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Student-athletes at a Florida League Event. Photo: Steve Matous
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Dear Team NICA –
With some of our Spring Leagues safely returning to racing – I welcome the opportunity to resume travel to visit our leagues and spend personal time with our incredible community. It has been fun getting to know the land owners in both Texas and Kansas who provide access to venues that allow our leagues to hold weekend events for their teams and show the great support those leagues have developed in their local community. Earlier this month I had a fantastic visit in Missouri as representatives from four Leagues and NICA National came together to hold a mock race, the first statewide event in Missouri in advance of their upcoming season. This event was significant in that it was not just the first pre-season event in Missouri, but it brought together representatives from other leagues across our community to learn from each other and grow and develop their event production capabilities.
This May we also celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and recognize the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to our NICA community. Below, get to know Mia Fox, a coach, NICA Awardee and GRiT Coordinator for the West Virginia League who is incredibly passionate about getting #morekidsonbikes and #moregirlsbikes.
We are excited to announce the recipients of our first round of Trek/NICA Pathfinders Scholarships. Trek partnered with NICA to grow diversity in the sport of cycling and provide better access for diverse and underrepresented youth. Scholarships have been awarded to 152 student-athletes across our Fall Leagues. We will be offering a second round of scholarships for Spring Leagues in the coming months.
We also look to recognize our 2021 Seniors as the academic year comes to a close. Check out What’s New Across America to get your favorite Senior featured. We are grateful for the Class of 2021 and their dedication and contributions to the NICA community. Congratulations NICA Seniors!
Best Regards,
Steve
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The Maryland League’s Patterson Park Team. Photo: Catherine Witt
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Congratulations Trek/NICA Pathfinder Scholarship Recipients
Earlier this year, Trek Bicycle introduced the Pathfinders Scholarship, a scholarship program aimed at changing the landscape of competitive cycling in the US by bringing greater diversity, equity, and inclusion to youth mountain biking. Following a thoughtfully organized nomination and review process, 152 Pathfinders Cycling Scholarships have been awarded to diverse and underrepresented student-athletes from across the country. Each recipient will receive a new Trek Marlin mountain bike, helmet, shoes accessories, full kit (shorts and jersey), fully paid league and race entry fees as well as resources needed to succeed during their respective NICA league’s fall 2021 season.
“We are excited to support these amazing student-athletes with the resources needed to be successful in mountain biking,” says Trek Bicycle Director of Advocacy Bob Burns. “This program is not only broadening the access to mountain biking, but also helping attract kids from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented communities to the joys of cycling.”
For more information, please click HERE.
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Training weekend in Missouri. Photo: Denile Hill
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Missouri League Hosts Training Weekend
The Missouri League hosted a race simulation event the weekend of May 14-15 that brought together trainers and race staff from 4 leagues for race and weekend event production training. This event served to not only train race staff from Missouri, Nebraska, Kentucky and Indiana for upcoming seasons, it provided an opportunity to showcase what a NICA Event will entail for the Missouri community.
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Photo: Pennsylvania League
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BOSCH Supports Teen Trail Corps Efforts
BOSCH, a worldwide manufacturer, distributor and marketer of eBike drive systems since 2009 is excited to be supporting NICA and its Teen Trail Corps program. Bosch eBike Systems works on the future of mobility, which is healthy, and economically and ecologically sustainable. Nowadays over 70 leading bike brands worldwide trust the components ‘epowered by Bosch.’
As a NICA Sponsor, BOSCH is excited to provide two Trek ebikes for Teen Trail Corps Projects. We are excited to announce that the Pennsylvania League and the West Virginia League will be the recipients of these bikes!
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Florida Senior Sam Morrison. Photo: Jackie Morrison
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Senior Spotlight!
As our 2021 Seniors head to the finish line – we want to recognize ALL the hard work, dedication and efforts our seniors have achieved throughout their time with NICA! If you’d like to see your favorite NICA Senior featured across NICA’s social media over the next few weeks – send a photo and a short overview of your senior’s accomplishments during their time at NICA to media@nationalmtb.org!
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Photo: Holly Alastra / Montana League
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NICA – Salsa Adventure Video Contest
NICA has partnered with Salsa to bring you a “behind the handlebars” view of what Adventure means to NICA student-athletes. Now through the end of May – we want you to define your adventure in a short video clip for social media. Click HERE for more information and to submit your video. Select submissions will receive swag from Salsa and be featured on NICA and Salsa social media platforms!
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Tennessee League GRiT Student Athletes. Photo: Beth Pride Ford
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Thank You for Making International Women’s Mountain Biking Day a HUGE Success!
THANK YOU to everyone who joined us to celebrate International Women’s Mountain Biking Day on May 1st! In case you missed it – click HERE to check out our GRiT Community coming together to get #moregirlsonbikes!
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WV League GRiT Coordinator Mia Fox. Photo: Mia Fox
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Meet West Virginia GRiT Coordinator, Mia Fox!
In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we’re highlighting Mia Fox, a NICA Coach and West Virginia GRiT Coordinator who plays a key role in the West Virginia NICA Community and also strives to be a role model for young women and women of color across West Virginia. Catch up with Mia HERE.
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Check the latest new styles ready for summer in the NICA Store! We have new designs for Teen Trail Corps, GRiT and more! Get yours today HERE!
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REI Renews and Increases Support
We are excited to announce that REI has recently renewed and increased its support to NICA with a grant of $25,000. Like NICA, REI believes time outside is fundamental to a life well lived – that our connection to nature is essential to the health and well-being of all people and communities. We are grateful to REI for being a long-time supporter of our Teen Trail Corps and now of our work more broadly, too, to get more kids and their families outdoors and on bikes. Thank you, REI, for your partnership and commitment to our work!
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Student-athletes racing in New Jersey. Photo: Don Madson
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Spring League Survey
SPRING LEAGUES! We would LOVE to get your thoughts looking back on your recent NICA season so we can work to continually improve your NICA experience. Please consider giving us a few minutes of your time to complete our End-of-Season Survey HERE. PLUS – if you provide your contact information at the end of the survey – you’ll be entered to win one of 10 RoadID gift cards!
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NICA exists by virtue of our generous sponsors, boosters, foundation partners and individual donors.
We are extremely grateful for your continued support of our mission to build strong minds, bodies, character and communities through cycling. Consider supporting NICA or your favorite league today and help us impact the future of cycling!
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