Durango is just days away from getting its first potato chip manufacturer. Its true, The Chip Peddler has opened up a space in Bodo Park where the potato pal will be cranking out some tasty chips using the sun from above, spices from friends near and far and potatoes from the region. Why is this on the DEVO blog? Because the man behind the crunchy chips is in love with the DEVO program, and is a lifestyle cyclist who sees the impact that cycling education has on the Durango community.  He also has ideas in the future for a special DEVO chip. Yes its true. Start thinking flavors to represent our program and keep your potato eyes peeled!

Click on this underlined sentence and receive numerous links to DEVO 2010 Forms. You could also click on the forms page above, but either way, you can enter the wonderful world of paperwork right now. Have a nice day and cross your fingers for gorgeous spring.

http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1843361

Click on the link above and wham, instant jrDevo action.

Tonight at the Durango Recreation Center will be the informative DEVO U14/19 sign up meeting, taking place 7-830pm. You can come fill out forms and get them out of the way while hearing information on the upcoming 2010 DEVO season. We have several new options to the season and are committed to having a good time. We’ll see you there.

Last night the DEVO coaches took part in the Healthy Heart La Plata First Aid class at the local bike shop, Mountain Bike Specialists.

The race takes place in Tucson, Arizona.

24 Hours in the Old Pueblo from Vladimir Chaloupka on Vimeo.

Durango DEVO Alumni, Chase Orrick is currently attending college at the University of Colorado. He has reported that the riding there is ok and he prefers to drive to Golden to ride. He is looking foreword to being back in Durango this summer and has been working on gaining acceptance to a Film School in California. Below is his video application to the college. The application asked the students for a 2 minute film, with the objective of showing personal interests with no shots of the face. Check it and Good Luck Chase!

DEVO ATB Team
DEVO is looking for musicians to jump aboard the Durango DEVO 2010 CD release for the fall of 2010. It is the new decade and Durango DEVO wants to celebrate by releasing an album of locally grown music collection in the name of youth cycling. Sounds like a plan. All interested parties, genres are welcome. Please contact if interested.

FLC cyclist and Durangoan, Ben Sonntag rode an amazing race in Bend, Oregon last December.

Q: How did you find out about Durango and FLC?

A: 2003 was my most successful season as a Winter triathlete. That spring I went to the bike festival at Riva del Garda, Italy (something like Sea Otter) to meet up with Specialized to sign a contract for the upcoming season. And whom do I get to meet? Ned Overend! He was there to race and present the company and I got to talked to him a bit. That was the very first time I heard about Durango and it took me 4 years to remember his words. In 2007, my first year competing in cycling after switching from skiing and Winter triathlon I made the decision to finish my degree which I started in Anchorage, Alaska on a skiing scholarship. I remembered the meeting with Ned and started looking more into it. That’s how I also found out about FLC and it went from there. 2 months later I was in Durango and started taking classes at FLC

Q: What is the junior biking scene like in Germany? Do they have any solid junior mountain bike programs?

A: Cycling like almost any sports in Germany is organized by clubs. There are a lot of clubs who have there own junior program. Kids get together to train, travel to races….It’s similar to DEVO, which from my understanding is a pretty unique program in the US.

Q: When did you start racing mountain bikes and was there any difference in the junior competition between the US and Germany?

A: I actually didn’t compete in cycling as a junior, but from what I have seen in skiing, I would say in Germany kids are starting to be serious about training and racing a bit earlier. I would say on a junior level there is more competition in Germany and everything is already pretty professional. In my eyes this has pros and cons. A lot of very successful juniors are quitting early because they are burned out before their real career would start. On the other hand often times in the US juniors have to close a big gap once they move in the elite ranks to be competitive internationally.

Q: You are a collegiate champion, what have you won in the college ranks and what else do you wish to accomplish?

A: As for collegiate, I’m at the end of my collegiate carrier. I will graduate this spring, can’t wait!!! As my highlights were winning 3 individual titles, cross country in 2007 and short track and cross country in 2008. I also won 3 team titles with FLC, MTB in 2007 and 2008 and Cyclocross in 2009. Those were for sure my highlights. It’s always fun to win a team title. Outside of collegiate racing there is hardly ever the chance to experience such win as a team.

I really wish I could have won the cyclocross individual title in 2009. I was close, but didn’t make it. It was a big goal of mine leading to that event and it took me a while to get over it! In the end it kept me motivated to work hard on myself over the last couple months.

Q: Who are your cycling and non cycling heros?

A: As I have a different non-cycling background most of my sport heros are cross country skiers. I think Bjoern Daehlie was the one athlete who I remember watching the most and being a real ‘hero’ for me. As for cycling I look up to people who have the consistency to be at the top all season long. As a cross country racer, Julian Absalon of course comes to ones mind. But I’m also looking up to the Swiss, who are so strong as a nation.

Q: You race a pretty stacked season in many of the cycling disciplines, how are you spending your time this preseason training? How do you work around the weather?

A: It feels for me that the weather has been rough this year for cyclists in Durango. It is hard to do your training in such conditions. I think it is important to still do your specific workouts, if you have to even on the ‘evil’ rollers or trainer. But if that’s the case you have to mix things up with other outdoor activities to not burn out before the real season starts. I’m doing a lot of cross country skiing, some running and trying not to get huge in the gym . I think especially as a Mtber it is important to be a well rounded athlete. In Mountain biking I think, it’s more than just having the engine and the legs to win! Skills and good core strength are just as important.

Q: Do you have any advice for the DEVO juniors?

A: I keep this short. They should go out and have fun riding their bikes. If they fall in love with the sport and are ambitious about it than they can start to pursue their goals as a racer. But they have to love it! You can only be successful in racing if you have a passion for what you’re doing!

Ben races pro xc for the Cannondale/Mona Vie Team