Video: Ride Concepts Introduces the Grom Army, Featuring 7 Fast & Stylish 11-14 Year Olds

 My kid is pretty interested in Outlaw and he's chatted with them some. I'm just not sure it's feasible (or that we would get the most out of it) living in the South instead of out West. Great program they're running, though with awesome vibes!

Totally agree on i-street. We're dying for some proper dirt jumps here. Due to the amounts of rain we get, though, they'd probably need to be in a covered park.

 @Hogfly: We are in the PNW with lots of rain. There sure are a lot of jumps here...Storch just put some in at Coast of all places (super wet). The trick is to build the ramps out of pressure treated wood (decking can be standard wood). Then you just maintain the landings a bit are the lips are all demo'd. The BMX guys will want something ultra smooth but the DJ/MTB guys can land on anything halfway decent. This (video below) was one of two parks we've built in the last 12mo. Its smaller and the biggest ramp is only like 5.5ft tall at 55d angle...BUT the small parks open things up for new kids and are a great place for other kids to work on tricks etc. while being a cool zone to hangout in. Just need to find a place, push the Parks guys, get some funding and then the easy part is building it (takes a month or two or three).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQq11sQN4t0

 @Hogfly: Hi there! Mom of Luke and Alex here ( @thosemallentwins) We are so grateful for all of the opportunities! Ride Concepts is an awesome brand, with equally awesome people behind it. As for the Outlaw team - Tyson Henrie offers training for kids all over the country - it just depends on what your child wants to do! Although we are based in Utah, we have kids on the team in Colorado, Washington and California. Please reach out to Tyson if you are interested!

 I don’t think that’s a bias thing at all in RCs part. There are just simply fewer girls out there interested in riding (Hence odds are more boys will ride at a level to pull sponsors). I have two girls myself. The oldest doesn’t seem to be super interested in mtb really at all outside of just wanting to pedal about like any kid. She’s more of a traditional girl interest kiddo and that’s ok. My youngest, time will tell but there’s hope. She seems to have no fear.

 @cougar797: would love to be able to agree with you, but whether it is conscious or unconscious it still sucks that a brand which talks about "diverse and badass" riders in the press release is demonstrating a really narrow view of what diverse means. Its also well proven that this is mutually reinforcing - you don't make girls visible in a sport and you are going to see fewer out there (whether in advertising, event coverage etc). Ride concepts sponsor some of the most amazing women riders (Rachel, Isabeau etc) so its not like they don't know any better - my daughter has met some of them at Crankworx and went away buzzing. The press release for the grom army talks about "hand picked" riders which makes matters worse IMO - Im sure there are some incredible girl riders in that age range if RC had looked - check out #ridelikeagirl - and Im sure there will be some suitable candidates! I love their gear, love helping teach kids to ride in my spare time and this is probably the first time Ive commented ever on PB. Just feel disappointed and hope that by commenting I've flagged it to RC as something for them to go away and think about.....

 It certainly sticks out when, in bold, you're saying " GROM ARMY: seven of the most diverse and badass youth mountain bikers on the planet."

 Hey @rcwellie: Thanks for the feedback. "Diverse" was meant in the terms of skills- these riders can literally ride just about anything. It wasn't meant in terms of gender, personalities, etc. Glad you know of our legit Pro Women's team though! We certainly did not intend to have any bias in the announcement of the initial group of riders for our Grom Army. It's simply the riders that we have been working with. As a new and small brand, (where nearly half of our staff is compromised of women) we are building as we go. Sure, we don't always get every detail right. When we launched the brand, we launched with a full line of women's and youth product right along side the men. How many bike or outdoor footwear companies can say that? Our pro athlete team was first announced with a small crew of male riders, then followed soon thereafter as we grew and were able to add premiere level female talent such as Caroline, Rachel, Isabeau and more (more being announced soon there as well!). Our influencer level team actually has more female riders than male. So, of course we are looking to add some girl shredders to the Grom Army. If anyone is interested and thinks they have what it takes, please contact us! - RC

 @RideConcepts: thanks for taking the time to reply - good to hear you are committed to adding girl shredders to the Army. I hope they get the same kind of profiling that have gone with this awesome launch. Im sure there will be people out there who will hopefully be in touch - one suggestion though - why not be active in going and looking for some to add to the stable and perhaps be active in terms of the group you are working with? Maybe use those social media influencers and put a call out? You guys make great gear, support amazing women riders and would love to see that continue to flourish - would be awesome to see a new brand like RC leading the way and showing some of the big brands how it can be done..... thanks again for the reply and all the best....

 @RideConcepts: Erice van Leuven and Sophie Gregory are killing it big time. Sophie is 10yro champion racer/freerider and is even closeby out of Utah I think. Those girls rock. I'm guessing there is more than a few on Kat Sweets girls DH team as well. Just gotta run them down a bit.

 @rcwellie: perhaps we already are
It's difficult when you're a young and small brand to keep up with production, designing, etc. let alone all of the other aspects of building, but we are trying. Just give us a little time... Thanks.

 @Svinyard: Thanks for the suggestions!

 @Svinyard: Great examples and there will be others out there as well! Erice lives here in Wellington, NZ and is amazing (and a great kid) - she was front of mind for me when I commented earlier - she is supported by Commencal and absolutely shreds. My daughter looks up to her and is desperate to get a Clash as a result!

 @RideConcepts: awesome to hear! Now where did I put my transitions....enough of this internet stuff time to go and ride my bike :-)

 @rcwellie: YEAH!

 I mean, that's pretty mellow for what's coming out of the UK already. You guys already have Harry Schofield and Finley Davies. At 10 and 11yro...they are completely bonkers talented.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvUUOheyNME&t=99s
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEDA0UmuAzo

 @Svinyard: can't argue with you mate yes. There's incredible riders in UK who are only small.

 Nice job! If you put your mind to it you can do anything. ????????

 Idk why it turned into question marks but it was a thumbs up btw.

 No.