AJ’s Journey

/in /by

Antoine Joseph (AJ) is a paraeducator, youth counselor and basketball coach at MPA’s Plymouth campus. His journey to MPA has all the twists and turns of a major motion picture, complete with happy ending, we like to think, because he ended up with us!

He was born in Saint-Marc, Haiti, a small village outside of Port-Au-Prince, and raised by a single mother who worked as a housekeeper to support herself, AJ and his little sister. “You would expect me to say life was hard,” he explains when asked about his childhood. “My father walked out on us when I was very small. We had very little but I never felt worry, sadness or helplessness. That’s because my mother worked hard to get us an education and raised us to believe we could achieve great things if we put the work in and always tried to be the best at whatever we did.”

And soccer was what AJ was best at. From an early age he was running circles around players on opposing teams; winning games and championships. At the age of 15 he earned a spot on the National Team for Haiti. It was there a scout took notice of his skills and recruited him for the French Guiana Football League. His dream of becoming a professional soccer player was one step closer to being realized. Fame and, hopefully, fortune would surely follow. Only one obstacle now stood in his way. As he was still, technically, a minor, he would need permission from his mother.

“My mother was less than enthusiastic,” AJ explains. “Here was the chance of a lifetime. A team that would allow me to travel all over the world doing what I loved most, all expenses paid. And she was skeptical. ‘Who are these people’ she said. ‘I’ve never met them and this contract does not fully explain to me what you are signing up for.’ I was angry with her and couldn’t understand why she was questioning anything about this golden opportunity.”

AJ reluctantly called the scout and explained he would need to speak directly with his mother before any contract was signed.

“He scoffed at me and reminded me how many kids would jump at the opportunity to take my place. My mother held firm and with that, the offer was rescinded. My soccer career was over.”

While AJ remained heartbroken, his body was going through dramatic changes. A growth spurt put him head and shoulders above his peers, leading him to try his hand in a new sport: Basketball. By age 22 he was 6’ 9’’ and dominant on the courts, drawing on his footwork skills and the competitive edge that came naturally from years of playing soccer.

“I was at a level where I was drawing interest from colleges in the United States. Partial scholarships were offered, which was like no offer at all to me. I couldn’t even afford basketball shoes.”

With all the attention he was receiving, AJ, and even his mother became determined to use his new sport to get him out of Haiti. There were opportunities overseas far greater than what his village or anywhere else in his country could offer. And to make matters even more pressing, political instability and a rise in gang violence was making Haiti a dangerous place to live.

“I spent every day visiting my church and praying,” he explains. “My mother’s work ethic is ingrained in me. I was using everything at my disposal, physically and spiritually, to get myself out of Haiti. I’m proud to say, God answered my prayers.”

At age 22 AJ was offered a full basketball scholarship at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee where he thrived as an athlete and student, despite not knowing not one word of English. Within 6 months he was fluent and a star basketball player. He went on to play professionally in Argentina, while also finding time on the side to coach and mentor kids. As someone whose journey had not been an easy one, this came naturally to him.

He eventually returned to Haiti and became captain of the Haitian National Basketball Team, where he witnessed, first-hand the unrest in his home country. He was convinced, once again, that he needed to leave and got to work using his extensive overseas contacts for a way out.

His agent put him in touch with Moses Jean-Pierre, former basketball star of Plymouth State University.

“We hit it off right away. We both played at a high level and he is the son of Haitian immigrants so we have a lot in common. He also knew about my passion for mentoring kids so immediately told me about MPA. It seemed like a perfect match for me, particularly after I spoke with Jim Carey, Director of Recruiting at MPA.”

“He’s an extremely likable guy,” says Jay Marshall, Head of School. “And what he’s done for the kids in this school is invaluable. MPA is a community built on helping the most at-risk, overlooked, forgotten kids. It’s just not in our nature to give up on anyone.

