Happy Holidays to Arkansas NICA!!!
We hope you are having a great holiday season. The “stoke” has continued for many of our NICA Athletes despite the season being over, the 2022 season will be here before we know it! The Team here at Arkansas NICA has been hard at work making plans for a great 2022. Our league has grown every year since we began and now is the time to recruit more coaches. Many teams are near their capacity and cannot handle more student athletes unless they find more coaches. There is no more rewarding a position than getting to ride with youth and watch them conquer fears, meet challenges head on and know you helped them accomplish their goals. A Level 1 Coach is the minimum coaching level and requires about a 4-6 hour investment in online training time and a background check to be able to ride with your team. If you are interested in learning how you can contribute to your team or wish to join the league in a volunteer role, please contact terry@arkansasmtb.org
As you know, Kyla Templeton has recently transitioned out of her role at NICA as the League Director. Kyla, co-founded the league and her love and passion for Arkansas NICA will be missed. In case you missed her celebration at the last race, we wanted to share a note from her.
“My time with Arkansas NICA has been one of the greatest privileges I’ve ever had. Being a part of a group of people across the state and country working to get #morekidsonbikes has helped me to grow as a leader and as a person in ways I had no idea it would back in 2015 when we submitted a bid to start NICA in Arkansas. It is my hope for our volunteers, student athletes, parents, and community members that they would also grow strong bodies, minds, character, and community through this Arkansas NICA. The organization and experience truly gives back what you put into it.
I will continue to get #morekidsonbikes and more people on bikes through my new endeavor, Bike School Bentonville. I’m thrilled to build upon what I’ve learned through my time with Arkansas NICA.
The League is in amazingly capable hands. There is a whole team of staff that are so dedicated to doing their part to get #morekidsonbikes. You will continue to see them create excellent experiences on and off the bike for our volunteers, student athletes, and families.” – Kyla Templeton
We can’t wait to see you in 2022!
Terry and the Arkansas NICA Team
2021 Post Season Survey
Your feedback on our 2021 Race Season is important to help us improve. Please help us by taking just 2-3 minutes to complete the post season survey here. This survey is more specific to the venues and our athletes experience and includes a comment on race categories and distances. Please click HERE to complete the survey.
Teen Trail Corps Hours, World Championships in NWAR and more!
In 2021, the Teen Trail Corp Volunteer hours had a huge impact on the team results and in a few instances made an impact on points champions as well. We are enhancing the Teen Trail Corps program to include an aspect of leadership development. In early 2022 we will be announcing the application process for this program where just 5-6 Student Athletes will be immersed in a spring/summer Leadership Development Program and mentored by leaders from the cycling industry. More details to come soon!. Also, as of January 1st, 2022 you can begin logging your Teen Trail Corps Trail hours for the 2022 season. You need to provide proof (photos recommended) and a log sheet to your teams Head Coach so they can track and add your hours once the Pitzone opens in April 2022.
Here is one great volunteer opportunity! The 2022 Walmart UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships and the wild world of cyclo-cross is coming to Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas January 28-30, 2022 – and we would love for coaches and student athletes 16+ to play a role. We have several exciting opportunities to volunteer that are sure to create a memorable experience. In addition to helping bring this historic event to the region – all volunteers will receive a commemorative Big Bobble Hat, event shirt, lunch, and free admission for the rest of the day so they can catch some World Championship cyclo-cross racing themselves!
Link: https://www.cyclocrossfayettevillear2022.com/get-involved/volunteer
In addition to volunteering – cyclo-cross racing is one of the most fan-friendly forms of competitive cycling. To celebrate, we are hosting a Community Day on Friday, January 28th, 2022 and offering FREE general admission tickets to everyone.
Teams and students can grab those one-day tickets for Friday at no cost here: https://www.cyclocrossfayettevillear2022.com/tickets
Hope to see you in Fayetteville!
2022 GRiT Summer Camp
New for 2022! We are expanding our Girls Riding Together (GRiT) programming to include a summer camp being held at Mt Nebo State Park June 24 through 26th. Additionally, we will be doing a GRiT specific race prior to the season beginning to help female athletes to become more comfortable with the sport of competitive mountain biking. There will be “how to” clinics and fun events for identifying young women. More details and registration links will be coming soon. Stay tuned to our social media and website.
2022 Save the Dates
Here are some tentative dates that you can save as you plan for 2022. These are all subject to change.
