The GRiT initiative is an effort by NICA to recruit and retain more girls and female coaches in co-ed NICA programs. The overarching goal of the NICA GRiT initiative is to increase the overall participation rate to 33% female riders (coaches and student-athletes each) by 2023. Let’s all work to get #moregirlsonbikes here in Wisconsin!

2nd Annual GRiT Retreat Weekend

Hartman Creek State Park
May 13-15 | Coaches
May 15 | Athletes and Coaches

Last year was a HUGE success! We had over 50 women participate. We invited our Ambassadors to talk to the girls, we rode our bikes, we giggled, laughed, and made new friends.

Friday evening and Saturday are all about the coaches. We will be discussing recruiting, games, and activities to share with girls to spark their interest on their bikes. We will do girl stuff in the evenings and cozy up around the campfire. There is also an opportunity to level up with OTB 101 and 201 on Saturday. For those of you that have already taken these classes you can still participate as our demo’rs and receive CEUs!

Sunday we are inviting the female athletes to join us! We coaches can apply all we have learned and make a great day of riding and playing bikes with our Wisconsin GRiT athletes.

If you participated last year and are interested in volunteering your time this year to help make this event great get in touch with Angela Brooks at angela@wisconsinmtb.org, Wisconsin Interscholastic Cycling League GRiT Coordinator.

If you know a woman or girl who is on the fence about whether NICA or mountain biking is right for her invite her to this. They can participate! They do not need to be registered in PitZone. We have waivers!

COACHES CLICK HERE and ATHLETES CLICK HERE for more info and to register.

Wisconsin GRiT Ambassador Application

What is a GRiT Ambassador?

The NICA GRiT Ambassador Program aims to engage female NICA student-athletes in spreading the word about the GRiT program within NICA leagues. A GRiT Ambassador will be a female student-athlete representative for the GRiT program, will help raise awareness of the effort to get #moregirlsonbikes and most importantly, will also be the local advocate and voice for what our female student-athletes want out of the GRiT program. A GRiT Ambassador will play a key role in recruiting and retaining more girls in NICA programs at the league level.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND APPLY TODAY!

GRiT Coach Mentors Needed!

Let’s face it ladies. We are coaches because we love to ride or we love to be with our families and biking brings us together. The Coach Mentors will be expected to help recruit but mainly we need them to be available to help engage with the 400+ girls & female coaches in the league. We are looking for women to help us get more women and girls on bikes and bring us all together at the races!!

What is a GRiT Coach Mentor?

A GRiT Coach Mentor is not afraid to get in front of the team and share her experiences and knowledge of the league, team, and riding. She is a trusted coach that other coaches, parents, and athletes are not afraid to ask questions of her. She is confident in her ability to share the love of mountain biking and loves encouraging more women and girls on bikes.

A GRiT Coach Mentor is willing to work with other coaches but is particularly interested in helping build the female mountain bike community all while building up the confidence in the moms of student athletes on the team. She will encourage other women to consider biking, volunteering, and coaching for a local NICA team.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND APPLY TODAY!