BROTHERS Levi and Jackson Billings represented their schools, Galen Catholic College and Wangaratta Primary School, in the AusCycling 2023 Alpinestars Schools Mountain Bike Series with great results. The four round series brings the best young and emerging cross country mountain bike riders together to race at tracks in Dromana, Lysterfield, the You Yangs and Bendigo Levi won the gold in under 15 boys category with a total of 57 points, and Jackson took home silver in under 13 boys event with 38 points, just one behind the winner. They raced against their peers across four months through technical descents, single track, wide track sections, short steep climbs and rocky paths, as well as through a school building. They demonstrated skills developed over many years of riding and racing across the North East, in particular the ability to take the steep inside lines and to win the sprint finish. It wasn’t an easy field to best, with the best in Australia in attendance, as well as more than 100 riders at some of the meets. Introduced to the sport by their father, the brothers Billings are excited to take their riding career as far as it can go, often training and practicing on their homemade track at the family property in Springhurst. The boys each have their favourite aspect of racing - for Levi it’s the climb and using the power in his legs to pass his opponents and get to the top of the hill, while Jackson loves the thrill of the sprint finishes and the social aspect as he chats with his competitors at the start line. The brothers will continue their training as they prepare for their next race where they come together as a team to race in an endurance race format over three hours, doing as many laps as they can on a seven kilometre track. The series has been a great way for Levi and Jackson to get involved in racing their mountain bikes for their school in a fun and supportive environment.
