Breaking his left leg as a freshman in high school turned out to be quite a twist of fate for 2000 Coupeville graduate Matt Frost.

While rehabilitating the injury he suffered playing basketball in his P.E. class, Frost found a new love.

“It was part of my therapy to have me ride the stationary bike,” he said.

In the process of riding the stationary bike he realized just how much he wanted to pursue the sport of cycling.

After the long process of healing, he started to go out riding for fun. The dream of competing as a cyclist, however, took a while for him to reach.

Through four years of high school he kept busy in a variety of school activities, which took up the majority of his time. Frost found success in those activities, as he set the school record in the 800-meters in track, ran cross country, played basketball, won the athlete of the year award as a senior and he did all this while playing the trumpet in the school band.

Personal reasons also came into play for his decision to not compete in high school.

“It was too expensive and I couldn’t drive,” he said. “You have to travel a lot so I just did high school sports.”

Frost finally gained his opportunity to compete in cycling when he began school at the University of Idaho in the fall of 2000.

Over the last three years, he has ridden as a member of Vandal cycling, where he has found a great amount of personal success.

Most recently, in May, Frost claimed the Northwest Cycling Championship in Walla Walla where he faced competitors of major universities from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Not only did he win the championship race, but he also won the overall points total out of all the NWC racers for the entire season.

“I could have lost the (championship) road race and still won overall,” he said.

Although he has seen recent success, he didn’t get to where he is without some hard work along the way.

“It’s really tough,” Frost said. “It’s not just something where you can get on your bike and ride. To be good at it, it’s a change of lifestyle.”

When preparing for races, he spends up to 18 hours a week practicing on the roads.

“I ride at least six days a week,” Frost said.

He has been keeping up with his cycling over the summer competing as a member of the Seattle based Second Ascent Racing team.

“Pretty much any weekend you want to race there’s one going on,” Frost said.

The events he will participate in with the team this summer are a part of the United States Cycling Federation, where he will go up against many professional competitors.

He is racing this weekend at the Elk Horn in Baker City, Ore. in a four stage three day event. The 240-mile race will end with a 116-mile leg on the final day.

“Really, I’m just learning every time I race,” Frost said.

As far as going pro himself, it’s something he would love to do if given the opportunity.

“If I had the opportunity I would do it in a second,” he said. “What could be better than getting paid to ride your bike.”

With one more year left of racing at Idaho, Frost knows one thing for certain.

“Right now I want to do this forever,” he said. “I plan to just keep seeing where it goes.”