Phoebe Reid, Hans Gardner and Zachary Bolin-Ryan working on the lower single-track section of the racecourse. Courtesy photo

Cullen McLean rake in hand and Adis Bock clearing the road section of the course. Courtesy photo

By PAULA KNEPPER 
LAHS & LAMS Mountain Bike Team

While most classmates caught a few extra hours of sleep, Los Alamos High School (LAHS) and Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS) mountain bike team athletes were on the mountain at first light Saturday, tools in hand.

The team spent the morning at Pajarito Mountain Ski Area carving in the racecourse for the Oct. 4-5 New Mexico Interscholastic Cycling League (NM NICA) event, Pedal Pajarito.

Working in small crews with rakes, McLeods, and pickaxes, student riders shaped corners, smoothed ruts, and cleared loose rock to create a course that’s both technical and flowy. Their trail work supports a venue where spectators can see the action early and often, with the loop weaving across the beginner hill near the lodge.

The high school course is about three miles with close to 500 feet of climbing, and the middle school loop is just over two miles with roughly 300 feet of climbing—a stout test at altitude and a great showcase for young riders’ skills.

Local coaches said the trail building day is as much about character as it is about competition. Building and maintaining trails teaches teamwork, stewardship, and respect for other users—values that the NM NICA league emphasizes alongside performance.

For nearly a decade, youth mountain biking has grown into one of Los Alamos’s most inclusive after-school communities. Events like Pedal Pajarito bring together students, families, and volunteers from around the state, filling the ski-area parking lots with team tents, cowbells, and encouragement.

Thanks to Saturday’s work party, racers and spectators can look forward to a safer, smoother course and a showcase of hometown hospitality next weekend. 

Thank you to the LAHS and LAMS bike team athletes for their work on Saturday. Please consider attending the race at Pajarito Ski Area on Sunday, Oct. 5, to support our local athletes.