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Summit Daily/Eric Drummond The Gruber family from left Patrick, 11, Heidi, 14, and George,12.
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Summit County, CO Colorado
BRECKENRIDGE - Melissa and George Gruber encouraged their three children to get into mountain biking so the family would have an activity that they could all do together. They didn't anticipate that their two sons and daughter would soon be leaving their parents in the dust and ruling the Summit Mountain Challenge (SMC) mountain biking series.
Patrick, George IV and Heidi Gruber developed a love for the outdoors and sports at a young age. Growing up in Breckenridge and having the support of two athletic parents, it was inevitable.
Heidi, 14, the oldest of the three siblings, dominated the junior women's mountain biking scene this summer. She took first place in every junior sport 13-18 class race of the SMC, except one, which she came in a close second. Heidi also captured the number one spot in the overall point standings for her age group.
BRECKENRIDGE - Melissa and George Gruber encouraged their three children to get into mountain biking so the family would have an activity that they could all do together. They didn't anticipate that their two sons and daughter would soon be leaving their parents in the dust and ruling the Summit Mountain Challenge (SMC) mountain biking series.
Patrick, George IV and Heidi Gruber developed a love for the outdoors and sports at a young age. Growing up in Breckenridge and having the support of two athletic parents, it was inevitable.
Heidi, 14, the oldest of the three siblings, dominated the junior women's mountain biking scene this summer. She took first place in every junior sport 13-18 class race of the SMC, except one, which she came in a close second. Heidi also captured the number one spot in the overall point standings for her age group.
"My parents got me started in a couple races when I was younger and it was so much fun being with all my friends and everything," Heidi said. "There aren't that many girls in the junior sport 13-18 group but it's all about having fun and challenging yourself."
Heidi will be a freshman at Summit High School this fall where she plans to play rugby and Nordic ski.
George IV, 12, who's name also topped the results of this years SMC was forced to ride in the 19-29 sport category because he was dominating his age group.
"I just love being outside, I really enjoy being on the Summit County Junior Mountain Biking team because all the people are so friendly and it's such a great place to mountain bike out here," George said.
Heidi will be a freshman at Summit High School this fall where she plans to play rugby and Nordic ski.
George IV, 12, who's name also topped the results of this years SMC was forced to ride in the 19-29 sport category because he was dominating his age group.
"I just love being outside, I really enjoy being on the Summit County Junior Mountain Biking team because all the people are so friendly and it's such a great place to mountain bike out here," George said.
George IV is also a hockey player, which was the reason for missing his final SMC race of the season. He still managed to take sixth overall in the 19-29 sport class.
Patrick, the youngest of the three at age 11, started racing in the series when he was only 6 years old. Patrick also moved up an age group from his usual 11-12 junior beginner category to the 13-18 class where he placed second by a mere 21 seconds at the final race of the season, the Breck Brawl. He was also first in the overall point standings for junior beginner 11-12.
"It feels great to win and makes me feel like I should move up more often, so I'm not always winning my age group," Patrick said.
Patrick also plays football and lacrosse.
Patrick, the youngest of the three at age 11, started racing in the series when he was only 6 years old. Patrick also moved up an age group from his usual 11-12 junior beginner category to the 13-18 class where he placed second by a mere 21 seconds at the final race of the season, the Breck Brawl. He was also first in the overall point standings for junior beginner 11-12.
"It feels great to win and makes me feel like I should move up more often, so I'm not always winning my age group," Patrick said.
Patrick also plays football and lacrosse.
When asked if there are any sibling rivalries between the three, they all shouted "Yes!", while Heidi stepped back and pointed to the two boys.
"There is much more rivalry between these two," Heidi said. "We all kill each other at home, but we definitely encourage one another more than anything."
Larisa Graham can be reached at (970) 668-4617, or at lgraham@summitdaily.com.
"There is much more rivalry between these two," Heidi said. "We all kill each other at home, but we definitely encourage one another more than anything."
Larisa Graham can be reached at (970) 668-4617, or at lgraham@summitdaily.com.
