360 TRAILS INSPIRES KP PIRATES BIKING TEAM
Key Pen Parks created the hugely popular biking course and now the KP has a “home team” that’s made 360 Trails their own.
A successful first season comes to an end in June for the new Key Peninsula Pirates mountain biking team. The group was established in January by head coach, parent and former member of the Coast Guard Coree Collins, who has been mountain biking on trails since 2006.
“I love mountain biking, so I was hopeful,” Collins said. “It’s super fun. It’s good for mental health and stress management. And getting outdoors is so important.”
Key Pen Parks has hosted Washington Student Cycling League races at 360 Trails for six years, but this was the first year the KP has had an active local team with local kids practicing and racing together.
The composite team currently has 11 riders ranging from sixth to 12th grade, girls and boys. “The kids have been very supportive of each other,” Collins said. “It’s pretty amazing. We’re not putting pressure on the kids to race. What we’re doing is building community with the kids. We’re working on the fun and the skills so that if they want to race, or if they want to start getting more competitive, it’s their choice. The league’s mission is to empower them.”