-For the first time in EGE history, Delta Air Lines will be offering daily, non-stop service to Atlanta, GA (ATL) this summer. This flight will operate on a 757 aircraft daily beginning June 5. The flight will depart ATL at 5:55 p.m. and land in EGE at 7:30 p.m.; and depart EGE at 7:30 a.m. and land in ATL at 12:38 p.m. This new service offers one-stop connectivity from Vail to over 200 domestic and international destinations. Passengers may book at www.delta.com.

-American Airlines will offer new non-stop service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) this summer, in addition to their year-round non-stop Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) flights. The ORD non-stop flights will be offered daily starting June 3 and will operate on A319 aircraft. ORD flight will depart from Chicago at 9:50 a.m. and land in EGE at 11:47 a.m., as well as depart EGE at 1:50 p.m. and arrive in ORD at 5:45 p.m. Passengers may book at www.aa.com.

-United Airlines continues to offer daily service to Denver International Airport year-round.

“This is great news for our community, as our airlines partners continue to build their year-round service at the Eagle County Regional Airport,” said David Reid, Director of Aviation. “It is a testament to our growing and dynamic community, and our airline partners’ commitment to serve it. It is likely we can expect this trend of additional summer service to continue if the community utilizes this new service.”

“Eagle County Regional Airport is a vital component of our community and our local economy,” said Chris Romer, President and CEO of Vail Valley Partnership. “Expanded service to Dallas and new service to the hub markets of Chicago and Atlanta during the summer season not only benefits our tourism economy, but it is a huge benefit to our local residents. EGE is our community’s airport, and it has never been as accessible to our residents as it will be this summer. We are excited to welcome our airline partners, second homeowners, and visitors from these markets and beyond. And we encourage our local community to FlyVail.”

For EGE’s complete flight schedule, visit www.flyvail.com.

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Servicing Eagle, Garfield, and Summit Counties 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  970-827-7429

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A focused Dave Krimstock mountain biking

Dave Krimstock was a loved member of Sacred Cycle. A friend to everyone, but like all of us, not without his personal struggles. Unfortunately, on February 20th, 2020, those struggles led to his early and tragic death. There are no words to describe losses like these. They affect all of us deeply and uniquely. February 2021 marks the one-year anniversary of his passing. We wanted to thank his friends and family that sought to honor his memory through Sacred Cycle.

A Friend’s Perspective on Dave

Taylor and Dave connected through shared struggles and successes in mountain biking and life.

To learn more about Dave, having never met him, I spoke with his long-time friend Taylor Woodward. He shared that Dave was personally driven and committed to biking in a way that was almost obsessive but filled with joy.  Cycling helped him to overcome many obstacles in his life. For Dave, Cycling was a form of mediation. It was a healthy way to move through past and present in order to get to a place of clarity and peace. Dave was first connected to Sacred Cycle through his friendship with founder Heather Russell. The members of the Sacred Cycle race team became part of his circle as well. Together they shared a desire to raise Sacred Cycle awareness as a cycle of healing for the people who are looking for a supported way to grow was close to his heart.

Gear’s  New Home

After Dave’s passing there were years worth of accumulated cycling gear that needed a place to call home. Dave’s parents decided it would be best served by making a contribution in a way that would honor exactly what Dave would have wanted to do. At Taylor’s suggestion, several of Dave’s close friends in the Fort Collins area arranged an auction. The auction raised a total of over $4,500 to be donated to Sacred Cycle. As a result, these funds, held aside for the 2020 season, have just been designated specifically for clinical therapy in 2021. This makes a huge impact on community healing!

When I asked Taylor why he thought Sacred Cycle was a good fit for the donation he said,

“It’s where Dave would have wanted to contribute. Dave saw the impact that Sacred Cycle, even in its early years, was making in connecting others to a new life, where finding joy in mountain biking was even possible. He would have wanted to help heal the community he identified with.”

Taylor pointed out a quote from Dave that he thought captured it best,

“I need to surrender to some extent and realize the thing that has to be most important to me, which is connection.”

Dave would have wanted to give people with or without the outlet of cycling the opportunity to create that for themselves.

Our Biggest Thank You to the Krimstock Family

Dave Krimstock knew that by supporting Sacred Cycle, you support survivors of sexual trauma and better the community in which you live. At Sacred Cycle, we have made it our goal to help survivors feel reconnected with their emotional, mental, and physical worlds, something he could relate to and we hope you can too. Thank you to Dave’s friends and family for showing your support for Sacred Cycle’s programming, these donations fund programming, equipment, and therapy for 2021 and future participants.

