Jonathan Vaughters (Slipstream) (Image credit: AFP)
Jonathan Vaugthers, head of the Garmin-Slipstream road team, will speak as a special guest at the NorCal high school mountain bike league's CycleFest 2009 in the Bay Area in California on November 6-8. The three-day event is the main fundraiser for the league, a non-profit organization supporting student cyclists from both public and private schools.
"It is an honor to be invited speak. Two of the pro riders on the Garmin-Slipstream team, Lucas Euser and Steven Cozza, raced mountain bikes in the NorCal League, and so from the perspective of somebody like me, the importance of a program like NorCal's cannot be overstated," said Vaughters.
"I am delighted to support it and urge everybody reading this to add their support too. This is the future of cycling in the USA."
The former road pro has a reputation for fostering talented young riders and helping them through the difficult years when they progress from the junior level to ground zero in the senior ranks. The philosophy of his team has always been to do things differently while maintaining a strong ethical position, to which end he pioneered a transparent, drug-free cycling team early in the new millennium.
Vaughter's appearance will be an opportunity to gain his insight on cycling development as well as his thoughts on the past, present and future of the sport.
Organizers hope to raise US$60,000 at the NorCal CycleFest.
Also on show at the CycleFest dinner will be a vintage poster show displaying European poster art with a cycling theme. Elizabeth Norris of Vintage European Posters will be displaying a portion of her collection of original posters from as early as 1890.
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CycleFest 2009 Schedule November 6: Cocktail reception with Jonathan Vaughters in Mill Valley November 7: Benefit dinner, silent auction and vintage poster show, hosted by Jonathan Vaughters at the Mill Valley Community Center November 8: Scenic road ride in Marin countryside with Jonathan Vaughters.
Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews. She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race coverage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage.
