“It’s Not Just a Sport – It’s a Community”

Coach Kerri Kuelper shares her enthusiasm for mountain biking with the kids

Four years ago, Kerri was riding in Moab when she encountered a group of girls on the trail. She rode the rest of the way with them, and had so much fun that by the time she got back to the parking lot, she was determined to find a local mountain biking team to coach. She flew back to Nevada City and showed up at practice with the Miners the next day. Her spur of the moment decision paid off when the Miners MTB team welcomed her into the fold. “It’s not just a sport – it’s a community,” she said. “It is unlike any other organization that I have been involved with.” She didn’t know anyone on the team when she showed up at her first team camp-out, and today the people she met there are some of her closest friends.

Since she started coaching with the team four years ago, Kerri has learned a lot. “I showed up at the first few practices with no tools or anything,” she said. “Now I have a chest of drawers in my car with multiple pairs of gloves, a snack bag, extra glasses, extra jackets. It’s not fun to ride when you are uncomfortable.” 

Kerri rides for the sense of freedom she gets from being on a bike, and she loves being able to share her enthusiasm for mountain bike riding with the kids. She learns from them as well. “I was a downhill scaredy cat and they inspired me to be a better rider,” she said. “They inspired me to do my first mountain bike race ever!” 

When she isn’t coaching or riding, Kerri shows up for her local community through her work for the hospital and as a BONC and Yuba River Charter board member. She also enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. Riding with the Miners (especially at night!), however, brings her a new level of stoke.  “We come through Nevada City with our lights on – it feels like a gang,” she said. “I always hear the kids say: “We are so lucky.”