Author: Amy Hawf

About Sacred Cycle

Mission: Sacred Cycle is healing our community by empowering survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault, through therapy and cycling; creating a sacred cycle of recovery.

We believe in inspiring survivors of sexual trauma through cycling, therapy, and community. Our sacred cycle of recovery empowers survivors to reconnect with their bodies. Healing helps survivors and positively impact their families, friends, and communities. By supporting Sacred Cycle, you support survivors of sexual trauma and better your community in which you live. Unfortunately, 1 in 4 women faces a new and unnerving reality following sexual trauma. At Sacred Cycle, we have made it our goal to help survivors feel reconnected with their emotional, mental, and physical worlds.

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Donate your jeans at the Habitat ReStore throughout April; they’ll be recycled into insulation.

We embrace Earth Day every day, encouraging customers and donors to reduce, reuse, recycle at the ReStore. This month, we have a few exciting events taking place and would love to have you share with your clients, or stop by yourself!

April 1 through 30 – Participate in Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green program which recycles blue jeans into insulation. Simply bring your used blue jeans (they must be 90% cotton) into the ReStore. The insulation created from jeans is then used in homes right here in Eagle County. 

May 5 – Alpine Bank is sponsoring a drive-through shred event. Bring up to four boxes of papers that are weighing you down and we’ll shred them – for free! Stop by the ReStore from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday, May 5. Volunteers will unload the papers and even recycle the boxes.

Proceeds from Habitat for Humanity ReStore fund administrative expenses, allowing more dollars raised to go to building affordable homes in Eagle County. This summer we are breaking ground on our 100th home!

How can you get involved with Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley (HFHVV)? 

• Donate. The ReStore accepts donations of used, quality furnishings, art, homewares and even building materials. As a matter of fact, the sale of these donations goes directly back to funding HFHVV, ultimately allowing us to provide housing stability to more families. We offer free pickups, simply email the store restore@habitatvailvalley.org or call 970.328.1119 for details. 

• Volunteer. We’d love to have you out on our job site or helping at the ReStore. In 2020, volunteers gave 7010 hours (and that was during a shutdown)–this equates to more than $180,000 in labor costs.

• Shop. Visit the ReStore to see the constantly changing inventory. Check out our online shop for the latest offerings. 

HFHVV quick facts:

• We are finishing 6 houses at our Grace Avenue project in Gypsum this summer. This was a collaborative project between HFHVV and Eagle County Schools. These partnerships help keep the costs down and give the opportunity of homeownership to more families – 12 families will call Grace Avenue home. 
• We will break ground on 8 homes this summer, bringing the number of homes built by HFHVV to 100. 
• More than 90 families, including 300 children, have found housing stability through Habitat for Humanity homes. 
• The ReStore kept 5402 tons out of the landfill last year alone. We accept housewares, cabinets, building supplies, artwork, furnishings, linen… and more. 
• We offer free pickups year-round. Donations are the life blood of the ReStore. 
• HFHVV believes housing is vital to maintaining the health, economic and social vibrancy of our community. Habitat for Humanity is the only organization in Eagle County that has built permanently affordable homes every year for the past 26 years. Since our founding in 1995, we have built homes that house more than 300 children.
• Donate, volunteer and shop at Habitat ReStore Vail Valley in Eagle.

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The Vilar Performing Arts Center’s popular winter artist-in-residency program wraps up with a series of intimate, physically-distanced, limited capacity events taking place in March and April.

“It’s exciting to be able say that during the ‘COVID Winter of ’21,’ the VPAC has hosted a line-up of celebrated and beloved performers,” said Owen Hutchinson, the VPAC’s executive director. Tickets are available now (prices are subject to change) at the VPAC box office (970-845-8497; www.vilarpac.org). The VPAC is located under the ice rink in Beaver Creek Village (68 Avondale Lane, Beaver Creek, Colorado).

An Evening with JoJo Hermann and Jerry Joseph // March 12 and 13 at 5 and 8 p.m. | $95

It’s been nearly three decades since John “JoJo” Herman started playing keys with Widespread Panic, bringing a boogie woogie style into his songwriting and performing. His major influences stem from New Orleans piano players; most notably Professor Longhair and Dr. John.  Jerry Joseph is a prolific and accomplished songwriter, writing hits for Widespread Panic and releasing 30 albums in his 30-plus year career; as a solo artist, with the Jackmormons, supergroup Stockholm Syndrome, The Denmark Veseys, or originally, with his beloved ‘80s cult band, Little Women.

