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Gettysburg girl wins national biking title
By PATRICK ABDALLA
Evening Sun Sports Writer
Article Launched: 08/17/2007 09:51:18 AM EDT
Alicia Styer said the best thing about racing competitively is that she gets to meet new people.
Then again, maybe she said “beat new people” because, if she’s meeting them, the 10-year-old isn’t sticking around for long.
The Gettysburg resident has been mountain biking competitively for three years and last month became the Junior 10-and-under XC national champion.
She won the title by winning her age group’s 5-mile race at the National Mountain Bike Championship at Mount Snow in Vermont.
So she’s definitely been beating the competition.
But, to be sure you got the quote right, you ask her again, “What’s the best thing about riding?”
“It’s fun,” Styer said, “You get to meet new people.”
So, basically, Styer meets someone, then hops on her bike. then, when the race starts, she sees if they can catch up.
Styer and her mother, Hillary Styer, are a part of a racing community, Vello Bella Kona, that’s based out of Watsonville, Calif.
The group will meet at races throughout the country.
The Styers have traveled to places like North Carolina and Vermont to participate.
And they’ve made friends with the people they compete with and against.
“The whole team gets excited if she
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wins,” Hillary Styer said.
The elder Styer said she admires the way her daughter rides.
“She does better than me,” she said.
And racing has become a family activity.
Alicia’s father, Morgan, and brother Ethan, 2, attend the events.
“He’s our mascot,” Hillary Styer said of the 2-year old’s responsibilities. “He cheers us on.”
Alicia Styer said she plans on continuing to race because she enjoys it and the people she meets.
And beats.
Contact Patrick Abdalla at pabdalla@eveningsun.com.
