NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) is a nationwide non-profit organization that promotes youth mountain biking in the United States. NICA’s 31 nationwide leagues facilitate mountain biking races and cycling-related programs for boys and girls throughout high school. Partnering with large cycling companies like Trek, Sram and Rockshox, enables NICA to provide a thriving biking community wherever they go. On the online webpage, nationalmtb.org, NICA states that their values are to “promote fun, inclusivity, equity, respect, and community.”
South Carolina’s league currently has 24 teams and three of them belong to Spartanburg County. After two years of being Spartanburg’s countywide NICA racing team, this year Spartanburg County Composite Mountain Biking (SCCM) has split into three different teams that include Spartanburg High School, Dorman High School and SCCM.
Although the teams are split during races all three groups practice together to help promote a team unity and togetherness. Practices are held every Tuesday and Thursday at mountain bike areas around Spartanburg County. There are multiple groups that athletes can ride in depending on how far and fast they want to go. The Alpha and Beta groups are for the faster riders who want to improve on their times for the races. The Charlie and Delta groups are more relaxed and slower and allows for riders to focus more on getting exercise and being outside.
Government teacher Gary Purinton is an avid mountain biker and loves the impact that NICA has made on the mountain biking community in Spartanburg,
“It has helped grow the mountain bike community with its family-oriented atmosphere. They not only teach mountain bike riding but also trail stewardship, which helps keep trails in good shape,” Purinton said. “I think that NICA is a great opportunity for mountain bikers to have a chance to compete. Although my competitive days are behind me (I ride for fun and exercise now) I still like to watch races and cheer on the younger athletes.”
The Spartanburg High School team currently has around 15 student athletes and has athletes on the team from the high school and McCracken Middle School. It also includes students that are homeschooled in the District 7 area. After two weeks of racing, the high school team is ranked third, just behind Greenville High School and Catawba Ridge High School.
The NICA racing season starts in September and lasts until November, with races being held in venues all around South Carolina. There are five races in total across the three months and races are held every other Sunday.
Myles Klosterman (10) is a Spartanburg High School NICA athlete and thinks that the team is a great way to be active and have fun outside.
“What I think is great about NICA is that it’s a community of people of all ages and skill levels, and there are options for all of them. If you want to strive to be a really great biker, the Alpha group rides faster, and races offer a chance to get competitive,” Klosterman said. “If you want it to be just a fun exercise activity, but don’t necessarily want to be the very best, the Charlie and Delta groups go at a slower pace and aren’t as race oriented. I also like that all the races are completely optional so there isn’t any pressure.”