S&M2: Metallica & San Francisco Symphony Film Screening  // March 14, 15, 16 at 7 p.m. | $20
S&M2 is a landmark release in the Metallica catalogue, both sonically and visually. Produced by Greg Fidelman with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, the S&M2 live album captures more than two and a half hours of Hetfield, Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo joining forces with the nearly 80-strong SF Symphony, legendary Music Director of the orchestra Michael Tilson Thomas, and conductor Edwin Outwater.

Oteil Burbridge Trio and Special Guests// March 18, 19, 20 at 7 p.m. | $200

Two-time Grammy award winner and the Dead & Company bassist Oteil Burbridge has been in the music business touring and recording for over three decades. His first step into the national spotlight came in 1991 when he became a founding member of the Aquarium Rescue Unit featuring Col. Bruce Hampton, a cult classic that has stood the test of time. That led to his membership in the classic rock group the Allman Brothers Band. Over the years, Oteil has shared the stage with rock and blues legends such as Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Levon Helm, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, Chuck Leavell, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Johnny Winter, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow and Trey Anastasio. In 2012, Oteil received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his 15 year contribution to the Allman Brothers Band as the longest running bassist in the band’s history.

An Evening with Chris Thile// March 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. | $98

Multiple Grammy Award-winner and MacArthur Fellow Chris Thile, a member of Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, and former host of the radio program, Live from Here, is a mandolin virtuoso, composer and vocalist. With his broad outlook, Thile transcends the borders of conventionally circumscribed genres, creating a distinctly American canon and a new musical aesthetic for performers and audiences alike.

California Honeydrops// March 26 and 27 at 5 and 8 p.m. | $75

For more than a dozen years now, the California Honeydrops have been making crowds dance and smile. The concerts have a prominent party vibe, with plenty of dancing, singing and interaction with the crowd. The band draws on diverse musical influences including Bay Area R&B, funk, Southern soul, Delta blues, and New Orleans second-line. They’ve toured widely across North America, Europe and Australia and have supported high-profile names like Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Dr. John.

Comedian Jim Breuer Presents ‘The New Normal’  // March 28 at 6 and 9 p.m. | $62

The Laughs are back! Named one of Comedy Central’s ‘Top 100 Stand-Ups of all time,’ Jim Breuer became a familiar name during his years on Saturday Night Live. Over the years, Jim has become somewhat of a radio and TV regular with hilarious appearances on the late-night show circuit and as a regular guest on notable satellite radio shows. Most recently, Jim’s family has served as his inspiration for finding humor in the day-to-day and draws laughs through sharing the tragedies and triumphs of growing older, life and loss, raising children and being a ‘marriage warrior.’ Expect a family-friendly and uplifting show – Jim’s goal is to heal through humor and to inspire others to ‘see the funny’ in daily life.

The Motet: Instrumentals //April 2 and 3 at 5 and 8 p.m. | $95

The Motet has inspired the world with their unique style of dance music. Over the course of nine full-length albums, they’ve traversed the lines between funk, soul, jazz, and rock and built a diehard audience in the process. They’ve headlined Red Rocks Amphitheatre six times and sold out countless legendary venues coast-to-coast. This series of instrumental shows is the Denver-based band’s first return to the stage since the pandemic hit. The ensemble is also kicking off 2021 with a new album, “And the Beat Goes On,” where band members Dave Watts (drums), Joey Porter (keys), Garrett Sayers (bass), Ryan Jalbert (guitar), and Drew Sayers (keys/saxophone) are joined by guest singer Nigel Hall (Lettuce) for a fresh take on The Whispers classic.

All upcoming concerts follow Eagle County’s precautionary guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The VPAC will continue to prioritize the health of its patrons, artists, community and beyond during every event. Visit www.vilarpac.org for more information on venue and show night policies and procedures.

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Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek Ski Resort announced that the 2020-21 ski season will be extended through April 11 at Beaver Creek and April 18 at Vail.

The area has received about 80 inches of snow in the last 6 weeks.

The extension could go even further should conditions permit, said Vail spokesperson John Plack.

It won’t be the first time Vail Resorts has shifted the operating dates of its ski areas in recent years. In 2018-19, Breckenridge extended its season by more than a monthfollowing good snow conditions. Vail, in 2013, added another weekend to its end-of-season offerings following a big storm.

