Mountain biking is a largely recreated activity in Sandpoint becoming popular amongst many students.

Mountain biking is a sport where people ride customized bikes with many changes that separate them from normal bikes such as better suspension and tires, more gears, and different brakes. These modifications increase the price of the mountain bikes, making them much more expensive. New mountain bikes often cost more than $1,000.

There are two main types of mountain biking: cross country and downhill biking.  The two types of mountain biking are very different. Cross country biking is a more endurance-based sport, in which one rides along fairly flat trails that require substantial pedalling.

Downhill biking is faster-paced than cross country biking and is often considered more difficult because riders need to go down steeper hills with more features, like jumps and bridges.

Junior Noah Hastings goes mountain biking often over the summer. “I like it because you are flying through the woods and the only thing keeping you alive is your bike frame,” Hastings said.

There are a lot of spots to go mountain biking in the area. Schweitzer is a large mountain biking attraction and has two sets of good trails for the summer biking season.

The trails on the ski resort need to be accessed by the chair lifts, but the lower half of the mountain hosts the Selkirk Trails, which anybody can ride if they drive to the top of Schweitzer Mountain Road.

Hastings is a veteran rider at Schweitzer, and additionally rides the lifts and Selkirk Trails.

“I have only gone riding on Schweitzer,” Hastings said.

Any students interested in going mountain biking can rent biking helmets and more from Schweitzer.