NEDERLAND — In his book Win the Inside Game, former elite runner, world-renowned coach, and author Steve Magness talks about how youth sports should be about having fun and trying something new. 

Youth sports “get at our basic psychological needs," Magness says. "We belong, we can make progress, we can have an impact, we matter.”

We need youth sports. Our kids need to be free to try different sports without shame. It needs to be a place where effort and teamwork is praised, a place where they are learning about being teachable and having courage.

Peak to Peak Endurance is a vessel that provides youth sports to area children. Executive Director Gavin Coombs, also a former elite runner, started the nonprofit to provide affordable sports for local youth.

He wants the programs to foster growth and long-term development, gaining skills in sports and in life. 

“Over the last couple of years, we have made it our goal to get as many kids as possible playing sports," Coombs said. "We started our ‘no questions asked’ scholarship program last year. This year we had about 30% of our participants use either a full or partial scholarship.

"Even though that does impact us financially, we are proud to be able to get an additional 75 kids playing sports that may not have otherwise been able to afford it."

Their newest program, Peak to Peak basketball, just wrapped up for the season. They had 55 kids participating in four age groups: Kinder/1st grade, 2nd/3rd grades, 4th/5th grade and middle school. They played games against the youth basketball program from the Gilpin County Rec Center. 

Peak to Peak Basketball teaches skills and teamwork over the course of the season.

Photos by Sara Sandstrom

“This year, we partnered with the Denver Nuggets to join the Jr. Nuggets Program," Coombs said. "This was really cool for the kids because everyone got a Nuggets/Peak to Peak Basketball uniform, and we are going to a Nuggets game in a few weeks as a club.”

Peak to Peak Soccer is the biggest youth program under the Peak to Peak Endurance umbrella, with around 120 kids. Coombs says about 85% of the kids at Nederland Elementary participate in the soccer program, “which is amazing."

The soccer program plays games against kids in the Gilpin County Rec Center program and the program in Clear Creek. 

Peak to Peak Hockey is the only hockey program in the mountains. They have about 60 participating each year.

“The great thing about Peak to Peak Hockey is that this year we had 50/50 participants between boys and girls," Coombs said. "I doubt there is any other hockey club that has that many girls playing.”

Coombs is proud of the Learn to Skate program that they introduced this year. With the help of coaches, four-six year olds learned how to skate. The program was free; seven kids participated, and the program will return next year. 

“We also offer free rental gear for anyone who needs it," Coombs said. "Hockey is a very gear intensive sport and purchasing gear, especially if you are just trying hockey for the first time, can be a huge limiting factor.”

Peak to Peak Endurance is working to add their first summer program in partnership with the NHL: street hockey. They are still finalizing details with dates and time.

“The great thing about street hockey is that you don’t need any of the protective equipment of hockey, just a pair of sneakers," Coombs said. "We will be providing everything else for the program.”

Youth sports programs (soccer and hockey) have been in Nederland for a number of years. Coombs saw a way to combine them in one organization and create a system that supports all of them. This way they are not all running on empty, but successful and thriving. 

Peak to Peak Endurance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. They ask for donations and sponsors. Volunteers support the organization. 

Every summer for the last five years, a bike race has come to Nederland — Ned Gravel. Some people get annoyed by all the traffic and people in town.

All the participants in Ned Gravel are challenging themselves physically and mentally but they are also helping to provide the finances needed to keep Peak to Peak functioning. They are keeping local kids in cleats, in hockey skates, on mountain bikes, and having a basketball to play with.

Ned Gravel 2026 will be take place July 12. If you get held up in traffic or you have to wait for 53 cyclists to cross in front of you, pause, and remember you are doing this for the local kids. They appreciate you. 

“Nederland is a special community," Coombs said, "and we are proud to be a part of it.”