In North Carolina’s Triangle region, Kevin Hicks is on a mission to get #morekidsonbikes. Kevin volunteers his time as Communications Director for the North Carolina Interscholastic Cycling League and also runs his own nonprofit, TriangleBikeWorks, which focuses on youth leadership. Their flagship program, Spoke’n Revolutions Youth Cycling provides cycling adventures for youth of color that promote teamwork, strengthens communication, deepens interpersonal responsibility …
West Virginia League Partners with State Agencies to Develop Mountain Biking Trails in Local Parks
North Bend State Park is a popular recreation destination near Cairo, West Virginia, sitting on over 2,400 acres on the North Fork of the Hughes River. North Bend State Park is also home to one of the West Virginia League’s Races. The park wasn’t always the perfect location for a NICA race, but thanks to a collaboration between the West …
Reflections on an Inaugural NICA Season
West Virginia student-athletes having some fun as they wrap up their inaugural season. Photo: Kyle Mandler What was your favorite race of the season and why? North Bend Race #4 was amazing, because the skies were blue, and we raced on a trail that was build specifically for our NICA student-athletes. The kids really loved the course, and it was a great …
Elite Development Programs Provide Opportunities for NICA Student-Athletes
We all love mountain biking, and for some of our student-athletes, one of the best parts of mountain biking is the thrill of competition at the highest level combined with the camaraderie of being part of a successful team. NICA is changing the shape of youth cycling across the United States, and elite development programs like the Bear Development Team …
More than Racing – Pennsylvania Adventure Weekend
Several of our leagues are piloting “adventure” programs this fall. Our emerging adventure programs seek to allow youth to experience the benefits of mountain biking, camaraderie, community, and the outdoors. NICA adventure programs reinforce our core values; they enable youth to build health and strength, learn new skills, and be part of a team through outdoor experiences. Recently, The Pennsylvania Interscholastic …
Get to Know your NICA Volunteers!
Ever wonder how a NICA race comes together? How do tranquil trails and empty fields become transformed into an exciting race course and energy-filled pit-zone? Well in addition to student-athletes, coaches and parents, NICA races are supported by over 10,000 volunteers nationwide! Volunteers serve as everything from race announcers to course setters, to sweeps to photographers and NICA races would …
NICA Support from Trek and Walton Family Foundation
NICA Leagues are now receiving direct support from Trek Bicycle and NICA programs have been bolstered by a generous grant from the Walton Family Foundation. Trek Bicycle announced in June that in addition to the $1 million pledged to NICA, Trek will continue to contribute $1 from every mountain bike tire sold as well as $10 from the sale of …
Louisa’s Point of View – NICA GRiT
With the official launch of NICA’s Girls Riding Together (GRiT) program – we wanted to catch up with one of our student-athletes who has been involved with GRiT program activities in her local league! Meet Louisa – a 6th grader with the Georgia Interscholastic Cycling League. Louisa rides for the Gilmer Cartecay Composite Team (aka Team Cartecay) and is a GRiT Ambassador …
Girls Riding Together Program Launches
NICA GRiT is a national program that aims to increase female participation in the sport of mountain biking by 10% over the next five years with a focus on recruitment and retention of girls and female coaches in NICA leagues. Currently, girls represent 20% of the NICA national student-athlete participation. Focused efforts are needed to increase teenage female involvement as …
2018 National Conference a HUGE Success!
2018 Conference Attendees. Photo: Todd Bauer / TMB Images Last month NICA hosted its annual conference in Bentonville, Arkansas. This year’s event brought over 150 leaders together from 22 states and regions to strategize, connect and continue to expand NICA’s efforts to promote youth development through mountain biking across the United States. “Having been at every NICA Conference over the …