CHANDIGARH, SEPT 11 : Himalayan Adventure Sports & Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA) and Mountain Biking Himalaya have launched a programme of building awareness about cycling and its associated benefits in schools in Shimla.
“With the help of Zoe Beesley and Robert Rankin from United Kingdom, we are planning to target a number of schools to promote the health benefits of cycling. Apart from the health benefits, cycling as a sport helps in building character and teaches the youth the importance of hard work and perseverance. We are very hopeful that a lot of schools will come together with us and promote this sport to its students. Zoe is an avid cyclist as well as a school teacher back home, the warmth and energy she gives to the young will go a long way in building awareness about the sport.” Akhil Puri, General Secretary-HASTPA.
Cycling especially in the mountains is a very grueling sport. The steep inclines, single tracks, dirt roads, vertigo inducing cliffs add to the adventure and extreme. Considered one of the best ways to stay in shape, cycling helps in building every muscle in the body and keeps all organs in perfect working condition. Apart from the physical benefits, cycling due to its physically straining nature helps in building mental toughness and attitude.
Zoe and Robert are very excited to meet the students of St. Edward’s school next week and are looking forward to meet many other students of the city soon. Currently in Dharamsala, to discover the state in all its glory, Zoe & Rob are on a month long tour of the state.
“The youth need a way to build a life for them, becoming an engineer or a doctor or an MBA should not be the only purpose of one’s life. To follow one’s passion and to excel in it can be more satisfying than six-seven figure salary.”-Ashish Sood. Staying with this goal, HASTPA
Organizes “MTB HIMALAYA Weekend Camps” for amateur riders, where riders are conditioned on the terrain and given training about the do’s and don’ts of mountain biking. These camps take place every weekend depending on number of riders interested and weather conditions. To educate local riders, these camps are free of cost for all Himachalis.