Strider Bikes, a manufacturer and marketer of children’s no-pedal balance bikes, is welcoming hundreds of balance bike racing toddlers to Pier 35 in San Francisco, July 29-30, for the 6th Annual Strider Cup World Championship presented by FedEx. This is the first time the event has been held in California.
Japanese toddlers have dominated past championships, taking 3 of the 4 world titles in the 2015 races. The 12 children already signed up from Ecuador are expected to give them a run for the top trophies. Other international competitors include riders from Thailand, Colombia and Canada.
Toddlers as young as 18 months old put their Strider Bike skills to the test during these family-friendly races. The event will also feature a free Strider Adventure Zone play area with games and Strider Bikes to test ride (helmets provided).
Several dozen California racers are signed up, including brother and sister duo Mason and Brooklyn Eastin from Newark, Calif. Brooklyn, who is five years old, got her Strider Balance Bike when she was 3 years old. She shocked her parents 6 months later by immediately transitioning to a pedal bike.
The Strider Cup World Championship includes the 2 and under class sponsored by Golden Gate Urgent Care, 3-year-old class sponsored by Yelp, 4-year-old class sponsored by Kidz Gear, and the 5-year-old class sponsored by Clover Stornetta Farms. The registration fee is $25 onlinebefore July 22 at noon, or $35 on-site. Racers will receive a Strider jersey, number plate for their bike, and a goodie bag valued at more than $50 with their registration. Pre-registration is open at http://www.stridercupworldchampionship.com.
Strider recently teamed up with CamelBak to give away 120 Strider Bikes to California youth. Several of those recipients are expected to participate in the Strider Cup World Championship. The donations included 45 bikes to the Sonoma County Bike Coalition to distribute to local children and 5 bikes to the Moms of Petaluma Group. Another 30 bikes were given away at the Giveaway Party hosted by CamelBak at their headquarters on June 29. Then, 10 bikes went to children of employees, and the remaining 30 bikes went to CamelBak’s San Diego location to be donated to a local charity in that area. Bell provided helmets for all of the recipients.
The Strider Cup events also include the special needs races sponsored by CamelBak for athletes of all ages and abilities. Strider is working with Special Olympics Northern California to donate 11 bikes to individuals before the event. These athletes will race the 12” models, as well as Strider’s new, larger 16” and 20” balance bikes, which the company launched in 2014 specifically for the special needs community. Strider has waived the registration fee for riders with special needs.
For more information: http://www.striderbikes.com/events