“Everything happens for a reason,” says AJ. “It was my faith in God and the relentless love, guidance and hard work of my mother that brought me to where I am today. I was recently offered a contract to play basketball professionally in Spain, but turned it down. I feel I belong here and owe it to this place and the community that adopted me to fulfill my passion for helping kids. It’s bigger than money. It’s about making an impact. And I feel like I’m just getting started .

Mount Prospect Academy Scores Big At Robotics Competition

/in /by

Karen McAlpine, a teacher at Mount Prospect Academy couldn’t contain her excitement when she heard the news. Just days after returning from the SeaPerch Robotics Competition in Durham, New Hampshire, she learned her students had earned top 10 honors.

McAlpine, along with fellow instructor, Connor Sullivan assembled their team of 2 middle and 4 high schoolers back in January as part of their Adventure Science class. Their goal was to participate in the competition while incorporating the rigorous process of preparation into their curriculum.

“It starts with a kit,” she explained. “The kit contains everything you need to assemble a remote operated vehicle (ROV), designed to not only follow the commands of its human operators but to endure the challenges of functioning underwater. We actually ordered 3 with the intention of putting the best performing ROV into the competition.”

Assembling the robots was no easy task. The accompanying instructions were limited and the whole process required lots of problem solving and ingenuity. McAlpine’s students proved up to the task. The whole MPA campus was abuzz with how quickly they took to designing and creating their vehicles. By the end of February they were ready to test them. The challenge was, they didn’t have a facility on campus in which to do so.

“That’s where Alex Ray stepped in,” McAlpine said. “You can’t just wait until the day of competition, throw them in the water and cross your fingers. Alex gave us access to the pool at the Common Man Spa so we could see first hand how each ROV was responding and practice maneuvering and working as a team.”MPA Robotics

The competition itself consisted of 3 separate judging categories. The first was a technical design report, where students include data analysis to describe the process of their engineering design. The remaining two involved actual operation, which included maneuvering the ROV underwater through a series of hoops, around obstacles and in patterns that simulate ocean mapping techniques. One task even included pushing and picking up odd shaped objects on a steep ramp. At no point were adults permitted to assist. 2 students were in charge of operating the vehicle; 2 guiding the tether, while the others provided technical support and helped document their experience.

“We placed 10th out of 26 high school teams. Pretty good considering our team included middle schoolers and we were competing against some formidable opponents like Phillips Exeter Academy.”

For now, McAlpine plans to keep the ROV and other competition mementos on display at the school so others can share in their accomplishment. But there’s no resting on laurels, as she and the students are already preparing for an even better showing at next year’s competition.

“I think what Karen, Connor and the rest of our team here at Mount Prospect Academy does is incredible,” says John Fulp,” Superintendent and Director of Operations at MPA. “Remember, we’re a placement school, committed to taking in kids who are having difficulties being successful anywhere else. It just goes to show that everybody has the potential to achieve great things. Sometimes we just need to teach differently; get kids excited about something and let their natural curiosity take over. I couldn’t be more proud of our team here and what they accomplish, every day, with our amazing students.”

Ice Climbing at MPA

New Ice Climbing Program Takes Students To New Heights

/in /by
Imagine being suspended nearly 50 feet off the ground, clinging to a frozen column of ice! Such was the scene this past winter for a daring group of MPA students as part of the school’s adventure-based learning program. Led by Outdoor Paraeducator, Connor Sullivan, the group was outfitted with crampons, mountaineering boots, harnesses, ice 

