten/St. Martin on the beautiful trails of Bellevue.
Competitors from all around the region will be participating in this exciting event. The number of laps each contender will have to complete during the race depends on category. The course will include some rocky and root sections, steep climbs with some technical descents, passages and bridges.
Not participating? Come cheer and give participants an extra boost of energy to complete this challenging course! For youngsters who want to learn how to mountain bike, the ATC club has begun for kids ages 6 to 13! The classes take place on the circuits of Bellevue. Register now at Trisport and join the classes on Wednesdays at 3:00pm.
Why mountain biking?
1. It is a great workout
Go mountain biking and you will feel the burn! Although normal bike riding does increase your health, mountain biking pushes it to that extra level of cardiovascular activity through the use of gear variety, bike structure and riding terrain. Riding a mountain bike also builds, strengthens and tones your muscles. If you do ride regularly, the muscles on your legs, thighs, buttocks and hips will strengthen, helping to protect your hip and knee joints. Taking your mountain bike out on a rougher-terrain track is also a good way of improving stamina and body coordination as you are using numerous parts of your body while riding.
2. It is good for your mind
Had a rough day at work? Those who take up mountain biking have an effective and positive outlet to turn to when needing to blow off some steam in a positive way. It is also a great excuse to leave your gadgets at home, as you will need your utmost concentration to safely ride through rough terrain. The combination of working out and being outdoors will surely keep your mind off life’s problems and help you gain a more positive outlook once you finish your ride.
3. More adventure in your life
Mountain biking is by nature a pretty adventurous sport, and it needs a certain amount of spirit of exploration and risk-taking. Being adventurous inevitably makes you a much more interesting person. Remember that time you somehow managed to ride down that impossibly rocky hillside without a scratch?
4. See more new places
Traveling by mountain bike opens the door to a world of possibilities; you’ll gain access to places often too remote for the tourist hordes and engage with locals in a more meaningful way than from the seat of a tour bus. And the great thing about mountain biking is that no matter where you find yourself in the world, chances are you’re never too far away from a thin line of dirt snaking its way through a forest, field or desert. You don’t need to go too far for a new perspective, though; even taking the bike through Philipsburg will open a new world.
5. You will make new friends
Mountain bikers tend to be a pretty happy and fun people to be around. Perhaps it’s all that exercising or the fresh air or the nature loving. Regardless, happy people naturally tend to flock towards other happy people. So by joining a mountain biking community like Tri-Sport, you’re bound to have some good times.
6. More confidence in yourself
The feeling of making it up a steep and long climb, balancing your way across a narrow ladder bridge or carving your way down a technical descent is a pretty incredible one. And luckily, most mountain bike trails offer heaps of obstacles and challenges, no matter your skill or fitness level. You will also need to rely on yourself should anything break for example. All you need is a bit of practice, some determination and motivation to push your limits. This happens to be a pretty good mindset for just about anything in life worth accomplishing.
For any questions leading up to the Caribbean Mountain Bike Championship, mountain bike lessons or events, contact Otis Cotton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Susan Piscione at 1 (721) 580-6330. You can also pass by the Tri-Sport offices located on Airport Road in Simpson Bay or Rue de Hollande in Marigot for more information and great biking gear!
