If you’re out and about at Chickasaw Trace Park on Sunday afternoons starting April 14, you may see a group of Little Bellas – seven to 13-year-old girls for whom mountain biking is their social medium. There’s no racing or “catching air” off big jumps – there aren’t even mountains. Instead, there are multiple opportunities for the girls to get together, encourage one another, and experience success as part of the new Columbia Little Bellas program.
Open to girls of all abilities, Little Bellas is a mountain bike program whose goal is to help young women reach their fullest potential. The program is a catalyst for the girls to learn about who they are, what they can do, and how to overcome what they think they cannot do. The aim is to create a community to empower women through cycling, accent the importance of goals and a healthy lifestyle, and emphasize a positive female bond. While this program is centered around creating a female camaraderie on bikes, it is most importantly about having fun in a constructive environment.
The person responsible for bringing Little Bellas to Columbia is none other than mom, mountain biker, and neurologist, Megan Hall, who was a beginner mountain biker herself just six years ago. She’ll be able to connect with Little Bellas on several different levels: with the “not yets,” as someone who was also new to mountain biking not too long ago; with the youngest shredders to the more advanced riders, who can see in Megan what can be achieved through skills progression and practice; as a mom who has those special “mom skills;” and as a neurologist, whose ability to get kids to wear helmets is a gift to all of us.
The Columbia Weekly Program offers eight recurring sessions from April to June. Open to riders of all abilities, the focus of each session is fun, allowing each girl to make new friends, learn new skills, and build confidence, all in a positive, fun environment.
In weekly sessions starting on April 14, mentors, girls, and program lead, Megan, will meet at Chickasaw Trace Park to focus on improving skills and strengthening bonds built outside of classrooms and away from screens.
The Columbia Little Bellas program takes place from April 14-June 9 and has space for up to 25 girls, ages 7-13. The program is on Sundays from 4:00-6:00 p.m. The 8-week program includes mentoring, awesome trail riding, snacks, and a Little Bellas custom jersey.
More information and registration for the Columbia Little Bellas Program here.