picks and other climbing equipment before they headed north to the east side of Franconia Notch near Cannon Mountain. 3 students were led into the woods on a cold, blustery day faced with wind and snow squalls. After hiking for a half hour, they reached their destination, a 45 foot series of frozen waterfalls jutting from a mountainside. Instructors set up and anchored rope at the top and students took turns finessing their way up the ice, hours of training put to work navigating the ice pockets, crags and steep gullies.
“It’s certainly not as dangerous as it sounds,” explains Sullivan. “Climbers are secured by safety ropes at all times, with belayers on hand to assist if a student needs assistance or encouragement.” 
Still, the ascent presented a formidable challenge for the students, 2 of whom had never climbed. Sullivan reported that each picked it up quickly, putting their training to work by relying on all their senses, not just brute strength. Although there was little danger given the team’s experience and all the safety protocols, falling debris in the form of ice fragments chipped loose by each climber posed the greatest danger, so a safe distance was maintained by those waiting below. Which isn’t to say there was time to stand around, idly . . .
“It was great to see students helping and enc
ouraging one another as they climbed. It really highlighted what adventure based learning is all about: communication, creative thinking, problem solving; all at work in one activity.”
The trip lasted over 4 hours, with plenty of stories to follow when the students returned to school. Look for even more adventures with Sullivan and his team this year, including several backpacking trips over the spring and a presidential traverse this summer.
MPA Donates to Plymouth Police Department

Mount Prospect Academy donates $10,000 to Plymouth Police Department

/in /by

At a luncheon ceremony in their Career Development Center in Plymouth, Mount Prospect Academy presented the Plymouth Police Department with a check for $10,000. The donation stems from a phone call Plymouth Police Chief Alex Hutchins had with MPA’s President, Jeffrey Caron.
Jeffrey Caron
“I recently assisted Mount Prospect Academy staff here in Plymouth in a high-stress situation involving one of their students,” explained Hutchins. “I was impressed with how the staff conducted themselves in a professional manner while de-escalating the situation. It was obvious to me that these staff members had been well trained for these types of situations. I really felt that they needed to be recognized, so I contacted Jeff to offer my commendation to his team. Jeff was very appreciative and asked if they could assist us in any way.”

The result was two financial donations, totaling $10,000 to be used towards active threat resources for the town of Plymouth and surrounding communities. “MPA never overlooks the fact that we are more than just a school for at-risk kids,” said Jeffrey Caron at the presentation ceremony. “We’re a part of several communities, including Plymouth, Campton, Rumney, Warren and Pike. As such, we’re not only here to help our kids, but our communities. When Alex mentioned initiatives that would benefit from community support, I saw an opportunity for us at Mount Prospect Academy to help out.”

On-hand was the MPA Plymouth team recognized by Chief Hutchins. They included Nayou Shar, Devin Michalewicz, Clayton Scala-Habert, Andrew Fosher, Adelaide Schumaker and Hilel Gubenko. The funds will be used to purchase equipment, tools and supplies to better prepare the department in case of an active threat situation in Plymouth or area towns. In keeping with MPA’s mission, a portion of the money will also be used to purchase supplies for community events to continue to connect the police department and the community.

MPA golf tournament at Owl's Nest

MPA hosts 9th annual Mayhew/McDermott Memorial Golf Tournament

/in /by

This fall, over 84 golfers converged on Owl’s Nest Golf Resort in Thornton for the annual Mayhew/McDermott Memorial Golf Tournament, an event MPA has hosted since 2013. It was a beautiful fall day, with unseasonably warm temperatures and a backdrop of fall foliage on full display.

MPA golf tournament at Owl's NestThe tournament is named after Dave Mayhew and John McDermott who both tragically passed away in 2013. Dave worked at MPA as Assistant Director of Academics. John was a Director of Operations.

After their passing, MPA leadership decided to start the tournament, with monies raised to benefit the aptly named Mayhew/McDermott scholarship fund, which provides current and former students with independent life skills assistance. Any current or former student can apply, which includes an essay submission as well as information about the request and their budget needs. Past scholarship recipients have used the funds for such things as the purchase of a bicycle for transportation to work, tools to help further a career, summer camp tuition, job interview clothing and job-related laptops.MPA golf tournament at Owl's Nest

The tournament would not be possible without the financial assistance from individuals and sponsors. In particular, companies such as Kinney Pike, Lockton, One Digital, PretiFlherty, Passumpsic Bank and White River Toyota have consistently stepped up to the plate over the years to sponsor holes and foursomes, allowing organizers to not only cover the expenses of hosting the tournament but growing the Mayhew/McDermott scholarship fund. To date, the scholarship fund has supported numerous students through the years.

