ROLLING AS A NORTE COACH

WITNESSING GREATNESS

ROLLING AS A NORTE COACH

BY HANNAH THOMAS

When fall hit last year, my husband and I decided to keep our girls home for the semester. The uncertainty was too much. To cope with the added stress, I turned to what I’ve always known best—escaping to the woods. But this time, I went as a mountain bike coach for Norte. I brought my two daughters with me, ages 6 and 12. And my mom, age unknown but slightly older than 30. We signed up and hit the trails for the youth mountain bike team at Timber Ridge. I led, the girls rallied the five other young riders, and my mom rolled as the sweep. More girls on bikes indeed! Mountain Bike coaching provided me a space to be a kid again. It was an hour and a half of pure unadulterated fun. No news, no social media (except for Strava), and the opportunity to slow down, even when rolling fast.

We came upon deer. Stopped to pet a patch of bright green moss and count mushrooms. In the excitement category, we often raced out of dangerous allosaurus territory. Even on the challenging days when the kids were tired and weren’t into it, we persisted. Let’s be honest, I had my off days too. Still, we understood how much we all needed the therapy of the woods. The trails serve as an outlet to let go of the stress. When the riding got hard, we focused our energy on things we were grateful for. We learned to set new intentions and change our thinking to see the good in the present moment. I’ve been an athlete my whole life, but to witness the transformation in the mood of these kiddos from the start to the end was something that engulfed me in pride—for them and myself.

In these trying times of division, negativity, and fear, I was able to witness greatness. I had a group of six kids who had never met before, all with wonderfully different personalities. I watched new friendships blossom, and unconditional kindness, respect, and appreciation grow for our surroundings within my small group of six riders. Coaching also connected me with other fabulous coaches who I can now call friends. You may even spot us out cross-country skiing together. Imagine the impact taking all that good team energy into our communities! These kids are my role models. In reflecting on my coaching experience, I concluded that it is indeed a shared coaching experience. I learned just as many, if not more, essential lessons from the young riders on my team as they learned from me. I am reminded that their little eyes, heads, and hearts are always watching. It is my duty in coaching and daily life to be the kindest version of myself. Coaching is a privilege that allowed me to connect and see the world through the lens of a very bright future.

thank you head coaches

JASON AUCLAIR ERIN BAUMAN ZACH BEERY ALICE BOWE BEN BOYCE GARRETT BOYD KYLER BRADLEY MARY BRISBOIS CHRIS BROWN SCOTT BRUBAKER LAURIE COULTER LAUREN DAKE KEN DAVIES HEATH DAY PETER FISHER KRIS GALOCI KEGAN GILL CHELSEA GILPIN TRACY HALASINSKI ABBY HAVILL YARRO IRELAND AISLYN JOHNSON MATT JONES ANNE KLIMEK JIMMY LAURENT DAN MAURICE DAVE MCCAW TABITHA MCNEIL KEELAN MCNULTY BRAD MILLER

HATTIE MOSS JULIUS MOSS MELISSA MURAN GRETCHEN NOVOROLSKY COLIN O’BRIEN STEVE OSBORN RYAN PAXSON NOEL PETERS JASON PLUM ERIN REICHA TIM REICHA DOUG REID BRENNAN SANG JOHANNA SCHMIDT TY SCHMIDT TREVOR SCHMITZ JEREMY SCHOENLEIN ANNE SCHWARTZ JAMISON SHEPPARD JOE SLONECKI TONY STEENO DERRICK SUBA BRIAN THELEN HANNAH THOMAS KATIE TOMCZYK LEVI TRUELOVE TIM VANDERMEULEN ASHLEA WALTER GENE WARD GEORGE WILSON