WINDHAM, N.Y. – The Adaptive Sports Foundation welcomed U.S. Military Veterans to Windham this week to participate in its second Warriors in Motion® mountain biking event of the summer.
The veterans arrived at the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center on Tuesday afternoon where they ate lunch and geared up for three-days of mountain biking in a few of the many trails the Northern Catskill Mountains have to offer. The veterans and a group of ASF volunteers were fitted with safety equipment and bikes before heading to the Elm Ridge Wild Forest in nearby East Windham, where they rode the warm-up loop first prior to crossing the street and challenging themselves on the more advanced courses. The recent rainfall Windham has seen made the trails a bit muddy and sloppy, but the WIM team didn’t mind, as they biked for several hours before the warriors headed to their hotels to check in and rest before enjoying a dinner at the ASF lodge.
On Wednesday, the WIM participants set out at 9 a.m. to Tannersville, where they rode the Huckleberry Trails all morning before stopping for lunch at Rip Van Winkle Lake. The brief intermission preceded a short trip to Haines Falls, where the WIM team continued its full day of mountain biking at the Hathaway Trails. This collection of trails includes a downhill course called, “Thriller”, which the veterans and volunteers took several runs down. Their last run down the exciting path was a time-trial race, a friendly competition to wrap up a busy morning and early afternoon. Once the bikes were stored away for the day in the ASF trailer, the group decided to head to Colgate Lake to cool off and swim in the nearby water feature before another dinner at ASF.
The final ride on Thursday morning took place at CD Lane Park in nearby Maplecrest. The veterans and volunteers biked in the grass fields by the eagle habitats and around the 26-acre lake. After a quick ride, the participants returned to Windham for lunch and then departed. In total, the warriors rode 20 miles on the rocky and wooded trails this week.
“I had a great experience this week, we had a great week of riding,” veteran Greg Rinckey said after the three-day excursion. “The weather was excellent; we saw some great views and I had a really good time with everyone who participated this week.”
The ASF’s Warriors in Motion program provides participating injured United States servicemen and women with a basic knowledge and practice of wellness and the importance of lifelong healthy living. All WIM programs are goal-oriented and empower the warrior to take charge of their own fitness and wellness. The ASF will welcome another group of veterans next week when it hosts its WIM kayaking event.
Warriors in Motion is funded by donations that were generously given to the Adaptive Sports Foundation. Thanks to these donations, the Adaptive Sports Foundation will be able to provide equipment, water bottles, all meals, snacks, water, sports drinks, sunscreen, bug spray and ponchos (if necessary) for this upcoming event.
If you’d like to donate to the Adaptive Sports Foundation’s Warriors in Motion program, or any of the other programs the ASF has to offer, click here.