WTB and Team Semper Fi Mountain Bike Camp
MILL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA – May 12, 2016 – This past weekend, from May 6-8,WTB partnered with the Semper Fi Fund in Novato, California to put on a mountain bike skills camp where 16 Team Semper Fi riders, consisting of service members, received three days of instruction and riding with WTB/Cannondale Over Mountain Team athletes Mark Weir and Jason Moeschler.
It was a rowdy weekend of perfect dirt, seemingly endless shuttle laps, high-speed descents and a level of camaraderie that made it impossible to end each day without a smile.“I’ve spent my entire life racing, which is a fairly vain way of going about things in comparison to what these guys have done,” says Weir. “It’s my turn to give back to each of these service members and the least I can do is provide them with a weekend of rowdy trails and good times. I can’t thank these guys enough for the sacrifices they’ve made for all of us and hopefully this is only the start of something much bigger.”Days were spent exploring different trails on a private ranch, as Moeschler and Weir took turns teaching using their different approaches to mountain bike technique.
It was a rowdy weekend of perfect dirt, seemingly endless shuttle laps, high-speed descents and a level of camaraderie that made it impossible to end each day without a smile.“I’ve spent my entire life racing, which is a fairly vain way of going about things in comparison to what these guys have done,” says Weir. “It’s my turn to give back to each of these service members and the least I can do is provide them with a weekend of rowdy trails and good times. I can’t thank these guys enough for the sacrifices they’ve made for all of us and hopefully this is only the start of something much bigger.”Days were spent exploring different trails on a private ranch, as Moeschler and Weir took turns teaching using their different approaches to mountain bike technique.Over the three days of the event, the service member received group, and one-on-one, clinics on how to improve their individual riding style and experience. Without any doubt, the end of the skills camp showed a noticeable difference in each of their abilities to conquer the mountain, not only physically, but also in their mental approach to doing so. “I’ve taught mountain bike skills to a lot of people over the years but it was incredible to see how much better and how much more confident the servicemen were from start to finish in such a short period of time,” Moeschler explained. He added that having the support from their friends and the people who worked to put the whole event together helped to convey the normal every-day scene that he and Weir love so much. “I was honored to be able to share it with them. It’s our little slice of heaven that we wouldn’t have without their bravery.”
Each of the service members were presented with a limited edition WTB Volt Team saddle, featuring a star spangled design of red, white and blue colors. Through this saddle, the service members were able to return home from the event with not only the memories of the weekend, but also a tangible reminder of our appreciation for each of them. WTB is doing a limited production run of the Volt Team titanium rail saddle as well. It will be available for purchase on the WTB website late this summer, with an MSRP of $129.95. A portion of the proceeds from the saddle sales will be given to the Semper Fi Fund to help support future opportunities to allow recovering service members to experience the activities they love.
About WTB
Founded in 1982, WTB was formed in the birthplace of mountain biking to design betterbicycle products. Renowned for saddles, tires, rims, and grips, this rider-driven company
continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible through an unrelenting spirit of
innovation and passion for two-wheeled adventure.
continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible through an unrelenting spirit of
innovation and passion for two-wheeled adventure.
About Semper Fi Fund
The Semper Fi Fund provides urgently needed resources and lifetime support forwounded, critically ill and injured members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.Case managers from the Semper Fi Fund work one-on- one with service members andveterans in order to understand and support their individual needs right now andthroughout their lifetime. We keep our overhead low so our impact on the lives of servicemembers and veterans is greater. The Semper Fi Fund is one of only three veterancharities to receive an “A+” rating from The American Institute of Philanthropy and afour-star rating from Charity Navigator.
