LAKEWOOD — The Lakewood and Arlington Composite Mountain Bike teams are still looking for more riders for this season and have already hosted a “lap-a-thon” fundraiser at the end of February.

“We have six kids on the Arlington composite team, two middle schoolers and six Lakewood High School kids,” said coach Heidi Klippert, “We are still looking for more riders, for anyone who is interested.”

The fundraiser was held on Sunday, Feb. 24, when riders were sponsored for each lap they completed.

“The total driven with kids and coaches was 78 laps and 468 miles,” said Klippert. “We don’t have a final tally for how much money we raised but we hope it’s enough to buy our jerseys.”

Although the teams are made up of students from area schools, mountain biking is not yet a school sponsored sport and requires self-funding.

“Since we are self-funded the kids pay their dues and race fees, and we hold fundraisers for other expenses,” said Klippert. “We are always looking for more sponsors as well.”

While the school does not officially sponsor mountain biking, Lakewood High School is hosting professional mountain biker Ryan Leech in an assembly on Thursday, March 7.

“He is presenting on the trials of life,” said Klippert of Leech, who is known as a trials mountain bike rider for his style of extreme testing of bike handling skills, balance and control. “His main goal is to inspire this generation and help them be strong through the hardships, criticisms and social conditioning that they face.”

Leech will be doing a show at the Seattle Bike Expo on March 9-10.

The teams will take their third trip down to Tacoma for the first race of the year at Steilacoom on April 7.

“The kids are having a great time. It’s a lot of fun,” said Klippert. “If people are interested in joining they can contact me for more information.”

Practices take place three days a week. Klippert can be reached at hklippert@lwsd.wednet.edu.