Tak Mutu takes Koutu students mountain biking in Whakarewarewa forest
Mountain biking through the Whakarewarewa Forest is one way to start your day and it is exactly how 240 students from Te Kura o Te Koutu did last week.
The students from the kura kaupapa were taken through the forest as part of the Share the Ride in Schools programme.
The programme is a joint initiative of Crankworx, Multi-day Adventure Experiences and Mountain Bike Rotorua and all the costs were covered.
Tau 10 (Year 10 Form Class) teacher Aroha Haumaha thought it was a neat initiative that allowed children to see what was on offer right in their backyard and the benefit extended further than physical exercise.
"Some of them have a little bit of anxiety and don't do much bike riding so it is putting them outside of their comfort zone and just getting them to venture out and break a few challenges.
"To be able to do it together and build those interpersonal skills is a great thing for our kids."
Share the Ride initiative sees 200 kids fromTe Kura o te Koutu taken mountain bike riding for nothing. Photo / Stephen Parker
Mountain Bike Rotorua and Crankworx director Tak Mutu led 11 kids on Tuesday and said the students were buzzing and had been disappointed when it came to an end.
He said although it cost the company thousands it was about educating Rotorua locals on the forest and getting them involved.
"When my girlfriend was teaching at Kaitao Intermediate she took a class out mountain biking and one of the kids thought they were in Taupō but the reality is we are in the backyard."
Mutu said that experience was an eye-opener and as a result, every year since, he has chosen a school to take on a tour.
"I suppose a lot of this town knows about the mountain biking here but the majority doesn't.
"When I first started riding here I had my old dunga bike with no suspension and today you can still have that old dunga bike and enjoy this forest."
Mountain Bike Rotorua director Tak Mutu, who is also the organiser of Crankworx. Photo / File
Being Rotorua born and bred has ignited Mutu's passion for the community and he only hopes this initiative gets the community involved in their backdoor playground.
The programme coincides with another Share the Ride programme which is run for disadvantaged children within the community that don't have means to own a mountain bike.
Mutu takes 10 children and their whānau for 10 sessions through the forest while teaching bike maintenance, repairs and skills, then gifting the whānau a new bike.
He also hopes locals get involved with the mountain biking festival through the free locals day or if whānau have tickets they can enter their kids in races through the Kidsworx Arena.
Crankworx 2019
From March 19 to 24 the multi-stop international festival series bringing together the best mountain bike athletes to compete in elite-level competitions.
