Local student-athletes revive Riverdale’s Tornado Alley trail as Utah’s high school mountain biking scene continues to grow.
As summer approaches, Utah’s fast-growing high school mountain biking community is preparing for its 2025 season. Among the active programs is the combined Bonneville-Roy Mountain Bike Team, which recently made a significant contribution to its local trail system while getting ready for competition.
Last month, the team dedicated more than 180 volunteer hours to restoring the “Tornado Alley” mountain bike trail in Riverdale. Head coach Mike Staten said the group worked hard to clear, shape, and repair the trail, which sits on a mix of city and private land.
“The Bonneville and Roy Mountain Bike Team had a dig day where we put in over 180 man-hours cutting and digging and shaping and fixing,” Staten told the Standard-Examiner. “The West Field Mountain Bike Team was there the next weekend doing more work. We held our first on-the-bike practice of the year there yesterday and it was fantastic.”
The use of the trail had been the subject of discussion at several Riverdale City Council meetings earlier this year. Ultimately, the council supported a nonexclusive agreement allowing the team to use and maintain the trails on public land.
With trail access secured, the team now shifts its focus to recruiting riders and preparing for a busy season. Last year, the Bonneville-Roy team fielded 115 athletes, including around 20 from Roy High School, which joined the program in 2024. For 2025, more than 90 riders are already signed up, with registration open through May 30. Late registration will remain available for one additional week, subject to a fee.
Eligible participants include students in grades 7 through 12 (as of fall 2025) who live within the boundaries of Bonneville High, South Ogden Junior High, T.H. Bell Junior High, Utah Military Academy, Roy High, Roy Junior High, and Sand Ridge Junior High. Riders compete either in the high school or junior development categories.
Coach Staten believes mountain biking offers a unique and inclusive experience compared to traditional high school sports.
“Whenever I’m out riding with a team, I always ask myself, ‘Why would anybody do any other sport?’” Staten said. “This one is just so much fun, and it really is inclusive and equitable in that anybody can join.”
The Utah High School Cycling League, part of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), includes programs aimed at broadening access. Its Elevate program supports riders who need extra help, while Girls Riding Together (GRiT) encourages female participation. Students interested in trying out the sport can join up to three preseason activities without committing, provided they have a waiver signed by a parent. Loaner bikes may also be available with advance notice, depending on supply.
Mountain biking has seen explosive growth in Utah since the league’s early days. In 2012, just 320 student-athletes participated in NICA events statewide. That number has grown into the thousands, with more teams like Bonneville-Roy forming each year.
Coach Staten, who has led the team for eight years, is beginning to plan for a leadership transition. His son, a senior next season, will graduate in 2026 — the same year Staten must renew his head coach certifications, including wilderness first aid.
“That creates a logical transition point for me to train up the next generation of team leadership and have a seamless transition so that the program continues without me,” he said. “But I will still be here to answer questions and assist next year before I hang up the coach shirt permanently.”