Samantha S. ’23 found passion for road cycling through Riverstone’s Outdoor Education Program

The fact that Riverstone student Samantha S. ’23 placed sixth in the Junior Women 15-16 category at the US National Cyclocross Championship in 2019, and is looking ahead to the next USA Cycling Junior National Championships, would be a huge accomplishment for any young athlete. It’s especially significant for someone who picked up the sport just two years ago.

During a recent school assembly, Samantha shared a vibrant presentation about her journey to become a competitive cyclist. “It all began on the Weiser River Trail, cycling with my classmates and teachers.” As part of Riverstone’s Outdoor Education Program, Grade 7 students spend four days and three nights each fall cycling and camping along the Weiser River Trail. “Our class had a blast!” Samantha remembered. “I laugh now, but [before the Weiser trip] I couldn’t even bike to our neighborhood pool without wanting to stop.”

Not long after Samantha returned from the Weiser trip, she joined a local cycling club, and soon competed in her first-ever road race in Enumclaw, WA. She was not an instant success story: “I placed last in every event that weekend. Then, after six months of riding, I went to Nationals and placed in the bottom third of racers, but I learned so much!”

Undeterred by the learning curve, Samantha pursued more opportunities to improve her cycling. During Spring Break in 2019, she emailed three teams in Southern California to ask if she could guest ride to learn how others race; Team Velosport quickly offered her a spot. “[Team Velosport] has won Junior Club of the Year six times in the past decade. How could I say no?”

This experience led to an offer last summer to train at a Talent ID Camp in Thousand Oaks, CA. She rode 150 miles in four days with “a great group.” Today, she’s on Team Velosport Elite, the largest junior development cycling team in the United States, and looking forward to competing in the 2020 road season.

“It’s not uncommon for students to make connections and find their passion during Riverstone outdoor trips,” said Outdoor Program Coordinator Derek Wright. “Kids need experiences where they get to spend time in nature, and find out what they’re capable of and passionate about, to become fully-formed people.”