Former pro Andrew Pinfold re-vamps club’s youth development program
Andrew Pinfold, used intelligence, tenacity and a deadly finishing sprint to realize success as a professional cyclist. This included landing on the podium in some of North Americas biggest races and winning his hometown, race the Gastown Grand Prix. Now he helps the next generation of cyclists. He works as the head coach and program director of the youth wing at Devo presented by Catalyst Kinetics, part of the Escape Velocity Cycling Club. Through collaboration with former Olympic rower sailor and current Escape Velocity club president Brian Storey, Pinfold has re-worked Devo’s development model. It now mirrors other youth sports clubs. “The problem,” Pinfold says, “is youth cycling doesn’t look like other community sports organizations. Young riders are racing with adults and for parents who are used to hockey or soccer that doesn’t look right.”
According to Pinfold, instead of adopting young riders into all-ready established cycling clubs, new programs should be formed that cater to development and community building. For example, just a few years ago Devo had only one coach. With the recent hiring of local racer Jesse Reams, they are now up to four. The club can now put more emphasis on organized training. Pinfold also feels there needs to be more emphasis put on youth racing. “Currently Escape Velocity puts on north of 30 races a year, so getting racing there is not a problem but more needs to be done,” says Pinfold. According to the Cycling BC website there were seven weekends of racing that catered to all ages of youth cyclists in 2013.
Funding has been another issue Pinfold has tried to address. Historically the staples of Devo presented by Catalyst Kinetics budget has stemmed from the profits made during the BC Spring Series (a series of races held every year in the Lower Mainland of B.C.), membership dues and provincial gaming grants. These funding channels will remain, but the club has developed additional ways to generate funds. It will target other cycling clubs in the Vancouver area for sponsorship. “A team like Trek Red Truck, [which caters to an elite racer in B.C.] may not have the desire or capacity to have a youth racing team. But they still want to contribute,” Pinfold says. In return for a cash sponsorship, each team receives a Proud Supporter of Devo logo for its jerseys. “There is a certian amount of give and take with this. A team like Trek Red Truck realizes it needs a solid group of racers to build its team from each year. By helping develop our program, they are in some ways securing their own future too,” Pinfold says.
Pinfold believes the new format Devo presented by Catalyst Kinectics has adopted is working. “If someone had asked me if 10- to 12-year-olds should be taking up [organized] cycling, I would’ve said ‘No way.’ That is too young. They will just burn out. But here, they are just out riding with their friends. Last year, we had kids between 10 and 12 doing two-hour rides and loving it.”
Last year, the program had 43 riders registered. Within the Devo presented by Catalyst Kinetics program, they meet friends, create a community and enjoy the sport. The stated goal is to have 65 members by November of this year. Pinfold believes they will reach it. Under his helm and in conjunction with the Escape Velocity Cycling Team the Devo present by Catalyst Kinetics youth cycling team looks to have a bright future ahead of it.
