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 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.

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!

From Shy to Fly: The Carter Anderson Story

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.

Celebrating NICA Seniors

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.