Westpunt Riders

                     A MTB club for Westpunt Youngsters

  In March 2009, I started a mountain bike club for the youth of Westpunt. The club provides a bike, helmet and shoes for any child going on our rides. Between scheduled rides, the equipment is stored and maintained here on our property. Along with the bikes we have adult volunteers who ride with the children. At our first race, a parent of a competing child gave us 2 used bicycles and many businesses on the island have donated toward the purchase of the much needed equipment.

  We use a number of adult and children bikes on our rides. There has been a growing group of boys riding three times a week and on a few occasions a couple children have been turned away because we did not have enough bikes. We now have 25 bikes and 30 boys, ages 9 to 19 but we anticipate more involvement.

 Being involved in racing has exposed these boys to a mixed group of local and Dutch children. Racing presents a whole new set of rules and behavior. We hope to teach them not only strong riding skills but the proper etiquette for good sportsmanship.

These boys love having something that is theirs and theirs alone; they wear their race jerseys proudly and have come to respect both their bicycles and their coaches. They are required to attend our rides in proper riding clothes as well as keep the bicycles cleaned and lubed. If or when we have our new storage building built they will be responsible to store their assigned equipment in its proper place. Even the younger children are now capable of changing a tube and removing all thorns from the tires. The boys who have been involved the longest enjoy instructing their friends on the proper techniques.

 While we will not presume to initiate any big changes, we hope to provide a positive and nurturing base that the boys can expand on throughout life. We have plans to start a Westpunt Riders guide service and along with an adult, the older boys will lead bicycle tours in Banda Bou. In the years to come we hope to see a few from the club making a living from the tourist trade here on Curacao. Some may even be able to work as bike mechanics.

With help like yours we can continue this worthwhile project.

Kind regards,

David Livingston

Playa Kalki G1A

Westpunt Curacao

599-9-864-0005

sunshineisonline@gmail.com

RBTT # 1.03.59.494

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