Winner’s of this year’s tournament were the team from Becket: Christian Wolter, Dan Elliot, Tom Peters and Ben Peters. They shot 18 under which is commendable, a birdie on every hole! They were presented with a custom-made trophy, built and designed by MPA wood shop students. In the end, all the golfers left winners, having experiencing a day of golf with friends on a stunningly beautiful day. Organizers noted that the weather is always superior for this late fall event. It’s as if Dave and John are there in spirit, smiling down on their MPA friends and family.

Under the Hood at MPA Automotive Center

/in /by

It’s not often you meet a teenager with the skills to change the oil in an automobile, repair its brakes, exhaust or suspension, let alone swapping out its engine. At MPA’s Career Development Center, it’s not such a rare sight after all. 

Meet the kids of MPA’s Livermore Automotive Center, an approved classroom that is a full service, auto repair shop located in MPA’s Rumney Career Development Center campus. The program was started back in 1993 as part of the school’s experiential learning program. Jeff Caron, MPA President, brought his vision of “vocational learning” to then part-time instructor at Laconia Community College, Dave Morrill, offering him a job imparting his mechanics skills to at-risk kids at MPA.

“Jeff had incredible enthusiasm and this idea that, if kids split their school time between the classroom and real, hands-on work, it would boost their self esteem and confidence, ultimately improving their behavior.”

And he was right. Since those early years of working out of a 1-stall garage in an abandoned wood shop to the now, state of the art automotive center, complete with 2 lifts and superior air and electrical systems, the program has thrived. Hundreds of students have benefited from Dave’s expertise, taking their skills outside the school and applying them in everyday life, some even pursuing careers in the automotive field.

“We typically have 6-15 kids each week in the shop performing work on company vehicles and those belonging to employees,” Dave explains. “We run the classroom just like any other business out there in the community. We make appointments, troubleshoot, diagnose, repair and invoice. And the kids help from start to finish.”

Jeff Caron notes that behaviors improve when students participate in hands-on, academic learning. “Statistically, we have very few behavior issues when students have hands-on learning opportunities. They gain confidence and realize they can succeed in a field of their choice.”

These days, Dave and fellow mechanic, Ray Whitcher can be seen under the hood of numerous projects with eagerly listening students. Just recently, Ray supervised a student changing out the engine of a Kia Sorento. “Well, I was more of a bystander,” Ray admits. “That kid knew what he was doing – even figured out the wiring harness was faulty and swapped it out before I noticed it was a problem. It kind of made me proud. You don’t see many 14-16 year olds with those skills.”

The Livermore Auto Center services over 60 of MPA’s own vehicles and gives precedent to MPA team members, alumnae and their families. Dave is quick to point out that the school isn’t looking to compete with local businesses. “Our main purpose is, and will always be, to teach kids to be successful. We just so happen to do it with a wrench, not a pencil.”

Susan Beck-Dore

/in /by

I began my MPA Journey 21 years ago (May of 2001) as an Overnight Youth Counselor at our Pike campus in Bolton house. I was working towards my bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Plymouth State College. Having an overnight schedule was not ideal while I was also attending college. Luckily, I transitioned to day/evening shifts with non-traditional hours that seemed to change (based on the needs of the kids). I recall traveling from Plymouth to Pike for my 6:00am morning split shift to help wake kids, transition them to school, and then head back to Plymouth for classes, only to return in the afternoon to complete a 2:00-10:00evening shift. How could I forget and not mention the 14-hour shift on Sundays! Sundays were a long day but always rewarding. I got to support various houses in the morning an participate in programming and then in the afternoon, travel around in the vans to pick up kids returning from their home time. Helping to process home time and support kids returning to a treatment program after being at home was a wonderful time to be an active listener and help provide some counseling and guidance to kids.

