National Race Series for Toddlers – How Cool That

Here at Outdoor Revival HQ we often talk about how to get kids more involved in outdoor activities so we’re pleased to see that Strider Bikes is stepping up and creating an event that could well produce the Pro cyclists of the future.  Even if that’s not the case it’s encouraging kids to get off the couch and into the saddle, a much better place to be.

Tiny Strider® Bike Riders to Compete on Custom-Designed Tracks from Coast to Coast

Strider Bikes, the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of children’s no-pedal balance bikes, is pleased to announce the dates and locations for its 2017 Strider Cup, a national Strider Bike racing series for toddlers and children. These family-friendly races for the tiniest competitors will give small children a chance to put their Strider Balance Bike skills to the test at three stops across the country next spring and summer, as well as the final worldwide event next July, the Strider Cup World Championship event.

The unique Strider Cup race series caters directly to children between 2 and 5 years old who want to show off their riding skills and compete in a friendly atmosphere against other Strider riders.

Children of all sizes and skill levels are welcome to participate. Strider No-Pedal Balance Bikes are developed for both learning the ropes of riding and honing advanced skills in racing.

You’ll find Strider Cup races in the following cities in 2017:

• Saturday, May 6: Fort Worth, TX, at Sundance Square
• Saturday, May 27: Pittsburgh, PA, at Southside Works
• Saturday, June 10: Lincoln, NE, at Tower Square

The series-ending Strider Cup World Championship race will be held July 22 at Gallivan Center
in Salt Lake City, UT, where nearly 250 toddlers competed on the custom Strider track in 2016. Organizers are expecting over 400 toddler-aged racers from around the world to compete at this pinnacle event.

There will be races for 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year olds at each event. Registration fee is $25, and will open in January. Racers will receive a Strider goodie bag valued at more than $50 with their registration.
Pre-registration will be available soon; visit http://www.striderbikes.com/events for further information. Sponsors for the 2017 events include Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, LDS Hospital, FedEx, Amica Insurance, and more.

For the second year in a row, Strider will host races for athletes with special needs at each of the events. These athletes will race the 12” balance bike models, as well as Strider’s new, larger 16” and 20” balance bikes, which the company launched in 2014 specifically for the special needs community.

A typical Strider race scene features excited and proud young parents and grandparents eagerly encouraging their young racers as bright yellow cowbells are rung and the starting gate drops. Toddlers, some still in diapers, lean forward, kick their short legs, and embark upon their 600-foot plus journey over obstacles from dirt mounds to wooden ramps. All racers are treated to a celebratory podium award ceremony immediately following their main race, where they will receive either a trophy or a medal and pose for the crowd of proud parents and spectators.

As one parent put it, “My son loves his Strider Bike and this event has given him a great way to race, go fast, and feel like a big kid without having to navigate pedals.”

Participating in any of these events automatically qualifies the rider for the Strider Cup World Championship. Please visit their website at http://www.striderbikes.com/events for more information.

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