First time hopping on a bike? Consider HopOn. Ready to level up your downhill skills? Join the Yukon Mountain Bike Team.

Hail to the Sun! Bringer of light! Conveyor of heat! Herald of Spring!

As we emerge bleary eyed and half-asleep from our long hibernation through winter, second winter, and Spring: Winter Edition, waiting impatiently for the last of the snow to melt, there’s only one thing on our mind: Biking, cycling, and all manner of two-wheeled pursuits. That’s right: it’s time to tune up your sprockets, de-rust your chain, strap on your helmet, and spin those wheels because summer in the Yukon only comes in the “over too fast” speed.

The Cycling Association of Yukon, or CAY as we’re sometimes called, has many tremendous opportunities this season to keep those pedals pumping and your heart racing!

HopOn

This one goes out to all the youth: If you are age six and up and wanting to learn about biking safely and properly in a games-based, skills-based environment, then HopOn is the perfect program for you! HopOn is a nationwide initiative through Cycling Canada that aims to provide quality and accessible cycling programs to communities across the country.

Entering its third year in the Yukon, the Cycling Association of Yukon is expanding our program offerings this year to include two programs run in Whitehorse along with a Dawson program and a Teslin program run through the local recreation departments in those communities.

The first HopOn program will run after school in Whitehorse over a four-week period on Tuesdays from 3:45 – 5:15 p.m. starting on May 16. The cost to register is $60, which includes the program fee and a CAY mini membership.

Keep your eyes peeled for more information regarding future HopOn programs.

This year, CAY has been provided with funding to offer financial assistance to cover the cost of the program. As well, we have a small fleet of bicycles and helmets that we are happy to provide to those that need them. HopOn is a grassroots cycling program meant to provide accessible opportunities to new cyclists so please reach out to us if we can help. To register for HopOn programs or to find out more about our funding program, head to https://yukoncycling.com and click on our “Events” page.

Join the 2023 Yukon
Mountain Bike Team!

If you’re a youth aged 14 and up and looking to take your mountain biking to the next level, we have the program just for you. Monday and Wednesday evenings starting in May, Coach Hudson Lucier and his assistant coaches will be providing sage wisdom and guidance navigating the robust mountain biking trail network of Whitehorse and beyond while boosting your trail confidence and skills.

On Mondays, the team will cover cornering, jumps, drops, and everything in-between while saving the juicy fitness work for Wednesday with enough intensity, sprints, and racing to make your head spin. For only $425 and a CAY membership, you get an entire season of pro training. Of course, all of our youth programs are focused on accessibility, so if you require financial or other assistance, please reach out to info@yukoncycling.com and we will help in any way we can.

Registration covers both trail riding and indoor training sessions for when that Yukon weather rears its ugly head. If you want to be a speed fiend on the trails this summer, then this is the program for you. Open to all participants, but an efficient trail bike is ideal. Check out https://yukoncycling.com and click on “Programs” to find out more!

Of course, these programs are merely the tip of the iceberg for cycling programs in the Yukon. Check out the CAY events page for information and registration for upcoming events from CAY and our affiliates.

– Submitted by Steven Biss.