Bike Duluth Fest was back for the tenth year this past weekend, with spectators of all ages. Races began Friday and lasted through the weekend. 

Ryder, 13, participated in the Enduro on Saturday and the Advanced Downhill race on Sunday. This is only his second Bike Duluth Fest, but Ryder said he has been biking since an early age.

“I’ve always been biking as a kid and doing wheelies with my friends. I started doing BMX and then moved to mountain biking,” said Ryder. 

Ryder’s parents and toddler brothers cheered him on as he went down a trickier portion of Sunday’s race. His mother, Danielle Pfeifer, has been proud to see his accomplishments with Ryder even having sponsors.

“I mean, you know, some scrapes and bruises, some tears, but he’s always got back on his bike and rode away,” said Pfeifer. “ It’s a lot of anxiety. It’s very hard to watch your 13-year-old boy ride down this cliff here.” 

Racing alongside many bigger kids, Ryder says he was not afraid of the big jumps. 

“I had my lines picked out and I practiced a lot,” said Ryder. 

Ryder and his family are from Champlin but say Duluth is worth the drive for its mountain bike trails. They will be back for Bike Duluth Fest next year. 

“With this event, it’s hard because he’s 13, and there’s a lot of really fast 16-year-olds, so there’s not a, you know, 13 and under category. When he’s 16, look out,” said Pfeifer.