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 Why You Ride: Madison Bess’ Story

Student-athletes pick up the bike for many different reasons. They want to challenge themselves, to be a part of their community, or to connect with their families. No matter why they join, with no bench, and no tryouts, every NICA athlete gets to ride.

Bringing Joy and Changing Lives through Cycling

NICA programs bring JOY and change lives across our nationwide mountain biking community. This holiday season as we invite you to Share the Ride, Change a Life, take a moment to hear from our coaches and student-athletes how NICA programs have changed their lives and brought them joy. Meet NICA Student-Athletes Elizabeth Leitzel, Peyton Wilson, and Beck Earnest-McClelland as they share their experiences of Joy and how NICA has changed their own lives!

In an Unsure Season, the Nevada-North League Finds Ways to #getmorekidsonbikes

Ann Miers here from the beautiful state of Nevada (North) where we are still restricted in what we can do, no more than 50 people gathering and 25 people per day in a park, but you can go to a casino (makes zero sense)… It’s been a super big challenge for our league this season and sadly Nevada remains one of five states where youth have not gone “back to play.”

Meg Fisher: World Champion, Paralympian, and NICA Coach

Meg Fisher won Paralympic gold, silver and Bronze medals in the Rio 2016 and London 2012 games and ten world championships and is a NICA Coach for the Montana League. Meg’s road to success has not been easy. At 19 years old she was involved in a tragic car accident that nearly killed her. She survived a coma and lost the lower portion of her left leg. Meg worked hard to heal and move beyond her new physical limitations. Today, she is dedicated to helping erase limits, change lives, and demonstrate the capacity of the human body and spirit.

Shimano Live Host and Pro CX Racer Andrew Juiliano speaks with NICA President Steve Matous

Shimano Live Host and Pro CX Racer Andrew Juiliano speaks with NICA President Steve Matous about getting more kids on bikes even during this exceptional time. While the huge race campouts, where thousands of student athletes and their families gather for weekends of two wheeled fun, garner much of the attention, NICA is about more than just race days. From adventure rides to trail work weekends, the organization aims to use cycling to build character and community while fostering lifelong friendships and a love for an active lifestyle.

Celebrating NICA’s Class of 2020

As we head toward what in any other year would be spring league championships, proms, senior pranks and graduation, our hearts go out to our Class of 2020 Seniors. We are proud of what you’ve accomplished as students, athletes, role models and mentors throughout your time with NICA and are thankful that you chose to make NICA part of your middle and high school career. From across the country – here are some snapshots and spotlights on some of our awesome Class of 2020.

Connecting Across COVID

When the recent COVID-19 restrictions put a sudden halt to NICA’s spring 2020 in-person activities, that didn’t deter Bella Hyser with the Alabama League from continuing to ride and connect with her fellow student-athletes while still staying safe.