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Dear Team NICA –
Happy New Year! Pedaling into 2021, we are all looking forward to a new year with new opportunities and adventures. Despite most not being able to have events and activities as we were normally used to, the NICA community still experienced growth in 2020, welcoming new student-athletes, coaches and teams. 2020 saw an 11% increase in student-athletes and a 14% increase in coaches. Looking toward our GRiT programs and our commitment to get more female student-athletes and coaches involved, we saw an increase in female coaches to 25% across the nation and our overall female student-athlete participation is currently at 20.7%. Yes, we have some work ahead of us, but we are moving the needle in the right direction. Looking at all we were able to accomplish as a community in an unprecedented year, I am excited to see what we will accomplish together this coming year.
We realize that events in 2021 are still not yet back to “normal” and may not be for some time yet to come. Your Leagues and our team at NICA National are committed to your safety as well as continuing to develop and host activities and events that safely allow us to connect, ride and come together as a community to build strong minds, bodies, character and communities through cycling.
Earlier this month we recognized Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of service and the community service done by student-athletes involved in NICA’s Teen Trail Corps Program. Community service enables our student-athletes to grow as individuals while being committed to making mountain biking more accessible and inclusive for our entire community.
Next month, we will celebrate Black History Month and look to the contributions that African Americans are making to our cycling community. We realize that NICA and the cycling industry as a whole have a long road ahead to improve our diversity, equity and inclusion for all student-athletes. We continue to work on improving recruitment of BIPOC student-athletes and coaches and enhancing our DEI efforts across our organization.
With Gratitude,
Steve
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What’s New Across America
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Spotlight on NICA Teen Trail Corps
Community service demonstrates a commitment to making mountain biking more accessible on a local, regional and national scale while also growing as an individual. “Serve” is one of NICA’s four Teen Trail Corps badges student-athletes have the opportunity to earn. Through TTC Service and in partnership with our NICA community we work to serve a strong mind and body by engaging in stewardship of environmentally sustainable and responsible trails. Learn more and get involved with NICA’s Teen Trail Corps Program today by visiting: https://www.nationalmtb.org/teen-trail-corps/
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NICA National Staff
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NICA is Hiring – Join our Team Today!
NICA is currently looking for a Vice President of Field Operations to work closely with our Leagues and create superior field operations that align with the missions and goals of NICA National and individual leagues. Click HERE to learn more and apply today!
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Check out the new GRiT inspired Girls Moving Mountains Podcast!
Every other Wednesday, join hosts Jen from the Ohio League and Nikki from the SoCal League as they share stories from across the nation to inspire and grow our GRiT Community. Their new Podcast, Girls Moving Mountains, will cover themes that embody NICA and GRiT values and will appeal to student-athletes, coaches, parents and the entire mountain biking community! You can access the first two episodes today HERE.
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Thank you to everyone who supported the 2020 Share the Ride campaign and made it as strong a campaign as ever! A huge welcome and thanks goes to all new sustainers who joined us for the first time during the campaign and congratulations are due to campaign prize draw winners who won prizes from Western Spirit Cycling Adventures and Feedback Sports. We are also deeply grateful to not only those sustainers who continue to stay with us through the years but also to contributors of single gifts too. Share the Ride campaign appreciation and kudos also goes to Kate Courtney, the Worldwide Cyclery, Giro, and the Be Good Foundation for their impressive fundraising efforts! Thank you to all for your support and willingness to invest in youth and their futures, your generosity will continue to make an impact for many years to come. Thank you for Sharing the Ride!
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South Carolina League Coach and Parent, Billy Fordree, our 2020 Western Spirit Grand Prize Winner!
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Share the Ride Grand Prize Winner
Congratulations to Billy Fordree from the South Carolina League – our 2020 Share the Ride Grand Prize Winner of a trip with Western Spirit Cycling Adventures. Billy is a proud NICA parent and coach. Get to know Billy and why he’s stoked on NICA HERE.
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Outride Grant Applications – Now OPEN!
Now through March 11, 2021 Outride will be accepting applications for its 2021 Winter Grants. Outride provides matching grants to NICA teams for young rider development and for trail development to increase access. Learn more today about Outride and its community granting program HERE. We thank Specialized Bicycles, a founding and Platinum level sponsor of NICA, for being an anchor donor of Outride!
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Thank YOU to our 2021 Sponsors and Partners!
We would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to our 2021 Sponsors and Partners for their continued support of our mission to build strong minds, bodies, character and communities and their dedication to helping us get #morekidsonbikes!
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NICA Welcomes Continental as New Sponsor
We are excited to announce a new partnership with Continental, the global leader in bicycle tires. As a sponsor, Continental will support NICA’s overall mission and in particular, its Girls Riding Together (GRiT) initiative. GRiT aims to bring more girls and women into cycling to bridge the opportunity gap for future generations. In a male-dominated environment such as mountain biking, NICA recognizes the need to offer an inclusive, welcoming community for girls to increase recruitment and retention — and ultimately give back incredible experiences and opportunities to last a lifetime.
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Club Ride Friends and Family Discount!
Club Ride Apparel is proud to be a supporter of NICA and wants to extend a 25% discount to you for supporting your student athlete! Click HERE to apply today and enter “NICA 25”. Once you are approved you will receive 3 Friends and Family codes too!”
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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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