Highland Lakes Mountain Biking team members follow own paths

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

BURNET — At some point, two guys — likely — came across a dirt path while pedaling their bikes, looked at each other, smiled and headed off the road. It probably happened hundreds, even thousands, of times, but, eventually, that little side trip led to the creation of modern mountain biking.

It’s something members of the Highland Lakes High School Mountain Biking team experience every time they hit the trails, whether during competition, practice or just a ride.

“With mountain biking, you can pick your own path,” said team member and Faith Academy student Alex DeFily. “It’s kind of up to you. But it’s a lot of fun.”

On Feb. 9, the team kicks off its 2014 season with the first Texas High School Mountain Bike League race at Reveille Peak Ranch. It will be the first of five races in the series with two stops at the Burnet ranch.

The Highland Lakes team is classified as a composite squad because members come from several area high schools, including Marble Falls, Burnet, Faith Academy and Lago Vista.

“This is our second year for the team,” said Dave DeFily, Alex’s father and the coach of the Highland Lakes team. “Last year, we learned a lot. This year, I think we know better what to expect. And the kids have been getting pretty serious the past couple of months as we get ready (for the season).”

Though he’s a sophomore, Alex DeFily is one of the team’s most experienced racers. The squad has about six members, making it a small one compared to several other teams, but it’s growing. Even if somebody becomes interested halfway through the season, Dave DeFily said they’re more than welcome to come out.

And while several of the team members have cycling experience, many didn’t start out mountain biking. Burnet High School freshman Jeffrey Stroh will make his racing debut at this first event. He has ridden a bike for many years, but it was only in the past year that he began pursuing mountain biking.

Though Reveille Peak, which has miles of trails, is only a few miles from his home, Stroh still built a small trail at his house, carved from deer trails he saw around the property.

“He said, ‘Hey, Dad! Come and look at this,'” said Stroh’s father, Jeff Stroh. “And he had put tape up where he wanted to clear the trail.”

Jeffrey Stroh said he enjoys the challenges that come with mountain biking.

“Every time out can be different,” he said.

Dave DeFily said the atmosphere at the league competitions is different than what people might find at other sporting events. Typically, people begin arriving Friday for a Sunday race.

“You’ll have a lot of people camping out,” Dave DeFily said. “So everybody gets together, kind of like a big family gathering.”

On Saturday, the athletes can pre-ride the course so they know the layout and what to expect on race day. Then Sunday, the competition begins.

The Reveille Peak race will feature a series of six-mile loops depending on the athletes’ level. A race can be two loops to four loops. During the race, the riders can’t get any help from spectators, family or coaches with the exception of handing off food in one specific area. If an athlete gets a flat or other mechanical problems, something as simple as a person handing him or her a tool can add a five-minute penalty.

“A lot of it’s about teaching them self-reliance, preparation and taking care of their equipment,” Dave DeFily said.

One of the biggest lessons each racer learns, however, is the importance of preserving and just finishing the race, no matter what place.

The Reveille Peak races start at 10 a.m. with the girls. The boys line up and go at 11:40 a.m. The ranch is located at 105 CR 114 off FM 2341 west of Burnet. Go towww.texasmtb.org for more information on the league and sport.

daniel@thepicayune.com