GRiT – Girls Riding Together

The GRiT initiative is an effort by the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) to recruit and retain more girls and female coaches in NICA programs. The overarching goal of the NICA GRiT initiative is to increase the overall participation rate  to 33% female participation (coaches and student-athletes each) by 2023. #moregirlsonbikes!

Who should learn about GRiT:

NICA develops co-ed interscholastic mountain biking programs for student-athletes with a mission to build strong minds, bodies, character, and communities through cycling. Increasing female participation in mountain biking is ultimately a matter of running good programming for everyone – programming that is inclusive, experience-based and intentional. With the goals of the GRiT initiative and the philosophy of equity integrated into all NICA teams – this is not a side project. As coaches of co-ed teams, all NICA coaches are dedicated to getting #moregirlsonbikes.

An important first step to making girls feel comfortable on NICA teams, is to have positive adult female role models. So, a primary objective of the GRiT initiative will be to recruit women to the Wisconsin league as coaches and ride leaders and to continue to prioritize their development.

Learn more about how to become a GRiT Leader.

Recommend a female coach to a NICA team and the GRiT initiative.

Coaches, what can you do right now?

  • Invite women into on-the-bike roles within your team and give them a chance to lead.
  • Encourage and promote women to move through the NICA coaching levels, increasing their involvement and qualifications.
  • Reach out to Heather Rainer, the WI GRiT Program Director to learn more.

NICA: The New Normal

Follow our GRiT Social

Become a GRiT Ambassador

The WI GRiT Ambassador Program is ramping up. Apply with the form below. GRiT Ambassadors are student-athlete representatives for the GRiT program, helping raise awareness of the effort to get #moregirlsonbikes and acting as a local advocate and voice for what our female student-athletes want out of the GRiT program. The GRiT Ambassador will play a key role in recruiting and retaining more girls in NICA programs at the league level.
The 2022 Application period has closed.

Visit the GRiT Storefront

Get your NICA GRiT gear here!

t-shirt, socks, and hat with GRiT graphics