— OUR STORY
Our Roots
The Colorado League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 45-4906583) that was founded in 2009. Our inaugural season of competition was in the Fall of 2010 with 202 student-athletes representing 19 teams.
The popularity of the program grows every year — we now span four regions, from Spearfish, South Dakota to Taos, New Mexico, with over 90 teams representing 180 high schools, and thousands of student-athletes competing each season.
— WHY WE RIDE
Mission & Vision
Our Mission: The Colorado League fosters healthy habits in youth, develops self-confidence, cultivates leadership, and builds community in a welcoming environment that strengthens family bonds and empowers youth through interscholastic mountain bike racing.
We do this by:
- Building skills and community
- Empowering youth and developing healthy habits and a lifelong appreciation of the outdoors
- Creating a welcoming environment inclusive of all ethnicities, genders, financial backgrounds, and skill levels
- Delivering a program where prevention reduces the need for intervention
- Providing comprehensive infrastructure to grow youth cycling safely and professionally
- Focusing on fun!
— WHY WE RIDE
Mission & Vision
Our Mission: The Colorado League fosters healthy habits in youth, develops self-confidence, cultivates leadership, and builds community in a welcoming environment that strengthens family bonds and empowers youth through interscholastic mountain bike racing.
We do this by:
- Building skills and community
- Empowering youth and developing healthy habits and a lifelong appreciation of the outdoors
- Creating a welcoming environment inclusive of all ethnicities, genders, financial backgrounds, and skill levels
- Delivering a program where prevention reduces the need for intervention
- Providing comprehensive infrastructure to grow youth cycling safely and professionally
- Focusing on fun!
— THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PEDALS
Meet Our Staff
A dedicated team of cycling lovers, educators, and community builders who make the Colorado League run.
Chris Mcgee
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Chris has a long history with the Colorado League as a proud parent, race volunteer, and board member of the Golden Mountain Bike Team. He has been involved with the cycling industry, non-profits, racing teams, youth-development organizations, and bicycle event production for more than 30 years. Chris is passionate about the incredible impact that the Colorado League has on young people, families, schools, and communities.
John Hutchinson
Operations Director
Since 2010, Hutch has been critical to race production of each and every Colorado High School Cycling League race. In January 2016, he joined the league as the Operations Director after a five-year career as National Sales Manager of Primal Wear, Inc. Before that, Hutch was a high school math teacher in California and ran a nationally ranked soccer program. In his free time, he enjoys racing his mountain bike, hiking, camping, snowboarding, and playing the guitar.
Cheri Merrihew
PROGRAMS DIRECTOR
Cheri has been involved with The League since 2012 when her family moved from Maryland to Denver, Colorado. Volunteering regularly at the finish line for two years, she moved into the position of Volunteer Coordinator in 2015. Her organizational acumen is critical to the organization. In addition to her work for the Colorado League, she is a mentor for the Little Bellas program in Lakewood, Colorado, and a volunteer for Trips for Kids.
Dan Cavallari
Marketing and Communications Manager
Dan has been kicking around the bike industry for most of his life, as a bike mechanic, journalist, and general nuisance. He joined the league in 2026 after more than a decade of writing for titles like VeloNews, Bicycling, Outside, Popular Mechanics, CyclingNews, Rouleur, and many more.
Katerina Straskraba
COACH PROGRAM MANAGER & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Katerina (Kat) has been involved with the League since 2015 when her daughter joined the Lakewood High School MTB team. She and her husband Matt jumped at the chance to coach. In 2020, she embraced the new position of Coach Programs Manager. Her roots in the Colorado cycling community go back to the early 2000s when she served on the BOD of Team Evergreen Racing. In addition to cycling, Katerina is an avid skier and loves to rock climb and trail run.
Wesley Smith
Equipment AND OPERATIONS MANAGER
Wesley moved to Colorado in 2000 and has worked at Schwinn Corp., Nautilus corp., and Pearl Izumi. He is the owner/operator of Pro Bike Express, transporting and servicing all types of bicycles to events and races all over the country. He likes pushing around heavy objects (strength training) so he can continue to produce power on the bike. Working with the Colorado High School League was the best happy accident – joining a group of passionate people; creating, supporting, and producing the youth of today.
Karen Redden
Operations Assistant
Karen came to the League in 2022, moving from Crested Butte to Golden. She raised two daughters on horses and skis in Gunnison, and has a lengthy background as a ski race official, coach, and ski instructor. She attended her first high school mountain race in the fall of 2022. Karen organizes the League’s lodging and food vendors. You will also see her at the events helping with Volunteer Coordination and Merchandising. We are still trying to get her on a bike more often.
Julie Frater
Registration Assistant + Volunteer Coordinator
Julie came to The League in 2018 when her son started racing with the Woodland Park team. Her daughter joined in 2020. Both were legacy riders. She and her husband, Jeff, were volunteer coaches with the Woodland Park mountain bike team, and Julie worked behind the scenes as the team administrator. After Julie retired from teaching, she expanded her role with The League as a registration assistant and volunteer coordinator. Julie’s love of Colorado and the outdoors makes working for the league a perfect fit.
Kate Rau
Founder
Kate is the Founder of the Colorado High School Cycling League. She has over 20 years of experience in positive youth development, including programming, service delivery, and training staff related to event production, mountain biking, snow sports, education, and family systems. She has a Masters in Education and volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). She is passionate about the benefits of positive youth development from the saddle of a mountain bike.
Board of Directors
The Colorado League is governed by a volunteer board of dedicated community leaders from across the region.
At-Large Members
JASON BREMNER
Durango
ROBIN NEJAME
Salida
The Impact We Make
Hear from riders, coaches, and parents whose lives have been shaped by the Colorado League.
“Through the League, I learned what it meant to be a leader, a female athlete, a team player, and an overall better friend. The Colorado League led me and helped shape me into the person I am today. It was the overall highlight of high school.”
“Superheroes do exist; they’re just disguised as mountain biking coaches. The coaches pour their entire lives into this team, and their dedication continues to inspire me. They never gave up on me, and as a result, I experienced a phenomenal transformation over my high school racing career.”
“Being a coach with the Colorado League changed my life. Thank you to you and the League for creating beautiful ways to support the coaches and the families. Love and thanks.”