“The announcement is a way of saying thank you to pass holders and guests for their continued support, for following safety protocols and showing personal responsibility during this unprecedented season, and for helping us open and stay open,” Plack said.

Vail Resorts properties will extend their seasons as follows:

• Beaver Creek Ski Resort – Sunday, April 11, 2021
• Keystone Ski Resort – Sunday, April 11, 2021
• Vail Mountain– Sunday, April 18, 2021

Breckenridge Ski Resort will maintain its season plan to operate through Memorial Day, with a projected closing date of May 31. Crested Butte Mountain Resort plans to close on April 4.

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Organizers from the nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation, which hosts the event each year, said they plan to focus on athletes, music, and multimedia experiences in this iteration of the event. Spectator participation and activities are expected to be curtailed, and in some cases eliminated, due to ongoing public health restrictions.

“We are BACK, and we could not be more excited to bring some joy, vitality and positivity into people’s lives in the fresh air and sunshine of this beautiful mountain setting,” said GoPro Mountain Games Event Director Dave Dressman. “It takes months of planning and many, many key partners to make this event happen. The support we have received from our sponsors, the Town of Vail and Vail Resorts is remarkable, and it speaks to the power of the Mountain Games brand. We have looked at this from every angle and we feel confident we have a strong baseline plan to execute a safe, high-level, athlete-focused GoPro Mountain Games this June.”

The event has served as the epicenter of global mountain culture and adventure sports for nearly 20 years. After a one-year hiatus, the event will feature whitewater, mountain biking, road biking, fishing, trail running, DockDogs, disc golf, yoga, a photo competition, three nights of GoPro Mountains of Music (livestreamed and limited in-person capacity) and more from Vail, Colorado, with a wide array of additional ways to engage virtually.

Vail Valley Foundation organizers said they are going to take all the energy and excitement of the GoPro Mountain Games and concentrate it on core components of the event to ensure that both “pro and joe” athletes can get back to the water, trails, and competition after nearly a year of limited adventure sports competition opportunities.

The event will also include three nights of GoPro Mountains of Music headliner concerts (in-person and livestreamed) from the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, and a daily ‘SportsCenter-style’ live broadcast produced by Outside TV, which will open the livestream concert each evening.

Athlete registration is expected to open April 9. Learn more at mountaingames.com.

Here’s a look at what to expect from the 2021 event:

An athlete focus

The event will not be a cut-and-paste of years past, but instead will focus on the athletes, offering a core set of participatory events, substantial prize money, music, art, and a daily livestream and multi-media experience for those that are not able to attend in person.

In addition to being given a safe platform to compete in Vail for significant prizes, athletes will also receive pre-sale access to the GoPro Mountains of Music concerts and other perks throughout the event.

“We know our athletes have missed the event and the opportunity to compete together in our mountain community. Allowing a safe return for our athletes is of utmost importance to us, so we have built a plan that can take place under current public health guidelines; but we are optimistic that we will be able to adapt quickly as the situation improves and public health orders allow,” said Sarah Franke, Vice President of Marketing and Operations for the Vail Valley Foundation. “To that end, we will continue to focus on what can be done to ensure the event is as fun, energetic and celebratory as possible.’”

The Vail Valley Foundation will announce more information, updates, and details as the event draws near: stay up-to-date by signing up for the mailing list at mountaingames.com.

Athletics events will include:

Bike

• Road Bike Time Trial
• TIAA Bank XC Mountain Bike
• TIAA Bank Kids’ Bike Race
• Bosch eBike Challenge

Fly Fishing

• YETI 2 Fly X-Stream
• YETI Catch Wars

Kayak

• Pacifico Gore Creek Kayak Challenge
• GMC Down River Kayak Sprint
• GMC Kayak Freestyle

Raft

• Pacifico Down River R2 Raft Sprint

SUP

• YETI Down River SUP Sprint

Dog

• Orijen DockDogs Outdoor Big Air*
• Orijen DockDogs Extreme Vertical*
• Orijen DockDogs Speed Retrieve*
• Dueling Dogs

*This year’s DockDogs events will be classified as a National Championship, with increased prize money

Trail running

• adidas Terrex 10K Spring Runoff
• Nature Valley Après 5K
• Rocky Dog Trail Run
• Pepi’s Face-Off presented by JUNK Brands

Disc Golf

• Mountain Masters Disc Golf

Yoga

• Limited capacity, physically distanced, outdoors

Art

• GoPro Mountain Click Photo Competition

Previously held events that will not be a part of this year’s event are: Slackline; World Cup climbing competition; select whitewater events, including Steep Creek Championship; and the Ultimate Mountain Challenge.

