RACE TO THE TOP
ONE OF CALIFORNIA’S TOP MOUNTAIN BIKING TEAMS
IS BASED RIGHT HERE IN EL CERRITO
by Matt Larson
WWhen considering what sport to go for in high school,
mountain biking is rarely even on the list of options
to choose from. Unless you’re attending El Cerrito
High School, that is. The ECHS Mountain Bike Team
just wrapped up their most successful season yet this
past May, finishing first in Northern California, and
second in the state! They competed against 85 other
schools and hundreds of other riders; ECHS made their
presence known, going undefeated in league races.
Established in 2001, Head Coach John Garrison joined
the team about 4 years ago when his twin boys, Evan
and Matt, reached high school age and joined the team
as well. When they were in 8th grade he also helped
start the El Cerrito Junior Mountain Bike Team which
is still going strong today.
When Garrison came on board, the team was in last
place with only 15 riders. The following year they got
second place in their league and have remained a force
ever since. Now, as NorCal champions, they’ve got
about 27 riders on the team, 5 of which are girls.
A common conception for mountain biking is that