SALT LAKE CITY -- Toddlers raced in the Strider Cup on Saturday morning at Pioneer Park in downtown Salt Lake City.
Children ages 2-4 and others with special needs took a ride on their special balance two-wheeler bikes in a race through the park put on by Strider Bike.
The specially designed bikes encourage children to skip the training wheel stage and move ahead to a two-wheel bike faster.
"People are figuring out what balance bikes are and how they are so valuable; encouraging for kids for their pride and coordination," said Ted Huettl, an event manager for Strider Sports.
Huettl said this year's race is the second tier to the world championships, which will be held in San Francisco July 29-30.
"[Saturday's] event has 250 riders, last year in Salt Lake City there were about 102 riders, so we have grown tremendously," Huettl said.
Families who are Strider Bike fans have made the Strider plan part of their family plan, like the Hewett family.
"Our 4-year-old went straight from a Strider Bike to a two-wheel bike, no need for training wheels, so we are drinking the Strider Bike juice," said Rebecca Hewett, a mother of three.
All families who participated on Saturday can also be in the world championships.
Strider races are held in 75 countries worldwide.
