Far too often people underestimate the legitimacy of mountain biking as a sport, and question whether it should be offered to students as a school sport.  However, the CHS Mountain Biking Team, run by sisters sophomore Seta Aghababian and freshman Sidra Aghababian, is a club that is attempting to establish themselves as an official sports team for physical education credit.  Currently, the MBT is partnering with Newbury High School to increase support as they try to make mountain biking an official sport for physical education credits, similar to how the equestrian team is worth credit.  Seta and Sidra will contact California Interscholastic Federation Administrators in order for the club to become recognized as a school sport.

“In the spring we hope to invite CIF Administers to a practice ride, like Newbury High School’s team, to show the physical aspects of the sport to prove it deserves [physical education] credit,” said Sidra Aghababian.

If mountain biking is approved as a school sport, in order to legitimize MBT to be eligible for races, the team must find a coach to be responsible for them.  The National Interscholastic Cycling Association requires that all teams entering the association must have a coach to run practices and sign off on legal matters regarding the team.  Without a coach MBT cannot participate in any races against other teams, and cannot meet regularly at scheduled practices throughout the week like other official sports.

“Recently the search has been going well,” said Seta Aghababian.  “We have been put in contact with a few local bike shops like Pedalers Fork and Spoke ‘N’ Wheel [bike shops].”

If the CIF Administrators approve MBT and NICA establishes CHS as an official member of the association, CHS will have its first certified mountain biking team.