DEL NORTE — High School students, please join the San Luis Valley Rattlers High School Mountain Bike Team for a fun ride on Sunday, June 2 at the High Valley Community Center at 595 Grande Ave. in Del Norte from 2-5 p.m.

The San Luis Valley Rattlers are a composite mountain bike team open to high school girls and boys in the San Luis Valley. Last year students from Monte Vista, Alamosa, Sargent and Del Norte had loads of fun riding local mountain trails, got into great shape and raced mountain bikes all over the state. Team practice starts August 1st for three days a week and races begin in late August. This year, the team will race every other weekend in Nathrop, Leadville, Snowmass, Eagle and Durango.

Last year the team finished in 10th place in the South Division of the Colorado High School Cycling League (CHSCL) and qualified five riders for the state championship races including Cameron Roberts who finished 20th in the state out of 160 qualifying JV riders. Head Coach Brian Stevenson won the ‘Out of the Saddle Award’ from the CHSCL for being one of the best coaches in the state. For more information on the CHSCL visit coloradomtb.org.

In addition to  the CHSCL the Rattlers are also part of NICA, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association. The Rattlers vision is to give local youth the opportunity to experience mountain biking through the development of riding and racing skills and techniques in hopes it will become a life-long activity. The team also participates in trail construction and maintenance and helping with the local 12-Hours of Penitence Mountain Bike Race. The team is always looking for parents and interested adults to volunteer for the team at practices and races.

The San Luis Valley Rattlers greatly appreciates all of the sponsorships from local businesses and organizations, and funding from the Rio Inspire Grant, the 12-Hours of Penitence. For more information contact Larry Roberts, Team Director at [email protected] 719-580-0129 or Brian Stevenson, Head Coach at [email protected] 719-588-7484.