Why, when, and how did you start mountain biking?

I went on my first mountain bike ride shortly after moving to St. George, Utah in 2015.  My Dad has been an avid mountain biker for most of his adult life, and after moving to the mountain biking mecca that is St. George, my mom and I decided we had better give it a try.  I had an old commuter that was definitely not designed for what I was putting it through ,and I crashed at least once on every ride, but I had so much fun; I was hooked.  My junior year of high school, I joined my high school’s NICA team and started racing!

What have you learned about yourself while participating in NICA as a student-athlete and as a coach?
As a student athlete, I think that I learned the value of failure, and more importantly that I’m a bit tougher than I think.  I heard this saying somewhere, and I think it sums up what I learned as an athlete perfectly, “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” 

NICA and youth sports in general should be about creating a sense of community, and helping young people develop healthy habits around exercise that they can continue to apply throughout the rest of their life. 

What advice would you give to coaches regarding creating an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome and included? How have you strived to do this as a NICA coach?
I think the most important thing is to step back and have a good perspective as to what the purpose of NICA is for our athletes.  Racing is fun, and it is a fantastic tool for learning physical and interpersonal skills, but race results are one of the least important aspects of an athletes experience in NICA.  NICA and youth sports in general should be about creating a sense of community, and helping young people develop healthy habits around exercise that they can continue to apply throughout the rest of their life.  As a coach, I try to implement this philosophy by asking athletes to tell me about their race (how they felt, what they experienced, what they did well or want to improve next time) rather than just asking them about results.  

In your opinion, how can coaches help get alumni involved in their leagues post graduation?
I had the unique experience of having some alumni coach for my high school team.  I always enjoyed it when they came to practice, so early on I decided that I would return as a coach when I graduated if possible.  Coaches can also reach out to collegiate cycling teams in their area.  I think the most important thing is just to let their seniors know that their help as coaches would be welcome and appreciated.  

COACHES!

We need your help! Please share the NICA Alumni Network with your graduating athletes so they can stay connected to an engaged and thriving cycling community.

Here’s an easy email template you can use to send a note to your graduating seniors and their families.