Decorah sophomore Garrett Willie is ready to ride this spring.
Last year, Willie rode as an individual in several mountain bike races in the state.
Now, he’s starting the Decorah Area Mountain Bike Team, known as DIRT. Sponsored through the Iowa Scholastic Mountain Bike League, DIRT is open to anyone in Decorah and the surrounding communities who is interested in learning more about mountain bike racing.
Finding his passion
Willie, the son of Brett and Peggy Willie, found mountain biking during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he first got on the bike years earlier.
Garrett said he took up biking late in sixth grade when a group of friends got together after school and tried riding. He said after that initial ride, he was highly motivated to get back out there. Soon, it became a consistent part of his day. ?During the 2020 COVID pandemic, Garrett said his passion for riding was revitalized and he started riding daily. He used his brother’s bike at first, before buying his own last year.