The BLACK SWAMP RIDERS
Mission
The mission of the Black Swamp Riders is character development using mountain biking as a tool. No kids sit the bench, all the kids participate. Some of the kids are really fast, some barely finish, but all of them will learn how hard work results in self-improvement. These are life lessons every kid should learn. We teach these through a sport which, unlike football or wrestling, they can continue to pursue their entire lives.
This is Northwest Ohio's first interscholastic mountain bike team. The team was founded in 2021 with 22 riders. We had 35 riders in 2022. in 2023 we added grades k-5th and grew to 58 registered riders.
In November 2023, The Black Swamp Riders joined with The Right Direction, at 501c3 Charity that introduces kids to various action sports to help teach all the lessons that those activities offer.
Practice and Planning
- Season Runs May - October 14
- Tuesdays: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm, Oak Openings, Heavy Wheelhouse
- Thursdays: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Ottawa Park, Behind Toledo Police Museum
Race Schedule: 2024 dates TBA, Races are not mandatory
- The team will typically camp for race venues 2 hours or more away
- K-5 racers will race Saturday afternoon of race weekends
- Team dinners on Saturday evenings of race weekends
- 6-12th grade racers will race Sunday of race weekends
- 2023 had 6 races total, 4 of which were more than 2 hours.
Black Swamp Rider Communication
If you are interested, email us
Contact Info
Team Director: Gino Torio, ginotorio@msn.com
Team Email teamblackswampriders@gmail.com (received by coaches and team admins).