NICA Racing
Cash Taylor’s journey into the world of mountain biking began with an unforgettable invitation to an Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League race, thanks to the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) and Valley Adaptive Sports. Born with Spina Bifida, Cash’s life revolves around sports, each one embraced with a unique zest despite the challenges posed by his paralysis.
To help raise awareness and celebrate the many ways that people with ADHD are thriving, we’re sharing the story of Tessa, a young entrepreneur who credits mountain biking with helping her manage her ADHD and achieve her goals.
Continuing to race bikes is something many NICA athletes choose to pursue after their years on their local team. Some enjoy local events, and some want to take cycling to the next level, and pursue a professional career in sport. That’s how Carter Anderson found himself grinding through miles of gorgeous gravel roads in his first professional race alongside his idols at the Lifetime Unbound 2023.
June is a great time to get out for a ride! With the weather warming and summer vacations being booked to mountain bike hotspots, NICA families have lots to look forward to.It’s also time for graduation. Teams across the country are celebrating their beloved senior riders. Whether moving on to a collegiate team, signing up to coach, or just commuting around town, NICA’s newest alumni are entering the next stage of their lives with their bikes and their communities by their side.
Through their efforts, Deanna and her husband have not only saved a struggling business but have also brought people together around a shared interest, creating a sense of belonging and support within their local community. This serves as a testament to the power of community-building and the impact that NICA has in bringing people together.
NICA coaches are trained to emphasize values like teamwork, sportsmanship, and mutual respect, and to create an environment where athletes feel supported and encouraged to take risks and push themselves to achieve their goals. This includes recognizing and celebrating the achievements of all athletes, regardless of their level of ability or performance, and encouraging athletes to support each other through both successes and setbacks.
March is Women’s History Month, a collection of days where we honor the trailblazing women who came before us. It has been a historic decade for American women in cycling, and the NICA community has rallied around the mantra: More Girls on Bikes!
What does the new face of mountain biking look like? One North California student-athlete wrote an article for school about the growth of mountain biking as a highschool sport and some of the barriers of diversity and inclusion that NICA has overcome.
What is your reason for joining NICA? Many have different motivations but we are all here for one purpose – getting more kids on bikes!
My success in this sport was a slow burn. By the time I was a senior, I had lost 35 pounds, and I secured a spot on the podium in my only race in 2020. This sport has taught me how to believe in myself, be confident in who I am and that I can do anything I put my mind to. These lessons extend far into all of the other parts of my life. This sport has made me who I am today; without it, I don’t think I would be here today.