Mountain bike superstars
Ella Erickson, 15, shines in first place after having the fastest downhill time for her age group in the USA Cycling National Championships in West Virginia, which ended Sunday. The Hayden teen won a gold medal, a USA jersey and national status as a downhill racer. Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo Alli Gaertner, 18, left, and Ella Erickson, 15, take a break on the trails of the USA Cycling National Championships in West Virginia last week while preparing for the finals. The North Idaho teens earned second place and first place, respectively, in their age groups for downhill racing.
Ella Erickson, 15, of Hayden, slams down a mountain track during the 2018 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships in West Virginia, which concluded Sunday. Ella won first place in her age group for downhill racing. (Courtesy photo)
Coeur d'Alene 18-year-old Alli Gaertner rallies on a trail during the 2018 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships in West Virginia. Allie is one of just two North Idaho young ladies who competed and earned top spots at the race. (Courtesy photo)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
North Idaho has two more reasons to be proud of its young people.
Ella Erickson, 15, of Hayden, was just announced as the winner of the 2018 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships Women's Junior 15-16 Category title. The incoming Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy sophomore earned a gold medal and national status as a downhill racer.
"It was kind of shocking, but it was a really good feeling," Ella said. "It was definitely the hardest course I’ve ever had to race."
The championship took place in Snowshoe, W.Va., from July 17 through Sunday. Racers of all ages from across the U.S. participated in downhill, cross-country and relay events.
Ella defeated her competition with lightning-fast speed that propelled her to the bottom of the track and the top of the winners list — not too shabby for her first time competing in the national race.
"It’s kind of like, 'Wow, I just did this, this is awesome,'" she said. "Then you think of all the other competitors, and you think, 'I can’t believe I just did this,' because all these other people are such good riders."
Ella is not alone in bringing the mountain bike glory back to the Gem State. Alli Gaertner, 18, of Coeur d'Alene, placed second in the Women's 17-18 downhill division.
"It's a nice feeling when you get down to the bottom and you’re still upright," said Alli, a Lake City High School graduate.
The young ladies had about five days to familiarize with the course, during which time Alli broke her hand but kept training.
"Everybody got injured or would power through it or it was bad enough that they couldn’t continue," she said.
Ella and Alli are pals who ride local trails together. They were also bunkmates at the competition.
"It’s pretty cool that we both were able to place so well," Ella said. "There's not a lot of riders in North Idaho or in the world, so it’s pretty cool to have two of us come from the same area."
"I was pretty pumped that I could not only get down the hill, but do it at a decent pace," Alli said.
Ella said Silver Mountain has played a big role in her and Alli's success.
"We both train and ride up at Silver Mountain quite often," she said. "I don’t think that there is a better place to practice at and I definitely don’t think our riding abilities would be as capable as they are now if we didn’t have that place to ride."