Austin is heading up the mountain to look at biking with a new trail.

Plans are moving ahead to construct a mountain biking course this summer at Todd Park after the National Interscholastic Cycling League selected Austin to host a state meet this coming season.

More than 50 people attended a kickoff meeting Wednesday night at the Ruby Rupner Center at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, with Minnesota

League officials providing information about the project and how to get involved with the construction of the trail.

“It actually, I thought, went very, very well,” said Gareth Hataye, one of several planning coordinators. Hataye is also a co-president for the Southern Minnesota Bike Club and the team director for the Austin Cycling Club.

At the meeting, members discussed the league’s background, the Austin team that first started discussing a trail, and why they are building the trail and what needs to get done.

“We had a signup, probably a good page and a half, of individuals who want to volunteer,” Hataye said. “And we’re looking to grow that list and get it kicked off.”

Austin’s mountain biking team formed last year, and the late Dr. Richard “Dick” Schindler was an avid supporter and helper. Schindler passed away last October from a biking accident while he was on his way to clear bike trails near Riverland Community College. He pushed for Austin to hold a meet within the next couple years, but unfortunately passed away before that could happen.

Organizers hope these new trails and the event will honor his work and all his support for the biking community.

Hataye hopes to head to the trails Friday to meet a group of volunteers and start some initial work. He said organizers have currently marked trees where the trails may go, but they need to clear some vegetation and decide on a set trail route.

“We’re excited about really getting started and getting back in there and making it look like a trail,” Hataye said. “Because right now it looks like woods.”

Hataye said the hope is to be finished by Aug. 20 — one month before the first meet in Austin on Sept. 20. About 700 high school bikers from around the state are expected to come to Austin to compete on the new trail. On Sept. 19, competitors are invited to test out the track. The team and volunteers hope to begin work on the trails within the next couple weeks and have it completed by mid-August. After the completion of the course, the team will get to practice on it for about a month before the competition.

The Todd Park trail will be west of the softball diamonds on land that Hormel owns. Volunteers will build the three-and-a-half mile-long trail, which will include twists, turns, bumps, rocks, roots, and a couple small bridges. Austin’s mountain biking team is offered for grades 7-12. Since it is a club team, no one is attached to the school formally.

Organizers are still looking for volunteers to help out. Anyone interested can contact Hataye at gshataye@gmail.com. Updates will also be posted to the Southern Minnesota Bike Club Facebook page.