After doing that for a few years, I was promoted to a Community Leader. The first 3 years working residential were inspiring and I loved being able to mentor youth, engage in outdoor programming and be there to support some challenging times when kids were in crises and working through the trauma that they endured.

I was getting ready to complete my spring social work practicum when Jay Marshall asked if I was interested in helping him at our day school Connecticut River Academy. I supported Jay and the school while I also completed my social work practicum in Plymouth (Pike campus has relocated to Plymouth when the Wreath school was going out of business) as a Family Outreach Worker. Upon completion of earning my BSW, I was fortunate that there was a full-time job opening for a Family Outreach Worker. Although, I thoroughly enjoyed working with youth in the residential and school settings, I was starting to realize how much I enjoyed working with them but also in working with families, stakeholders, and the community. Having an ability to help bridge all systems and work with kids and their family systems collaboratively, I knew this was where I could help foster the most change that would hopefully lead to more successful permanent outcomes. A few years later, I decided to go back to graduate school to complete my MSW at UNH. Little did I know that I would end up having my son during my last year of graduate school!

I wanted to do more clinical work and become more skilled and educated on how to best work with vulnerable populations and people in need. It took me 3 years to finish my MSW and during that time, Jay M. (see some themes here!) again asked if I would be interested in helping start a new position in a different day school called LCLI. LCLI was looking to add more supports to their students and we created a school social work position. I worked in the school for a year, had my son and upon return from maternity leave, I was offered a position back in the residential setting to help oversee kids’ treatment. I was a Treatment Coordinator and Clinician for a few years and then transition back into Family work. I became the Director of Permanency and oversaw the residential “permanency coordinators”. Through this process, I worked tirelessly with others to improve our

services and strived to help make improvements in providing more family counseling and improved permanency for our kids.

After frustrations with the court and other system issues and honestly being burnt out, I was considering leaving the agency. Luckily, in 2010, I was re-energized when Jeff Caron and the Board of Directors supported me and agreed to let me apply to become a Community Based in Home provider for the state of NH. I view this as a turning point in my personal career because not only did we provide community-based services for our residential kids upon discharge, but we also started to serve females, younger kids and other populations that historically we didn’t serve in residential. We began to work on preventing kids from leaving their homes and communities to begin with. This was a pivotal change in how MPA viewed its role as a provider and as a “temporary” treatment program in a kid’s life. MPA began to shift gears dramatically and work wholistically towards providing youth and family guided services that centered more on serving the family and not just the individual. Our community-based services grew quickly, and we open services in Massachusetts, Vermont and later on in Maine. Currently we have 12 Community Based Offices throughout the 4 states.

I have always been supported, was offered different opportunities that continuously led to growth for me. I quickly learned that if I could help improve the services for kids and families by putting in the work, opportunities were endless. I always felt like my voice was heard and even though there have been growing pains and challenges along the way, I am grateful for the opportunities I had, and still have, to lead a meaningful life helping others.

Rachel Umberger

/in /by

I began to work at Mount Prospect Academy in May 2013. Initially, I was hired as a Milieu Clinician/Permanency Specialist (more on that in a bit). I had just graduated with my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health from Plymouth State University and had been clear with myself and my professors that I wanted to work in/for a company whose population had the most need. After a couple of interviews at community mental health settings which, looking back on it, would not have nearly been as interesting as MPA, I decided that my skill set, degree and working with the students at MPA was where I could be most helpful.

When I first started at MPA, I had students in the residential setting and also in the community (mostly the North Country – spent a lot of time in downtown Berlin, NH). I also had students at virtually every campus at MPA (Plymouth, Campton and Rumney) on my case load. As a Permanency Specialist I was asked to provide family therapy to boys (and girls!) in the community with their families which really honed my skills around being clinically assertive, understanding the importance of structure and routine, developmentally-appropriate consequences, and respectful communication in caregiving systems

In about six months’ time (fall of 2013) I was asked if I had any interest in spending some time clinically in re-vitalizing the CAST assessment process. Being eager to help in the organization, I said yes. I had no idea that nine years later the program would grow into its own stand-alone residential program on the Plymouth campus and that it would have led to other programs within MPA developing their own assessment programs (in Bennington and Hampton).

