From turning pedals to turning pages: How NICA inspired Aria Koberg to write a cycling-themed children’s book
From first ride to author and founder, Aria Koberg’s NICA journey shows how mountain biking builds confidence, community, and opportunity.
Exponential Impact: A Delaware Team Story
A thriving cycling community requires three things; a community of peers and friends, organized programming to provide opportunities for riding, and equipment that keeps up with progression. Bringing together all three is often easier said than done, but in NICA’s Delaware League, League Director Charles Barillo has cracked the code.
Finley Scott + IICL mental health campaign: How NICA student-athletes are changing the narrative surrounding mental health
Youth sports and physical wellness are clearly connected. But what about mental health? The topic of mental wellness in youth sports is often overlooked, and when it does come up, it can be tough to talk about. Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League student-athlete Finley Scott spent her senior year in 2023 trying to change that narrative…and what started as Finley’s incredible passion project has now evolved into a full-blown, athlete-led initiative that raises awareness and tackles mental health stigma head-on.
A Community That Cares: Broden’s Story
7th grader Broden Ala has always loved mountain biking. He waited years to be old enough to participate in NICA events, training hard in preparation for his moment to line up in the start chute. All that practice paid off: last year, during his first season, he crossed the finish line as the Arizona state champion.
School of Singletrack: The Rise of On-Campus Trails in Charlottesville
Eight NICA teams dot the region. An unprecedented four have accessible, well-maintained, on-campus trails. Two of these are public high schools without tuition dollars to support the infrastructure necessary for building mountain bike trails. So how did Charlottesville become the gold standard for school-based trail systems?
No Matter Who You Are: Phinneus McKenna’s Story – Riding with NICA While Legally Blind
Phinneus McKenna has been a shining light of positivity on the North Tahoe Mountain Bike Team. Despite his limitations, he has found friendship, fun, and connection through the sport of mountain biking.
No Matter Where You’re From: How The UrbanPromise Trailblazers Are Bringing Mountain Biking to Wilmington
NICA teams are spread across the country, forming even in urban areas not well known for their access to trails. Urban teams face different challenges than those with ready access to trail systems, but the students who live there deserve the same opportunity to get outside and experience the joys of cycling. For Coach Marc and Coach Carolyn, launching the UrbanPromise Wilmington Trailblazers team was a way to welcome inner-city students into the outdoors, teach them valuable life skills, and provide a safe space for learning and development.
No Matter Where You Start: Ambra Baldwin Hart’s Story
“I’ll be the best sweep you’ve ever had.” Two years ago, that was Ambra Baldwin Hart’s motto. She’d just signed up as a Level 1 coach for the Mount Horeb Mountain Biking team to support her 6th grade son who’d joined. She didn’t have much confidence as a coach or a rider, but was encouraged to try anyway by the team’s female coaches.
From Athlete to Entrepreneur: Tessa’s NICA Journey
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.
Seasons of GRiT! A Conversation with Coordinators Across Leagues
When GRiT (Girls Riding Together) was launched in 2018, its purpose was to invite more girls and women to the cycling community. Five years later, over 8,000 female student-athletes and coaches are riding dirt with NICA teams, reflecting a 4% increase in the percentage of female riders across the organization. The heroes responsible for leading this growth are the league GRiT Coordinators. These women organize league-level GRiT programming, while also training and empowering team-level GRiT coaches to recruit more girls and women to their teams. Last year, GRiT Coordinators collectively hosted over 110 events to get more girls involved in cycling!