Cortez competitive youth mountain bike cross-country racers Jebediah Jake and Nathaniel Nye Yackle continue to ride in the 2011 Colorado Mountain States Cup series with a stop at Tellurides Full Tilt race last Saturday.
Jake, 10, and Nye, 8, compete in the junior men 14U Mountain States Cup endurance series. It is the biggest full-discipline endurance and gravity race series in the United States. Jake placed third at Full Tilt for the second-consecutive year on his Motobecane, 9-speed in a time of 1:11:04 to gain 174 points in the MSC series, which is a regional championship series. Nye, riding his Specialized, 8-speed, took 10th at 1:25:18 to earn 132 points. All MSC points gained go toward qualification for the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships in Sun Valley, Idaho. The USA Cycling Bike National Championships begin today and run through Sunday. Jake and Nye will race on Friday in the cross country 11-12 year old class and 10U class at 4:15 and 5:15 p.m.
The age classes in the USA Cycling Bike National Championships are a huge advantage for the Yackles, considering they race against kids as old as 14 in the MSC series. In 2010, the USA Cycling Bike National Championships were held at SolVista Bike Park in Granby, Colo. Jake raced in the 10U cross country class and crossed the finish line first to be crowned national champion. Jake hopes to win the 11-12 class national championship this year.
I really want to win it, Jake said about taking home the 2011, 11-12 national title. It would be a really cool accomplishment, if I could win it.
The Yackle brothers have never been to Sun Valley, and although the ski resort city is nestled in Idahos Wood River Valley, the elevation is just 5,920 feet above sea level. Jake and Nye regularly race above 9,000 feet in the MSC series, and train with their dad, Kevin Yackle, in the San Juan Mountains at elevation exceeding 10,000 feet.
The Yackles feel their high-altitude training at Colorados high elevation will give them an energetic step in Sun Valley.
Most our rides are a lot higher altitude than (Sun Valley), Kevin Yackle said. Its also good to try to train your body how to breath with little oxygen. Thats why you do a bunch of it regularly. It doesnt bother you so much.
The Yackle boys have their own fundraiser called the Live Strong Foundation to raise money for their mountain bike racing competition. It has gained nearly $7,000 the last four months. What started out as a $250 goal, has now blossomed to more than $10,000 raised.
Jake and Nye Yackle are sponsored by, Panaracer, Osprey Packs, Full Speed Ahead, Canari, Crank Brothers and Fox Shox.
Fans can follow Jake and Nyes progress on www.facebook.com/Yackle-Brothers-Racing.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com