Dylan Smith got his first set of wheels when he was only four.
His first set of bicycle wheels, that is.
Since then, the Regina student has continuously pushed himself to be the best.
"I've always been competitive on my bike," he said. "I was always racing my friends."
The young man became involved at the competitive level after seeing a pamphlet at a local bike shop for the bike club, Off Road Syndicate. At first, he didn't even have a race bike and was competing with only a dirt/jump bike, but after being sponsored, he bought a bike and won gold in the under 15 category of the provincial mountain bike championships.
Last weekend, Smith won gold again, as he competed in provincials for the third time, this time in the under 17 category.
Smith was just one of 63 competitors who took part in the provincial championships Aug. 29, the culmination of a series of mountain bike events. Competitors from North Battleford included Gordon Craib, Greg Lautner, Chris Dahl, Christa Taylor and Doug Horn.
This is the first year North Battleford played host to the provincial championships, although the Battleford Cycling Club has hosted the series events in previous years.
Tom Hawboldt, race co-ordinator, said hosting the championships meant a lot of hard work for himself, BCC president Steve Vercoe and treasurer Lyndsy Barth. They spent hours mowing the grass around the north shore walking trails.
"Thank God for Great Value bug spray," said Hawboldt.
But in Hawboldt's mind, all the effort paid off - the tournament was a success and he hopes hosting the provincials will promote use of the river valley.
"We probably have the most stunning vistas in the province," said Hawboldt. "It's an undiscovered diamond."
Hawboldt would like to see more people making use of the river valley, whether on their bikes or by foot.
"It's a great place to walk the dogs," he added.
Hawboldt said the varied terrain, as well as the views, make the river valley a great place for mountain biking.
"If you want to have fun mountain biking, this is the course you ride on," said Hawboldt.
Hawboldt first became involved in mountain biking after an accident in 1992 left him with a back broken in three places.
His brother, Bob Hawboldt, an active mountain biker, suggested mountain biking as a way of rehabilitating.
Hawboldt hasn't looked back since, and enjoys taking part in mountain biking events.
Hawboldt said mountain biking doesn't receive much sponsorship, which makes him thankful for any they do receive.
"The City was excellent to us," said Hawboldt, explaining Keith Anderson, parks director, arranged to have dirt dropped and re-did the road leading to the trails.
Tim Hortons supplied coffee during the event, Porta Bella Restaurant provided the meal for the banquet after and Sakewew High School supplied the gymnasium for the banquet and the awards ceremony.
