Colorado State University’s ACT Human Rights Film Festival is bringing In The Dirt to the Lyric on April 5th.

IN THE DIRT is a documentary film about a group of passionate Native American cyclists who attempt to bring the sport of mountain biking to the Navajo Nation, where no bike shops exist.

In 2018, retired pro cyclist Scott Nydam and his family moved to Gallup, New Mexico to pursue a healthcare job for his wife. (YGR Note- Scott and I rode together on Team Rio Grande Racing for a few seasons before he turned pro with BMC in 2006. In 2008 he won the King of the Mountains Classicfication at the Tour of California. A concussion during the Tour of the Gila (one too many) ended his career in 2009. I always thought Scott was too nice of a guy to make it as a pro-roadie and was bummed when his career ended just as he was hitting his stride.) Soon after their arrival, Scott began meeting passionate mountain bikers across the 28,000-mile expanse of the Navajo Nation who loved the bike and wanted to bring the sport to their communities. The only problem is no bike shops existed. Through a grassroots native-led effort, this group of dedicated cyclists and their families have overcome countless odds to build a cycling culture that today has become the fastest-growing recreational sport on the Navajo Nation.

Highpoints

  • What: In the Dirt film screening.
  • When: Friday, April 5, 2024, 12:00 PM MDT
  • Where: The Lyric 1209 N College Ave Fort Collins, CO 80524
  • How much: “Access to this program is available on a sliding scale. Please pay what you can.”
    Tickets
  • Runtime: 40 minutes

In-person:

  • Scott Nydam, film participant (former Team Rio Grande member)
  • Franklin Cook, film participant
  • Lorenzo Manuelito, film participant
  • Jesse Renteria (Oglala Lakota), Sr. Tribal Affairs Advisor, Mapetsi Policy Group

On Zoom:

  • T.C. Johnstone: Director
  • Kristen Johnstone: ProducerThe film will be followed by a community conversation facilitated by Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk as part of the National Endowment for Humanities’ United We Stand initiative.

Trailer


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