Line Drive Mountain Bike Academy: 2026 Summer Race Season Wrap-Up 

As the 2026 race season comes to a close, it’s hard to put into words just how proud I am of what this team accomplished. Year four of Line Drive Mountain Bike Academy was about much more than racing bikes. It was about commitment, trust, growth, accountability, and learning what it means to be part of a team.

From our first practice of the season, where we sat down with each rider to establish individual goals, to the final race weekend, with riders battling for series championships, this group continued to show up and put in the work. Every rider had a different starting point, goals, and challenges, but each of them grew.

A Season of Development

One of the biggest highlights of 2026 was watching our riders develop not only as racers, but as athletes and teammates.

We spent the season working on the fundamentals that make fast riders: body position, braking, cornering, line selection, jumping, technical terrain, race strategy, and—perhaps most importantly confidence.

There were plenty of difficult days. There were crashes, mistakes, frustrating runs, mechanical issues, tough races, and moments when things simply didn't go according to plan. But those moments are where the real development happens.

Our riders learned to reset, listen to their coaches, trust their preparation, and go back out there and try again.

That progression is what I’m most proud of.

More Than Individual Riders — We Became a Team

This season reinforced something I believe strongly in: mountain biking may be an individual sport, but you don't have to develop alone.

Every rider brought something different to the team. Some brought experience. Some brought speed. Some brought energy. Some brought encouragement. And our older riders had opportunities to lead and help develop the younger riders coming behind them.

That team environment became one of our biggest strengths.

We celebrated each other's podiums, supported each other after tough races, shared lines and advice during practice, and pushed one another to get better. The goal was never simply to have the fastest individual rider. The goal was to build a group of athletes who make each other better.

That is what Line Drive is becoming.

Racing at a Higher Level

The results throughout the DHSE season reflected the work our riders put in all year.

We had riders fighting for podiums, riders stepping into new categories, riders taking on harder terrain, and riders competing for overall championships heading into the final rounds.

But the results only tell part of the story.

What impressed me most was the way our riders competed. They learned how to manage race weekends, handle pressure, adapt to changing conditions, and stay focused on the process rather than getting caught up in the result.

For some riders, success meant standing on the podium.

For others, it meant beating a personal best, making it through a difficult section they had struggled with all season, moving into a more competitive category, or simply finishing a race knowing they gave everything they had.

Every rider had a win this season.

Looking Ahead

Now that the 2026 season is officially in the books, the work doesn't stop.

We will take what we learned this season and use it to build an even stronger program moving forward. That means continuing to improve our coaching, developing individualized training plans, creating opportunities for riders to challenge themselves, and continuing to grow the Line Drive community.

There will always be another skill to learn, another trail to conquer, and another level to reach.

The goal isn't simply to be better than we were last season.

The goal is to build something that lasts.

Thank You

None of this happens without the people behind the riders.

To our parents and families: thank you for the countless hours driving to practices and races, loading bikes, preparing equipment, making sacrifices, and supporting your riders through the highs and lows. Youth racing is a commitment for the entire family, and I don't take that for granted.

To our sponsors and partners: thank you for believing in what Line Drive is building and investing in our riders and our mission.

To our coaches and everyone who helped throughout the season: thank you for sharing your time, knowledge, and experience.

And to my family, thank you for believing in this dream and continuing to support the sacrifices that come with building something bigger than myself. I couldn't do this without you.

Most importantly, to the Line Drive riders: thank you for trusting me, trusting your coaches, trusting your teammates, and trusting the process.

I couldn't be more proud of this group.

2026 was a special season.