From 2013 to the end of 2014 (December) I worked diligently to revitalize the CAST program doing dozens of assessments on students that were placed at Plymouth, Campton and Rumney. In January of 2015 CAST became a stand-alone program on the Plymouth campus and I worked systematically with a mostly new clinical team and residential team to craft a program that emphasized safety, trauma-informed interventions and holistic assessments for our students, families, referrals and communities. This was not an easy feat and a dedicated crew of clinicians (Eli Gubenko, Chrissy Murray) and residential leadership and faculty (Joe Michel, Andrew Mangan, James Germano, Matt Hanson, Doug Gregory, Nick Beisiegel, Rob Alvey Sr. to name a few) worked long hours and late nights to stabilize the newly formed program and make CAST the premiere assessment option in New England.

After obtaining clinical licensure from the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health I transitioned to the Clinical Coordinator and then Clinical Director in Plymouth and shortly thereafter in 2018 became the Executive Director of the CAST program in Plymouth. Within a year, after realizing that many of our students expressed an intense desire to remain in the CAST program after their assessment period, I worked to develop the Summit program; a long-term treatment option for older students to focus on Adult Living or provide a residential treatment option for students who have experienced multiple transitions. Since its inception in 2019, Summit has grown into a viable option for NH students for long-term treatment. Additionally, along the way, at critical points in my career I had access to mentoring and guidance from Jeff Caron that was instrumental in continuing to hone my skills as an administrator.

In the winter of 2019, I was asked to administratively support the MPA at Rumney program and became the Executive Director of that program as well. With the help of clinical and permanency

leadership (Eli Gubenko and Amanda Sousa) and residential administrators (AJ LeBlanc and Nate Calini) we worked to stabilize the program behaviorally and breathe new life into the problematic sexual behavior (PSB) treatment pathway of that program. Working with the students and faculty over the last three years at Rumney has been incredibly rewarding as we have been able to meld a trauma-informed approach to PSB and become the only viable treatment option for problematic sexual behavior not only in NH but in several bordering states as well.

John Fulp (part 1)

/in /by

I began my MPA Journey 21 years ago (April of 2002) as a Youth Counselor at our Plymouth Campus, which was then called the Wreath School Of New Hampshire, while I was still finishing up my bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Law at Plymouth State University. I thought it was just going to be a summer job but, I found the work of helping kids find a better life extremely rewarding and meaningful. I found myself wanting to do more in the field and organization so I could be a part of leading new initiatives and programs. Mount Prospect Academy was supportive of my growth and encouraged me take on new challenges from the very beginning.

From Youth Counselor, I continued to excel in our mission and earned promotions to Shift Supervision, then Community Leader (today’s Assistant Program Manager). The opportunities MPA gave me coupled with my drive and ambition to grow soon brought me the decision to take on even more responsibility when I was asked to be the Program Director for an upstart program, our now MPA at Campton Campus, in 2004. I took the opportunity and spent many a late night, past midnight, after shift, working with other leaders, Jeff Caron, Jay Marshall, and others, getting the building and infrastructure ready for students. Moving fire doors, running wire, laying down the kitchen floor, etc. into the early hours of the morning. With the building complete I started the admissions for 32 students and the Campton House thrived.

Through our successful upstart of the Campton program, I was asked to come to Pike and help with the leadership of our Pike program, then called the East Haverhill Academy. I spent 2 years on the beautiful Pike campus as the Program Director, working with the team to enhance services and supports to shape the lives of 24 boys and helping with the upstart of our first girls’ program with 8 students. Long hot days of fishing and haying in the summers and cold crisp days of skiing in the winter made it one of the most memorable eras in my career.

