Try It Out-Race-Camps-GRiT-Teen Trail Corp

Races

NICA-sanctioned races provide student athletes an arena in which to set and accomplish competitive goals, do achieve their personal best. Most NICA leagues have a 4- or 5-race schedule, held in the Spring or Fall depending on the regional climate. Professional race promotion, timing, course preparation and risk management guarantee every participating student athlete is given a fun and fast environment.
GRiT Rides & Camps
What GRiT is:
Girls Riding Together (GRiT): The full name for the initiative aimed at getting more girls and women on bikes.
A Community: It provides a supportive space for female student-athletes to connect, share experiences, and build friendships.
Empowerment: Helps girls build confidence, leadership skills, and a positive relationship with mountain biking, reducing stress and anxiety.
How it works:
NICA Leagues: Each NICA league (like New York NICA) has its own GRiT program with coordinators and coaches.
Events: Organizes league-wide events, sometimes alongside races, to bring girls together.
Recruitment: Aims to recruit and retain female riders and coaches, significantly increasing female representation in NICA teams.

Overnight Camp-Kingdom Trails

The NICA NY Kingdom Camp is a week-long summer mountain biking camp for middle and high school students (grades 6-12) run by the New York Interscholastic Cycling League (NICA NY) at the famous Kingdom Trails in Vermont, focusing on skill development, fitness, teamwork, and outdoor fun with certified coaches in a supportive environment, including skills clinics, games, and non-biking activities.

Try-It-Out Program

In support of our vision to enable every New York teenager to experience NICA, we are proud to offer our “Try-It-Out” program, made possible by the incredible support of JAMIS BIKES. Although NICA is considered one of the key growth segments in American cycling today, many students interested in joining our league have never ridden a mountain bike. Many do not own a bicycle. Many more are unaware of our program.
The Try-It-Out program seeks to address the NICA New York Leagues’ biggest hurdles in getting more kids on bikes. The program is meant to allow these students to meet their local NICA Team, Coaches, and League Staff at organized fun rides. “So you are saying there are mountain bike teams all over New York, and I can try it out for free?! No way!” Yes, way!
Every new student who participates in our Try-It-Out rides receives a on-the-bike skills clinic & a lead mountain bike ride.

How it Works
We deliver 8 high-quality mountain bikes, helmets & water bottles to communities throughout the state. Dates and locations are coordinated with existing teams or teams forming at their local high school or middle school or bike club. The local coaching staff or potential coaching staff can use the event to bolster community interest in NICA and mountain biking.

We take safety very seriously in NICA; in fact, it is our primary concern. Rides are led by trained, certified, insured, and background-checked NICA Coaches registered with the NICA New York League. Parents, school administrators, and potential local team supporters are encouraged to attend the event and check out what NICA New York has to offer.

How to Schedule a Ride:
To request a Try-It-Out Day at your school, local trails, or park, and for general league questions, please get in touch with us via email: jason@newyorkmtb.org

Teen Trail Corp

NICA Teen Trail Corps (TTC) is a program of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) that engages student-athletes in mountain biking through community service, trail maintenance, and advocacy, preparing them to become responsible stewards and future leaders in cycling. Through activities such as logging trail work hours, promoting Leave No Trace principles, and advocating for trail access, the TTC builds character, connects youth to the outdoors, and fosters a culture of stewardship, supported by partners including REI and the Walton Family Foundation.