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Grants available for student-athletes, coaches and teams

Contact: Paul Skilbeck paul@nationalmtb.org 415.516.1444

BERKELEY, Calif.–The National Interscholastic Cycling Association is pleased to announce the launch of the NICA Booster Fund program. The fund was established with $30,000 raised at the NICA Awards Banquet in January this year and will provide micro-grants to individual student-athletes, coaches and teams from underrepresented areas and disadvantaged backgrounds with the goal of increasing participation in NICA leagues.

The Booster Fund provides direct support, through individual micro-grants, to offset expenses directly related to participation in NICA league and team activities. By covering these expenses, the fund also provides indirect support for NICA leagues, and helps to ensure the sustainable development and funding of league staff, programs and activities, by actively assisting in the expansion of league ridership.

NICA founder and executive director, Matt Fritzinger, said “This is a tremendous milestone towards fulfilling the NICA vision to enable every American teen to strengthen body, mind and character through participation in high school mountain biking.”

Applications for the first round of grants offered through the fund are being accepted March 20 through April 3. Up to $15,000 will go to as many as 30 student-athletes, coaches and teams in the NICA spring racing leagues, which this year are Northern California, Southern California, Washington and Texas.

Applications are made directly to NICA, and those from student-athletes require a coach’s reference. Recipients will be notified by April 13. Further information and the grant application are at: www.nationalmtb.org/nica-booster-fund/

About The National Interscholastic Cycling Association
Founded in 2009, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) develops high school mountain biking programs for student-athletes across the United States. NICA provides leadership, services and governance for local leagues to produce quality mountain bike events, and supports every student-athlete in the development of strong body, strong mind and strong character through their efforts on the bike.

NICA exists by virtue of generous donors and sponsors, including the founding national sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components, as well as Easton Foundations, JEEP, SRAM, Trek Bicycles, Clif Bar & Company, Primal Wear, GU Sports, Kinetic, Maxxis, adidas Eyewear, CamelBak, Crank Brothers, Dirt Rag, Feedback Sports, Fort Lewis College, Fox Racing Shox, Mountain Bike Action, QBP, Ritchey Designs, WTB and Yakima. For more information on NICA visit www.nationalmtb.org or call 510.524.5464.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After getting back from Costa Rica we had a few adventure-less weekends. We needed to re-charge our bodies and bank accounts. With sunny skies and weather in high 60s we made a return to our springtime trips to the desert last weekend.

Saturday morning we loaded up the kids and gear, met our friends and headed to Moab. We were at the Sovereign Singletrack trail head by 11am. The “Moms” took the first ride.  I have a love and hate relationship with the Sovereign trail. Going up there are a few spots that always get me and make me loose my momentum. But, by the time I get back to the parking lot I am grinning ear to ear because the decent is so much fun. I guess that goes for most trails in Moab as rocks and ruts are the norm. When we returned the “Dads” headed out and I went back up the trail with Kalden while my friend watched Axel and her 2 kids. Kalden rocked the trail! I was very proud and a little embarrassed that he could ride just about everything that I can going up. It will not be long before he surpasses my technical ability.

On the return I ran into a guy that asked if I was driving back to town. I told him no but asked what was wrong. He told me his friend crashed and tore his knee open and he needed a ride back to his truck. I told him I could take him. A few minutes later the friend (Tyson)rode up. He was quite a character and insisted I look at his disgusting flesh wound. Luckily as I was looking for the first aid kit another woman rolled up and said she was a nurse. Saved! I took the other friend (Mark) to his car. Turns out Tyson was once a reality TV star which did not surprise me. Guess he almost won Survivor (which made me laugh) a few years back.

We spent the entire day (11-5) at the trail head and the kids had a blast. Our original plan included a lot of shuttling etc…so the kids would not “get bored.” I often forget that when there are rocks to climb, sticks to throw, friends to play with and bikes to ride kids will never get bored in the outdoors!

On Sunday Randy and I were able to get out for a four hour ride TOGETHER! We rode the new Magnificent 7 trails then continued onto Gold Bar – Golden Spike – Blue Dot and finally the Portal Trail. The Mag 7 trails are great. They were definitely made by mountain bikers as they flow nicely. They offer the typical Moab slickrock and sand but without the huge unreasonable climbs that other trails designed by jeeps (Slickrock Trail) dish out.  Gold Bar – Golden Spike – Blue Dot and finally the Portal Trail were as the trail sign says…gnarly. But it was a fun adventure and I’m glad I could share it with Randy.

