Hoback Gives Back

Hoback Sports has been working with Outride to introduce cycling education in their local schools with a goal of improving social, emotional, and cognitive health. Hoback delivered a dozen donated bikes to the Red Top Meadows School last year to be used for their program and just delivered 30 more bikes to Jackson Hole Middle School this fall. Teddy Nichols, Program / Wilderness Director, Red Top Meadows shared a recap of Red Top's first summer of the Outride program.

The obvious metaphor a bike presents is that of a vehicle. However, it can also be a tool, an adversary, a teacher, or a relationship. It truly is all those things and more. Biking presents the invitation to move beyond our perceived limitations, build a new definition of “what is possible”, and learn from immediate feedback provided by a non-judgmental source, the trail. Biking has several therapeutic benefits. While biking we confront fears, apply coping skills, practice problem solving, and improve our emotional regulation and tolerance.

During free time the students and staff worked together to create about a mile-long single track around the property. Once the on property single track was completed, the bike program really began to thrive. Students, of varying skill level and ability, were given the freedom of going at their own pace and were able to challenge themselves by riding hot laps around the property.

Nichols shared, “During physical education class, our students learned the essential skills necessary for handling and riding a bicycle safely. Focus was given to balance, gear shifting, turning, and tracking what’s upcoming on a trail. Gradually students progressed from pavement to gravel roads and then from gravel roads to single-track”.

Red Top Meadows, a part of Teton Youth and Family Services, is a small residential treatment program near Jackson, Wyoming in the foothills of the Snake River Mountains. The campus consists of rustic log cabins that sit on 20 acres bordering the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

The program provides residential care, education services and treatment for boys ages 12-17. Students referred to Red Top Meadows exhibit a variety of social, emotional and behavioral issues that make it difficult for them to be successful in their home, communities and/or in schools. The Riding for Focus program has complemented their efforts. Throughout the course of the season students started to put together the benefits that getting good exercise could have on their ability to engage and manage themselves in the classroom.”

 A shout out to the Hoback Team from Nichols—

We want to express gratitude to Hoback Sports for their partnership and helping us get our program off the ground.

And a shout back from the Hoback Team and Tom Athey,

”We are just so stoked to help with the school and to get them up and running”.

Read the full blog post here