Spectators and physical distancing

In-person spectating opportunities are likely to be limited or unavailable due to physical distancing requirements, but organizers are aware that the public health landscape may change as the event draws near.

The GoPro Mountain Games typically feature sponsor tents and activations from more than 140 sponsors, known as “Gear Town”, however that will not be the case in 2021. Additionally, some competition venues will be eliminated altogether, and others will be moved, in order to create firm boundaries where capacity and physical distancing can be managed.

Details on COVID-19 protocols at the event will be made public closer to the start of the Games. The Vail Valley Foundation is working closely and in conjunction with public health officials to ensure that the event operates within guidelines.

Confirmed changes include:

• Removing/eliminating Gear Town and sponsor activations & tents
• Elimination of all Lionshead village activations
• Moving DockDogs out of Lionshead
• Elimination of the Steep Creek venue in Red Cliff
• Elimination of climbing venue in Mountain Plaza
• Elimination of VIP area/access

Event organizers said they look forward to returning to Lionshead in 2022.

The Town of Vail and its hotels, restaurants, and miles of outdoor hiking and biking trails will still be open and active during the GoPro Mountain Games. Visitors are encouraged to come to the Town of Vail and enjoy, while still committing to state and local public health guidelines.

Music, livestreaming, and virtual events

For those who may not be able to compete but want to connect and engage with the GoPro Mountain Games, the Vail Valley Foundation is raising the bar for this year’s event in several ways:

• The introduction of a daily live show during the event in partnership with Outside TV
• A GoPro-camera livestreamed concert series from the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
• Virtual events, contests and activities leading up to and during the event
  • Additional announcements coming soon!

The Vail Valley Foundation looks forward to announcing band(s) and more details this spring.

Organizers said they recognize, even more than any other year, that this year’s event would not be possible without the support of the following partners: GoPro, Town of Vail, Vail Resorts, GMC, Go RVing, L.L.Bean, Nature Valley, Outside Magazine, YETI, Bosch, TIAA Bank, Pacifico, Mountain House, adidas Terrex, Tincup, Orijen, Lifestraw, Smartwool & JUNK Brands.

Learn more about this year’s event and register to take part as an athlete at mountaingames.com.

###

About the GoPro Mountain Games

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Janet Bartnik was recognized by the prestigious President’s Award—given at the discretion of the current President of the CPRA—for her leadership in the past year. “[Janet] recognized that the directors of so many agencies throughout the state needed support during the pandemic and [she] provided that support by having directors lean on each other.  Building on that recognition, [she] made every effort to bring the directors together, doing outreach, facilitating phone calls, fostering that ongoing communication, and in doing those things, provided a safe space for directors to make high-level decisions,” said Justin Perdue, the President of CPRA.

Eddie Campos, Marketing and Communications Manager was selected from among a diverse group of over 100 nominees from 29 different states, one Canadian province, and one US Navy aircraft carrier to be included in the National Recreation and Park Association’s inaugural “30 Under 30” recognition program.

“If there is one thing that perfectly encapsulates Eddie: is his passion and devotion to his community – to uplift others and serve as a bridge builder so that everyone can be included, respected, and successful. This experience first started with his work with the Latino Student Union in college in helping to connect people to their community to celebrate their culture, stay active, and engaged. I am happy to say that work has continued and has grown stronger over the past two years with the District ” says Mountain Rec’s Executive Director Janet Bartnik.  “It is this experience paired with his knowledge of the community that sets Eddie apart from the typical marketing manager.”

Eddie has the skills to both reach into neighborhoods in the community, personally connect, and to learn how Mountain Recreation can better serve residents’ needs.  Even more, he has tirelessly advocated on behalf of residents when systems or policies perpetuate barriers to access.

Eddie’s work in the community on behalf of Mountain Rec has not gone unnoticed.  In recent wildfire events, and even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic, Eagle County Government leaders recognized Eddie’s value, borrowing Eddie from Mountain Rec to leverage his unique abilities in their critical communication efforts targeting Spanish-speaking residents.  Eddie knew this work needed to be personal, and so spent countless hours, many outside his scheduled workday, in person in those neighborhoods at risk, knocking on doors to ensure the most up-to-date information was shared and that it was shared in the most culturally appropriate ways.

