By Katy Savage
Sitota LaRocque, 15, is only a freshman at Killington Mountain School, but this will already be her second time competing in the U.S. Open.
She’ll be riding with 12 other KMS athletes, along with two coaches.
“It’s so awesome to have such a big event so local to me,” LaRocque said.
Mountain Times How long have you been mountain biking for? Do you remember your first time and how you got started?
Sitota LaRocque: I’ve been pedaling a bike since I was 2. I started mountain biking in 2019 because my older brother joined our local race team called Ideride and I wanted to be on it but I wasn’t old enough. I eventually joined Ideride in 2021 for my first race season but was sadly cut short due to a broken pelvis. I continued to compete with Ideride through 2023 then just this past season I started at the Killington Mountain School.
MT: Have you competed in the U.S. Open before? What was the experience like and how did you do?
SL: Last year I competed at the Fox U.S. Open for the first time. I did the Enduro, which I got third in, and in the Dual Slalom, which I got second in. At the downhill, I crashed, but I still had a super fun time competing. The whole event was so fun. And the vibes were unmatched.
MT: What made you want to compete this year? And what events are you competing in?
SL: I wanted to compete again this year because it was so fun last year and I made so many good memories. Also because I want redemption in the Downhill. This year I will be competing in the downhill on Goat Skull and in the Dual Slalom.
MT: What’s your favorite thing about mountain biking?
SL: My favorite thing about mountain biking is the community. Everyone is so supportive of each other and willing to help out whenever. I’ve made so many amazing friends through mountain biking.
