The HopOn national grassroots program aims to make cycling accessible to everyone across Canada. At Manitoba Cycling, we have incorporated the games-based learning approach into our cycling day camps, summer camps, and youth development programs. We are launching these initiatives into the community emphasizing fundamental cycling skills and safety. Our aim is to teach basic to intermediate cycling abilities, foster confidence, and unite youth through the joys and challenges of cycling. In Manitoba, HopOn serves as the introduction program before the Kids of Mud program, providing a foundational experience for young cyclists before they progress to more advanced levels of skill development.
Stephanie Keith- Youth Development Coordinator
Email: youthcycling@sportmanitoba.ca
Kids of Mud (KOM) is the official youth cycling program of the Manitoba Cycling Association (MCA) administered by a group of participating clubs. KOM is a learn-to-ride and learn-to-race program for kids 16 and younger covering the Fundamentals, Learn to Train and Train to Train stages of the Long Term Athlete Development pathway. Through the help of certified coaches and volunteers, riders will learn the basics of off-road cycling with an opportunity to challenge their skill and fitness in a fun race series.
Riders are registered with the MCA in one of these internationally recognized youth cycling categories: under 17, under 15, under 13, under 11 and under 9 (their age as of December 31st).
Training takes place twice a week with the program beginning mid/late April and wrapping up at the end of June. Kids wishing to ride must have a certified cycling helmet, a mountain bike with hand brakes and gears, and able to ride their bike without training wheels. Training with Kids of Mud includes safety, braking, gears, hills, racing (optional), riding over small and large obstacles, trail riding, and more.
The Kids of Mud training program is run by certified coaches in smaller clubs in Manitoba.
The MCA Provincial Programs are designed to support athletes 13 years of age or older who are interested in pursuing cycling at a competitive level. These programs focus on Road, MTB and Cyclocross racing, which are Olympic disciplines, part of the Canada Summer Games, or have opportunities for athletes to advance in their cycling careers.
Don Rose – Provincial Program Coordinator
Email: teammb.mbcycling@gmail.com
The Development Program is aimed at introducing young athletes to competition and structured training in several cycling disciplines. This program is open to all athletes 13-18 years of age.
The Performance Program is aimed at preparing athletes to compete and win at Provincial and national level events, building upon the knowledge and skills gained in the development program.
Athletes of this program are members of a National Trade team or higher.
In 2003, Leah started cycling at age 13 with the Kids in the Mud mountain bike program in Winnipeg. Just 7 years later (at age 20) she turned professional. In 2010 she competed at her first Commonwealth Games. A year later, she finished 10th in the road race at the Pan American Championships and made her world championship debut. In 2012 she won road race silver at the Pan American Championships.
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