“With his knowledge of and caring for everyone in the community, Eddie’s brand of two-way communication is changing Mountain Rec from the inside out,” says Bartnik.

You can catch Eddie outside of Mountain Rec as a mentor for SOS Outreach, Board chair for Neighborhood Navigators, and in many outdoor activities across our valley.

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, healthy, and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation.  Nominations were evaluated by a group of peer professionals in the field based on the candidates’ impacts on the agency’s community and service population, contributions to the professional development of the field of parks and recreation, and innovative ideas, programs and/or research in the field of parks and recreation.

Congratulations, Eddie & Janet

Learn more about Mountain Recreation.

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The Theory of Bike Therapy

The theory is really quite simple, it worked for the founder, Heather Russell (a survivor of childhood sexual abuse), and she believed it could help others as well. Not surprisingly, Sacred Cycle was born on a bike. About half-way through a long mountain bike training ride, Heather had the idea to combine the benefits of cycling with other healing modalities to help treat the complexities of sexual trauma and the subsequent side-effects that ensue. As she pedaled, the program that exists today unfolded. Sacred Cycle was founded high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in 2016 as a 501c3 corporation with the mission of healing our community by empowering survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault, through therapy and cycling; creating a sacred cycle of recovery.

Kari Kotoff coaching mountain bike skills. Skills practice can help quiet the mind and build focus with practice.

The Science

Science studies show a significant tie between physical activity and being in nature that has numerous proven benefits to one’s mental health. Further studies are being conducted to research how mountain biking in particular, when combined with therapy, provides difficult, but attainable, challenges that reinforce traditional therapies including DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy).

How Biking Enhances Therapies

If you are not familiar with DBT, think of it this way. You rode a difficult hill. It was tough yet you did it. You returned to the same climb because you learned that the challenge will pass and that feeling was rewarding. This is a DBT exercise that had you experience one of the four main elements of DBT – distress tolerance. Sexual survivors have experienced extreme amounts of distress from sexual trauma. Learning to manage distress in relation to other stimuli is a useful tool in healing. Mountain biking is particularly effective at providing distress in a healthy fashion as it allows you to process it.

“When the summer riding season began, I could barely climb for more than 10 minutes. I felt defeated as we climbed Vail Mountain’s fire road. One August I found myself gazing across to the alpenglow of the Gore Range from MidVail. I had climbed 800 vertical while chatting my way up with my new biking buddies. A smiled in disbelief. Who’s legs were these I was standing on?!”

Sacred Cycle’s Approach

Pedaling through different days is beneficial to building confidence.

Now, you might be wondering how Sacred Cycle incorporates biking into its program. The signature Sacred Cycle program, which runs five months between May 1st and October 1st, named “Frame” includes mountain biking in conjunction with clinical therapy to empower survivors to reconnect with their bodies by building emotional, mental and physical strength on and off the bike. It includes the following biking components (in addition to the clinical therapeutic components):

• A biking coach for individual instruction, group rides, and individual skill development – from beginner to advanced, available twice monthly for five months.
• A monthly regional active participant and alumni group ride
• A weekly regional community ride open to the public men and women, designed for beginner to intermediate riders to connect with the community and develop riding peers. Survivors are not identified.
• Athletic goods: Bike, helmet, shoes, soft goods, and assorted accessories.
• End of program retreat and a culminating event.

While you may not be a survivor, can you intellectually connect the benefits of biking and how it allows us to heal through experiencing stress and processing it? Bike therapy works. Close your eyes and recall the last time you climbed that tough hill and made it to the top.

Author: Amy Hawf

About Sacred Cycle

Mission: Sacred Cycle is healing our community by empowering survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault, through therapy and cycling; creating a sacred cycle of recovery.

We believe in inspiring survivors of sexual trauma through cycling, therapy, and community. Our sacred cycle of recovery empowers survivors to reconnect with their bodies. Healing helps survivors and positively impact their families, friends, and communities. By supporting Sacred Cycle, you support survivors of sexual trauma and better your community in which you live. Unfortunately, 1 in 4 women faces a new and unnerving reality following sexual trauma. At Sacred Cycle, we have made it our goal to help survivors feel reconnected with their emotional, mental, and physical worlds.

The post Bike Therapy Works appeared first on Vail Valley Partnership.