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At the Southern Suburbs School Mountain Bike League at SACS, young riders, families and schools came together for a morning that showed why the moments around school sport can matter as much as the result.
For a young rider crossing the finish line of a mountain bike race, the result is only part of the story. There is the medal, the tired legs and the mud, followed by the search for Mom or Dad in the crowd and the satisfaction of having done something that felt difficult.
That was the moment PURA Beverage Co wanted to be part of when it supported the recent Southern Suburbs School Mountain Bike League event at SACS over the weekend. More than 400 Grade 1 to Grade 7 riders from at least eight schools took part, with more than 1,000 family members and supporters turning out across the day. PURA Kids was waiting at the finish as riders completed their races, received their medals and celebrated with their families.
“Some of these kids are incredibly competitive and others are simply proud that they made it around the course, but that is what makes school sport so special,” says Anthony Silber, Head of Marketing at PURA Beverage Co. “You see them come across the finish line exhausted and then their faces completely change when they get that medal. We wanted to be there for that part of the day.”
For PURA, supporting the event was also an opportunity to back something that extends beyond a single morning of racing. Funds raised through the Southern Suburbs School Mountain Bike League contribute towards maintaining and expanding the MTB track, helping to create more opportunities for young riders to get onto their bikes and participate.
School sport has always been about more than a final score or finishing position. It gives children a chance to test themselves, learn how to compete, spend time outdoors and discover activities they may continue long after their primary school years. Just as importantly, it brings families and school communities together, with parents lining the course and children racing alongside friends and pupils from other schools.
“There is something very uncomplicated about a morning like this,” adds Silber. “Kids are outside, they’re moving, their families are there supporting them and they’re proud of what they’ve achieved. Those are the kinds of experiences we want PURA to be part of.”
For PURA, that community element is an important part of showing up beyond the supermarket shelf. Supporting an event that also contributes towards maintaining and expanding the MTB track means the benefit can extend beyond race day, creating a space where more children can ride, compete and experience their own finish-line moments in the future.