Fun. Community. Accomplished. Impactful. Transformative. Everything.

These are the words that came to mind for the participants of the 4th annual KBF Mountain Bike camp. 

With over 20 adaptive mountain bikers and dozens of volunteers and members of the KBF community, this was the biggest KBF camp to date! Over the first week of October, the group gathered in East Burke, VT for three days of riding in peak foliage. 

Participants had the opportunity to increase their adaptive mountain bike skills and knowledge with the support of coaches from Vermont Adaptive, TRAILS from Utah, Squamish Adaptive Mountain Biking from British Columbia in Canada, Ability 360 from Arizona, and team members from Bowhead from Calgary in Alberta, Canada. 

Day 1 started with bike fit ups, skills overview, and drills followed by a big group ride. Day 2 was berm practice and group rides through the incredibly colorful Kingdom Trails landscape. All days included plenty of maple syrup snacks and face glitter to promote maximum good vibes. Day 3 culminated the camp with adrenaline-pumping runs at Burke Bike Park, rented out specially for the group. “As a quadriplegic,” participant Jo-Marie explains, “there are not a lot of opportunities for me to feel the adrenaline that I got to experience at camp.”

“I stepped out of my comfort zone, put myself out there, and just went for it,” said Gretchen, who got to spend the week hooting and hollering on a Bowhead Reach.

Participants came from all across the country and got to practice their travel skills, many with their mountain bikes in tow. Californian Debra left Vermont with an “overwhelming sense of accomplishment… not just from the camp,” she explains, “but also in my ability to independently travel across the country, rent a car and navigate shuttles, hotels, luggage, etc.” Missouri-based Melissa agrees, saying “I can go anywhere on my own now. My options are endless.” 

With plenty of fun had, confidence built, experience gained, and community cultivated, we are thrilled to send these athletes back home to spread the love of an active lifestyle. 

All photos courtesy of our good friend Jeb Wallace-Brodeur (@jebphoto).