June 14 – 18, 2017 (with optional tour June 13)

Duluth & Cuyuna, Minnesota

What:

The conference will include discussion and training sessions, panels, roundtable conversations, meals, and opportunities to ride together (information below on the trails in Duluth and Cuyuna).

Who:

NICA Board of Directors, National Office Staff, League Directors and Staff, League Board Members and Advisors, Coach Supporters, Advisors and special guests. This year the Coach Supporters will arrive and depart the same time as everyone else.

League Directors, please reach out to Lauren Duensing, Laurend@nationalmtb.org, to obtain Coach Supporter requirements and expectations for the 2017 conference.

Where & When:

We are pleased to announce that the 2017 NICA Conference will be held in two locations! The conference will begin Wednesday evening, June 14th, in Duluth and end Saturday, June 17th in Cuyuna. Sessions will be held in Duluth Thursday and Friday morning. There is also an optional tour of Quality Bike Products the afternoon of Tuesday, June 13.

Stage 1 (Optional): Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) Tour

Tuesday, June 13th, 4:00 pm

Come join QBP’s Advocacy Director, MN League Founder, and MTB Hall of Famer, Gary Sjoquist for a tour of QBP’s 265,000 sq ft. distribution center in Bloomington!  With 40,000 parts, Gold LEED Certification, and home to the World Headquarters for Salsa, Surly, 45NRTH and 15 other proprietary brands, the “Q” tour also features a test lab with 3D printers, computerized wheel building process (laces and trues a wheel in 4 minutes) and RFD-controlled forklifts for 35 ft. high bay storage.  Beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres provided at reception in Q’s Spokes Café following tour.  Attendees may attend optional dinner together following QBP tour.

Stage 2: Conference Sessions (Duluth, MN):

Spirit Mountain, Chalet at base of mountain, in West Duluth, 8551 Grand Avenue, Duluth

Wednesday, June 14th and Thursday, June 15th

The conference will officially kick-off Wednesday evening, June 14th in Duluth, MN, which is an IMBA Gold level ride center.

(Optional) Overnight Camp Discussion Session:  2pm – 5pm

Led by Chris Spencer who will be soliciting and compiling input before the Conference.

Conference commences:  6 PM

Stage 3: Conference Sessions (Cuyuna, MN):  

True North Base Camp, 825 1st Street SW, Crosby

Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge, 25039 Tame Fish Lake Road, Deerwood

Friday, June 16th and Saturday, June 17th

Friday afternoon we will transition to Cuyuna for an afternoon ride at True North Basecamp and will continue with sessions and riding on Saturday there. Sessions will be at Ruttger’s Lodge with riding at the True North Basecamp. The conference will close Saturday night after dinner. Cuyuna is an IMBA silver level ride center.

2017 NICA Conference Agenda 2017 NICA Conference Sessions

 
 

Cost:

Leadership and Coach Supporter Tracks:  $350

Leadership:  League Directors and League Board Members, NICA National Staff and NICA Board

Coach Supporters:  REI has generously provided a grant to cover the registration fee for one Coach Supporter per league. (Travel and accommodations costs to be covered by League.)

Coach Supporters must be invited by League Directors. 

Meals: Lunch and dinner is included in your registration fee and will be provided Wednesday night through Saturday night of the conference.  We will provide breakfast options as we get closer to the conference.

Travel and van transportation:

Airports:

You may fly into Minneapolis – Saint Paul International Airport or Duluth International Airport. Our understanding is all Duluth flights go through Minneapolis.

We recommend you arrive by 2 pm and join the optional tour of QBP Tuesday, June 13th at 4 pm! Team building strongly recommended via QBP tour and van ride up to Duluth the next morning.

Transportation:

Tuesday, June 13th: If you plan to attend the tour of QBP, please plan to arrive to Minneapolis by 2PM and make your way to QBP. We will not be providing transportation for this leg of the journey.  

Wednesday, June 14th: Two options:

• For those attending the Tuesday afternoon QBP tour, we will provide 8:00 AM van transportation from the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Bloomington to Duluth so all can get a morning ride in!  Your bikes will be in Duluth. (This is about a two and a half hour drive)
• We will also provide 3:00 PM van transportation to Duluth from Minneapolis – Saint Paul International.

If the above 2 options do not work with your travel schedule, please book your own car rental.

Friday, June 16th: We will provide van transportation from lodging in Duluth to Cuyuna for an afternoon ride at True North Basecamp. Your bikes will be transported. (This is about a two hour drive)

Sunday, June 18th: Vans will depart starting at 6 AM for both Minneapolis – Saint Paul International Airport and Duluth International Airport.   (This is about a two and a half hour drive – Gary Sjoquist boasts he has made it in 2 hours, but this is not recommended with rental vans 🙂