From my days in Pike, and having just chosen to start my Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and Special Ed. Administration at Plymouth State University, Jeff Caron asked if I would come support our Day School in Tilton, NH the Life Centered Learning institute (LCLI). I then continued my work as a fulltime leader with MPA/Becket, supporting faculty and students on the academic side in September of 2006. As a teaching Assistant Principal, I again had the opportunity for immense personnel and professional growth, and found the same sense of accomplishment and reward in supporting students attend and succeed in their educational endeavors. Juggling a Masters program, working fulltime, and taking on another student loan wasn’t easy but, I spent the next 3 years at LCLI, teaching and leading the team, completing my Master’s Degree through night courses. Through this process I also applied and earned educational certificates as a Special Education Teacher, Principal, and Special Education Administrator. Year after year watching the joy in students’ faces as they received academic awards and graduated, only further assured me that this was my purpose in life.

In September of 2009, I was called on again to help revitalize 2 of our schools in Maine, the Central Maine Learning Center (CMLC) and the Androscoggin Learning and Transition Center (ALTC) as the

Head of Schools. Like our schools in New Hampshire, we served a population of both Day and Residential students. At this point I also started classes to complete a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies at the University of Southern Maine, for Educational Leadership, Special Education, and Superintendency.

I always felt, and saw the evidence, that if I put forth effort beyond just making it through the week, to take on more responsibilities professionally, and made the time and financial sacrifices necessary to grow as a person and professional, those toils would be an investment that would later payoff. MPA has always provided opportunities, support, and the flexibility for me to create new opportunities for myself and others, almost wholly unincumbered by internal bureaucracy.

None of the above accomplishments would have been possible without the support and encouragement of all the people I’ve worked with over the years…

….To Be Continued in Part II

Justin Lagassey

/in /by

Hello friends and colleagues!

I’m writing you all from the gate of Logan Airport on the first leg of my journey to compete in the Enduro World Series at the 2010 Olympic venue in Whistler, Canada.

This has been a goal of mine for the better part of a decade and I’m finally able to compete on the world stage thanks in part to support from Mount Prospect Academy. In just my short time here the team has helped me grow and develop as a professional and the support I have received is beyond what I could have imagined. Thank you all for everything and I would not be in this position without that support and such an awesome environment to flourish.

Some people close to this have requested that I share this adventure with the broader MPA community. Please feel free to share these resources and stories with students and the wider community. I’ll try to check in regularly and I would love to host a zoom call on location at some point closer to the race. (Briefly-ish) I’ll describe what I’m doing below.

Enduro mountain bike racing is a high-speed downhill oriented stage race. Riders must navigate technical terrain while racing downhill stages, but then must climb back to the top of the mountain in the untimed portion of the race to the next timed stage. Typically the races have 4-6 stages in a day and take 4-8 hours to complete, alternating between high intensity all out racing portions and untimed jovial transfers. This race format tests the combination of all day fitness and technical skill in mountain biking, which separates it as a uniquely demanding race discipline from Downhill and Cross Country mountain biking.

The Enduro World Series is the highest level of competition in the sport of enduro and only the world’s top 350 ranked riders are invited to enter the 8 races that occur across the world. This season I will compete in five races, Whistler Canada, Burke Vermont, Sugarloaf Maine, Crans-Montana Switzerland, and Loudenville France. While it has been a dream of mine to qualify for this level of competition, I would not encourage you to hold your breath for a top result. My goal is simply to finish and watch with eyes wide open how the best in the world perform as I learn the process of going from really fast to ludicrous fast.

Just to add some “fun” factor to this race and add to the experience, I plan to peddle my bike and all the supplies I require for the week from the airport in Vancouver to the race venue some 120 miles away in Whistler. Here’s hoping the OE curriculum has taught me something about building a shelter and staying dry!

I’ve included some links below from those curious about the format and where you can follow along.

Live timing for Aug 5+6 race:

https://www.enduroworldseries.com/live/

Previous EWS coverage from 2019 Whistler:

https://youtu.be/yAcBZ51LIKo

What is enduro? 5 minute explainer.

https://youtu.be/wWH_BSRiX0U