“I saw an athlete with a physical disability carving beautiful turns on a mono ski,” says Young Riders Executive Director Julie Minahan of her first PC ski visit in 1996. “I followed them down the mountain and right into the National Ability Center, thrilled to find it. I signed up for an internship immediately!”
This New Yorker raised in Adirondacks ski country quickly finished school back East and bolted for her new mountain home in Utah – this time as head coach of NAC’s adaptive ski team - motivated by her own college ski racing injury.
Her community evolution eventually took her to Young Riders, Park City’s premiere youth cycle program, where she met then–Exec Director Heinrich Deters, her husband today. Julie took on the ED job in 2007 when Heinrich joined Park City Municipal managing open space and trails, moves that deepened their Park City ties.
She counts mountain bike legend Charlie Sturgis as a positive influence. Young Riders inherited Bike Swap from Charlie, “our favorite event,” she smiles. “We’ve since passed it to the high school bike program. We’ve seen bikes pass down for years from kid to kid. It’s all about family and community.”
“Another favorite is the Tour de Suds race. Heinrich and I started doing it years ago, towing our kids – now the kids are on the podium!”
Julie and Heinrich prioritize “spreading good vibes, setting the tone for how to live in the mountains,” as they raise a family and enrich the lives of Park City youth. Their two teens, PC High Mountain Bike teammates, have toured England, Greece and France, learning the physical, emotional and social rewards of an outdoor lifestyle. Now decades-long residents, Julie observes, “Like us, so many people come here to ski but stay for community.”
She adds, “But I’d love to see Tour de Suds add a category for kids towing their parents. I think it’s time!”