2015 Recap: Sara and Scott Kylander-Johnson

Sara and Scott Kylander-Johnson, the dynamic duo from Duluth, Minnesota, are members of Kuhl's Pro/Elite Cycling Team. They tore up the single track in 2015 and brought home multiple wins and top finishes for the family trophy room.

2015 Season in Review

Scott began the mountain bike racing season with a bang. The unpredictable conditions that come with snow couldn't slow Scott down, and he took first in both the Winter Fat Bike Enduro at Spirit Mountain and the Korkki Nordic Winter Fat Bike.

Sara and Scott’s spring/summer racing season included the Mt Borah Epic. This CAMBA trail fundraiser in Cable, WI is mostly fun, single track riding. At this well-attended race, Sara was the 2nd woman, and Scott was 15th in the 30-mile race. From there they raced various MN Series Pro/Elite Races. Sara took 1st place at Lester and Mission, as well as 2nd at Cuyuna. Scott was 13th at Lester and 10th at Cuyuna. Their two favorite races are the Red Earth Classic in Ishpeming, MI and Laddies Loppet at Maplelag Resort in Callaway, MN. Both races use rocky, rooty, “old school” singletrack. Sara was first in both, and Scott was 5th at Maplelag.

Scott couldn’t complete either the Red Earth Classic or their hometown race at Mission Creek due to continued pain from breaking ribs in an enduro event in June. In his return race, Scott roared back with a win at the inaugural Gitchee Gumme 50, a point-to-point trail race across Duluth. At the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, a mountain bike race on gravel road and two-track, Sara was 4th and Scott finished 31st.

Giving Back and Pedaling Forward

Duluth trails have been awarded Gold status by IMBA, bringing additional exposure and excitement to the Duluth mountain bike scene. It's a very exciting time for Sara and Scott, and when they're not racing, they can be seen touring riders from around the country, showing off Duluth’s newest trail offerings, and giving back to the community.

Sara and Scott either lead or participate in the weekly Ski Hut Monday Night Mountain Bike Ride from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year. Usually one rides with the Ski Hut group while the other rides with their 7-year-old daughter and her friends. Pedaling runs in the family, and Sara and Scott are sharing their passion with the next generation of #kuhlkids.

Scott coaches an annual weeklong mountain bike camp in June for middle school aged children, biking almost 3 hours each day on local trails. Last fall, he also started coaching a mountain bike group for elementary children that met Mondays after school for 6 weeks. The program resumed in early 2016 for 12 weeks of Nordic Ski instruction. Additionally, Scott was the lead biker for the 2015 Swain, one of the largest high school cross-country meets in the country with over 2000 athletes. He spent 7 hours in the saddle in front of the lead pack. Scott also helped lead the Proctor HS XC running meet, a much smaller event, and he was the lead biker for The William A. Irvin 5K, a companion race for Grandma’s Marathon. Furthermore, at the Marshall School auction each year, Scott donates a fully supported "Bike Across Duluth Mountain Bike Adventure" for two riders. Sara helped coach the second annual Ladies Midnight Sun Mountain Bike Clinic at Lester Park last October. Thirty women attended and were treated to a great day of riding, sunshine and instruction.

Sara and Scott are gearing up for another successful season in 2016!