Team LUNA Chix offers mountain-biking clinic

There is no shortage of mountains in the Ahwatukee Foothills area, and Team LUNA Chix, a local women’s mountain-biking team, uses the advantage of the natural terrain to expose themselves to the challenge and excitement of the sport.

Team LUNA Chix is supported by Clif Bar and Company, and is comprised of 26 teams nationwide.

“Basically there are local teams throughout the nation that bring women together who are interested in learning new sports and staying active,” said Karen King, an Ahwatukee Foothills resident and Team Luna Chix team leader. “Each team specializes in a certain sport, and we specialize in mountain biking.”

King’s team has eight members who meet on the first and third Saturdays every month September through May to bike on different trails.

“We provide a non-competitive environment for women to participate in, and mountain biking is a sport that’s fun to do in a group,” King said.

Aside from promoting active lifestyles, Team LUNA Chix also focuses on raising money for breast cancer research. Nationally LUNA Chix teams have raised $300,000, and the Phoenix team hopes to raise $2,500 this year.

“We have a partnership with The Breast Cancer Fund, so nationally all of the teams raise money and awareness for the fund, which is all about research and advocacy,” King said.

On Nov. 7 Team LUNA Chix will hold a mountain-biking skills clinic for women interested in becoming involved in the sport. The clinic will begin and end at South Mountain Cycles.

“We’re going to go over balance on the bike, body positions and the drills will be a lot of fun,” King said. “We will have a slow race where the last person to cross the finish line is the winner, because being able to control your bike and breaking is very important in mountain biking.”

The drills will be held on a safe, grassy area, and King encourages women to come with whatever bike they can find. Registration for the clinic is $30, and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to The Breast Cancer Fund.

King hopes that women will come out to the clinic and take a chance on a new sport.

“You’re getting a good workout and you don’t even realize it, and its fun to get out on the trails,” she said.

For more information on Team LUNA Chix, visit www.teamlunachix.com.