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The sound of joyful screams and a drum line punctuated Monday’s event celebrating the donation of two-wheeler training bicycles at Lincoln Elementary School in Ventura.
The gift was made by the X Games organization through a bike-oriented nonprofit. The 24 bikes, helmets and related gear will ultimately be shared across Ventura Unified School District campuses.
The 20 kids in Lincoln’s kindergarten and transitional kindergarten expanded learning program — who are getting the training bikes first — won a district-wide competition for tickets to the X Games on June 28-30 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The event features skateboard, BMX and motocross competitions with thousands of fans in attendance.
“This could be a kid’s first experience on a bike,” said Mayor Joe Schroeder, who attended Monday’s event. “We might see them in 10 years and they’re competing in the X Games.”
The X Games donated $9,000 to the national nonprofit All Kids Bike for a complete learn-to-ride program. The 24 “balance-to-pedal” Strider bikes allow youngsters to first straddle bikes without pedals. Included conversion kits allow for pedals to be added. An instructional bicycle for teachers was also included.
“It was fun,” said kindergartner Clarissa Vazquez, 6, of Oxnard, who rode the pedal-less bike on the elementary school’s blacktop. “It was easy to stop because you just have to put your feet down.”
Clarissa said she was surprised to see the bikes and was excited to go to the X Games.
Autumn Estrada, 6, also in kindergarten, said it was “very cool” to see the bikes.
The 20 children who received tickets to the games also received two extra tickets for adults.
“I’m super excited,” said Emily Welkowitz, who lives in Ventura with her daughter Autumn. “I had honestly no idea any of this was happening. To know that this is provided so we’re all able to experience it is amazing.”
The district’s competition included reading, attendance, and a poster contest, said Lorelle Dawes, director of expanded learning for the school district.
Before the bicycle reveal, the Ventura High School drum line and color guard led the students to the school’s blacktop.
Principal Mark Asher later announced from the microphone the nickname for the afterschool program participants was “The Pixies.” The 20 students gave a huge cheer.
Grace Coryell, spokesperson for the X Games, asked the young crowd: “Have any of you heard of the X Games before?”
After the cheering subsided, Coryell said the donation was given on behalf of former BMX X Games medalist and rider Pat Casey, who died in 2023.
“We wanted to do this for you guys in his honor so that you guys can all learn to ride bikes in the future,” Coryell told the students.
The bicycles will be rotated among the district’s afterschool programs, Dawes said.
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
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