Raising A Happy Champ

We all want our children to be champions on the bike - but how do we keep them happy, while grooming them for greatness?

- Andre Valentine

Luke Moir is one of the hottest young racers on SA’s mountain-biking scene. The 14-year-old SACS boy has won the national MTB Cup Series and Champs in his age group three years running. and proved his chops further by winning rounds of both the Swiss and the Italian Cup Series.

In 2017 he raced in the U16 age group of the SA XCO Series, winning all four races and clocking laps faster than some U18 racers. He is touted as one of SA’s up-and-coming MTB stars. But is he in danger of burning out before he can fulfil his obviously massive potential?

According to Dr Jeroen Swart, sports physician and exercise scientist, a key reason for burnout is that children require energy both for growing and for the activities in which they participate. At 14, Luke is in a rapid-growth phase.