MISSION

Empower the youth in our community by fostering a lifelong passion for cycling.

VISION

At High Desert DEVO our vision is that the youth in Montezuma County build confidence, compassion, and perseverance that they can carry into their lives and their interactions with their community.

VALUES

Fun: We create a safe and fun space for kids to be kids.

Mentorship: We invest in the youth now. 

Resilience: We model positive failure.

Inclusiveness: We create the opportunity for all to experience a genuine outdoor experience by building nurturing environments for all youth to thrive.

Stewardship: We foster respect and responsibility for the lands we get to play on.

Camaraderie: We build relationships by tackling challenges together.

Kindness: We encourage positive self-talk. 

Community: We prioritize creating partnerships and collaborating towards a common goal for the broader community. 

FAQs

1. When do the seasons start/end? 

  • Our spring season starts in late March to early April and runs through mid-to-late May

  • Our summer practices take place in the last two weeks of June and last two weeks of July. 

  • Fall season starts mid-to-late August and ends in early October

2. What "levels" will be available, and how many students can join?

  • We have a few different ability levels, with some groups that are recreation-based in which riders are coming out to learn how to mountain bike and ride for fun with others. We also have a “Crank Girls” program, which provides girls an opportunity to ride with other girls specifically. Our Crank Girls programming is open to all abilities from first time mountain bikers to competitive riders. We also have groups for skill/competitive based riders who are looking at enhancing their fitness and technical skills to enable them to perform their best in races or at their highest personal level possible. 

3. How long is the season?

  • Spring and Fall seasons are seven weeks long, and our summer sessions run for three consecutive days each. 

4. What should interested parents & children know before joining?

  • Being able to ride a bike without training wheels on a paved path like a sidewalk or bike path is a prerequisite. We hope to expand our programming in the Fall of 2025 to include push-bike (AKA Striders) courses, so stay tuned!

  • High Desert Devo is primarily an age-based program that places riders in teams based on similar ages vs their abilities. We believe that riders will learn the most by being with their same aged peer’s vs doing ability-based teams. 

5. What if we don’t have enough money or equipment to get our kids started?

  • We have a fleet of bikes that can be loaned out in addition to other forms of support such as registration fees and gear lending (helmets, gloves, and packs). Parents or riders can apply for support on our website. www.highdesertdevo.org

6. What do you hope young people learn and take away from participating in about this sport?

  • Our mission is to empower the youth of Montezuma County by encouraging them to develop a lifelong passion for cycling. All of our coaches have had cycling impact their lives in a very positive way, by building confidence, resilience, grit, and an appreciation for escaping the modern distractions of technology-based life.

  • We hope that riders take away the belief that they can "Always Be Shredding!" We know and teach that being able to shred on a mountain bike is going to look different for everyone. For the first time rider it may look like just getting out there and trying something new, for another individual it may be riding that one climb or descent that has always gotten the best of them, and for yet another it may be sending jumps every chance they get! 

  • Regardless of who the rider is, the concept is the same—A.B.S. is the heart of High Desert DEVO—celebrating the highs, pushing through the lows, and never riding alone. When you’re surrounded by good people who share your passion, you are part of something bigger than just a team—that’s what A.B.S. is all about.

Testimonials

“This will be my daughter Shannon’s 4th year riding with High Desert Devo. She started at age 10 with little to no riding experience. Just within the first few practices, I could see her confidence growing and her technique improving. Now going into her 4th year, she’s excited about advancing her skills and being part of one of the all girls teams this year! Every coach involved in Devo has been amazing and encouraging. The scholarship program has made this possible for Shannon. Without it she most likely would not have been able to participate. In my opinion, High Desert Devo is one of the best programs offered for kids in our area!” Thanks HD Devo! — Tree Murphy — (Parent)

“Coaching with High Desert Devo has deepened my connection with the mountain biking community and inspires our next generation of riders. It’s been an honor to guide and raise the next generation of cyclists, watching them grow and thrive with each session.” — Erin Kuhlman — (Coach)

"I coach with DEVO year after year because of the deep joy I receive from playing a role in a young person’s growth. It’s in that moment they realize they can get past that obstacle they were intimidated by, the moment a big smile appears on their face from the freedom they feel when they allow themselves to let go and just flow through the downhill, and the moments when they check in on their teammates to ask how they are feeling or cheer them on through a tough spot. I am grateful to be a part of their growth, helping them along their journey of realizing just how powerful they truly are. The skills we learn while mountain biking are directly transferable to obstacles and experiences we may face in life. " — Emma Savely — (Coach)