Spring is here so you’ll see more desert adventures in the coming months.

The good and bad about traveling to Costa Rica is that you don’t have to speak Spanish. If you stick to the tourist spots almost everyone will accept and understand your ‘Spanglish.’ Even so I am dusting off the Rosetta Stone for our next trip. When you are riding your bike 60 miles on remote roads it helps to know more than gracias and por favor. Here is a funny and embarrassing story that highlights why I want to speak better Spanish.

I was biking down one of those steep (20% grade) dirt roads when a bee flew into my helmet and continued to sting me. There was nothing I could do until I reached the bottom. Upon reaching the bottom, I threw off my helmet and turned my head upside down to get the bee out. At the same time a local Costa Rica couple drove by. They immediately stopped because they thought I crashed. They spoke no English but I understood most of what they said. “Get in the car, we will take you to the doctor, he needs to look at your head…” I froze and could not think of what to say in Spanish except “No, estoy bien” (“I’m okay” )and then pointed to my head and saying in english “a bee just stung me.” I repeated that about 5 times all while pointing to my head. They were confused and thought I was even more confused due to head trauma. It took me 5 long minutes to convince them to leave and that I was okay. I’m not kidding when I say that as they drove off the woman made the sign of the cross and looked at me like she was leaving a woman to die on the side of the road. All because I could not adequately communicate in their language.

So I need to get better about speaking Spanish in impromptu situations and I’m hoping Rosetta Stone will be a good start.

 

Our month in Costa Rica offered some great opportunities for winter training. Mountain biking in Costa Rica consists of dirt roads that sometimes lead to random trails that sometimes lead to secluded beaches or majestic mountain waterfalls. There are also some steep hills! I’m talking about 25% grades that would never be considered a road even here in Colorado. There isn’t much singletrack but the fun of exploring the jungle makes up for the lack of flowing trails.

Some of my favorite rides from Nosara (our home base) include:

Nosara to Samara – 20 miles roundtrip. Mostly well traveled dirt roads with the option to take side trails out to the ocean. One of the trails leads to a beach where Mel Gibson has a “home.”

Nosara to Punta Islita -  59 miles RT. Long ride but about 30k is on a very nice paved road with little traffic. You pass Samara and then Playa Camarillo before a brutal climb over to Punta Islita. The beach is beautiful and there is a fancy beach club and hotel  if you need to refuel before the trip back.

Nosara to Lolas – 60 miles RT. Huge ride but worth it for a recharge at the famous Lola’s Restaurant in Playa Avellanas.  There is actually a short section with a paved bike path on this ride!

Next time I look forward to checking out the new singletrack and Pura Vida bike park up at Las Catalinas north of Tamarindo.

I’m not a great photographer but these pictures are better than a thousand words…

 

 

This is a new feature I’m starting so we can learn how families are using bikes in their daily lives. Do you want to be featured one Friday? Fill out this form and I’ll get back to you.

The Vogels from Boise, Idaho are the family for this Friday. They are best known for their recent family bike ride from Alaska to Argentina! You can find Nancy on Twitter @familyonbikes. Also check out their website www.familyonbikes.com for wonderful stories and resources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are the ages of your children?

Two boys – age 14

What type of cycling does your family enjoy? (Road, mountain, commuting…)

Mostly touring, but we also commute sometimes.

Where is your favorite place to ride?

Remote country roads way far away from the nearest anything.

Tell us about your favorite memory riding as a family.

Only one? Who are you kidding? Probably my favorite was in San Juan Island. We were riding along the coast when we spotted whales out in the water. All four of us climbed off the bikes and stood, spellbound, watching a pod of 6 or 8 whales frolicking in the waves. Blackberry bushes filled with ripe, juicy berries lined the road at our feet. And then – we saw a majestic bald eagle perched in a dead tree right at water’s edge. It was one of those magical moments that you never want to end.

Tell us a tip for getting the family out on bikes.

Just go. Expect the kids to love it and they will. It’s us, as parents, who limit our children by underestimating them. Kids are capable of way more than we give them credit for.

Tell us about your bikes.

They’ve changed throughout the years. Right now, we’re all riding old bikes that were stashed in our barn for years. When we toured from Alaska to Argentina, my husband and one son rode a Rodriguez tandem, the other son and I rode single bikes from REI.