Over the last 18-months, we have seen an extraordinary rise in the number of people taking up cycling, whether that be on the trails, on the road or even just the local bike path. With councils investing in new trail networks and cycling infrastructure across Australia, recreational cycling has seen a substantial uptick, with some cities reporting as much as 270-per cent growth.
With this influx of riders, a new generation is looking to learn the ropes, which is why KRUSH has teamed up with Sea Otter Australia, Bikecorp, Fist Handwear, and Pushys to launch the Krush Grassroots Scholarship. The winners will be announced at Sea Otter Australia in Canberra’s Stromlo Forest Park from 1-4 October.
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Awarded to two junior riders (one male and one female), the recipients will receive one-on-one mentoring sessions with trail builder, Junior National Champion and Canyon Team Rider Baxter Maiwald; and 8x BMX and Mountain Bike World Champion and 2x Olympian Caroline Buchanan. The youngsters will also receive coaching sessions courtesy of Gravity Oz founder Shannon Rademaker, a PMBIA L3 advanced athlete coach with over 15 years of experience.
The scholarship package includes $8,000 worth of bike care products, store credit, and financial support for travel expenses, and race entry fees.
In addition to the full scholarship, the Krush Grassroots Scholarship Program will present Encouragement Awards valued at $1,000 to a pair of promising young riders to support their growth and development in the sport.
KRUSH director Matt D’Arcy added “It’s amazing to see the youth participation numbers explode at recent events. KRUSH is really excited to be able to deliver this new platform of support to put back into the sport that we love so much. We are thrilled to have Caroline and Baxter on board and the generous support of Fist, Pushys, Bikecorp, Gravity Oz, Sea Otter and our other… scholarship partners, it’s going to be an awesome opportunity for these young up-and-comers.”
Sea Otter’s Christian Haag said, “This is a great initiative that kick-starts our broader legacy program. The KRUSH Grassroots Scholarship encapsulates exactly what Sea Otter is all about, a family friendly environment offering industry participation to support our next generation of riders.”
Successful applicants will be selected by scholarship ambassadors and industry representatives based on a combination of race results, sportsmanship and the ability to demonstrate enthusiasm, ambition and dedication.
The KRUSH Grassroots Scholarship is open to riders between 12 and 19-years-old, and applicants must be entered into at least one discipline (Mountain, Gravel or Road) at Sea Otter Australia.
Applications are open from today (28 June) and close on 1 October 2021. For the full selection criteria or to apply click here, or for more information, head over to the Sea Otter Australia website.
Photo credit: Vibe Imagery / Sea Otter Australia