Off-road biking offers numerous benefits that enhance both physical and mental well-being. Physically, it gives you an intense, full-body workout—the varied terrain challenges leg, core, and upper body muscles, improving strength and endurance. Navigating rough trails requires balance and coordination, which further enhances motor skills. Additionally, the cardiovascular demands of off-road biking can significantly boost heart health, increasing stamina and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases—it is the most perfect workout you can get.
Off-road biking has substantial mental benefits. The immersive experience of riding through natural landscapes can reduce stress and anxiety. The concentration required to tackle challenging trails can help clear the mind, providing a mental break from daily stressors. But the biggest benefit is the sense of adventure and accomplishment after tackling a new trail.
Recently, we met a guy in Perryville who came up with the idea to make an off-road bike trail in Perryville. Today, his vision and passion have led to creating a trail that will open sometime this summer or early fall. It's another "what one man can do, another can do!" story—with some help from his friends. Meet the latest 573 Superhero—Chad Sutterer, family guy, actor, teacher, and hard-core dirt biker.
Meet the latest 573 Superhero—Chad Sutterer, family guy, actor, teacher, and hard-core dirt biker.
My name is Chad Sutterer. My wife, Liz, is a certified holistic nutritionist, yoga instructor, and mom. She homeschooled all our kids; the two oldest, Kennedy and Brooke, are in high school. The youngest, Willow, is still homeschooled. We are adventurous and love new experiences. Some of us love extreme experiences, like parasailing, paragliding, mountain biking, etc. We love to travel, eat new foods, and listen to music, especially live music.
...consider myself a high-intermediate mountain biker.
I was born in Perryville and lived here until about 2006. We moved up to Lake Tishomingo and Hillsboro, where we stayed there for about 13 years. Then, we sold everything and traveled around the country, mostly focusing on the western states and Canada. We pulled our camper and lived in it while we traveled for about a year, then moved back to Perryville. Today, I have a small e-commerce business and am an instructor at Ranken Technical College in Perryville. I teach in the industrial technology program.
573: Tell us about your biking
I've been biking since I was a kid. I watched movies about bike tricks and then practiced them for hours or days until I could do them. My friends and I rode bikes from morning until night. In college, I started mountain biking and never stopped. I have progressed a lot over the years and consider myself a high-intermediate mountain biker. I'm definitely not a pro, but it's good enough for me to be happy with where I am. I love sharing it with people and teaching others how to do more and push their limits gradually.
...the city and many other organizations came on board...
573: Tell us about the bike trail you are working on for Perryville
The mountain bike trail is pretty unique. The park itself is lovely. The problem was that people couldn't see my vision at first. When we moved back to town, I wanted to bring mountain biking and hiking experiences to Perryville. After a short while, the city and many other organizations came on board with the funding needed to get the trail under construction. Someday soon, we will have a 4.5-mile intermediate cross-country trail, three downhill flow lines for different levels, a pump track, and a mountain bike skills park. This will support nearly all ages and skill levels, with some exceptions. The park itself, once open, is going to be free to use and will attract many bikers to Perryville.
Someday soon, we will have a 4.5-mile intermediate cross-country trail, three downhill flow lines for different levels, a pump track, and a mountain bike skills park.
573: Tell us about your acting
So far, I've been featured as an extra in several films. I started this journey by helping my daughter to chase after her dream of acting. It was only natural that I helped her as I have always wanted to act myself. I enjoy so many different things about filmmaking from the acting side. After being on set for a couple of days, I cannot help but see sets when trying to watch movies or TV shows. I recently landed a lead role in the film THE SPRING, which has been filming on and off in the area this year.
The park itself, once open, is going to be free to use and will attract many bikers to Perryville.
Get Out There! Build something. Join something. Start something. Do something. Do anything. What one person can do, another can do. That sunken sofa will be fine without you.
Pics & Words - the Supreme Leader
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