Todd Wells is Guest of Honor at NICA Banquet

December 17th, 2015 9:04am

With the massive positive impact that NICA has made around the country and a sky rocketing growth curve, we are pleased to share this information with you. The NICA directors and managers had the forsight to even broadcast the event on-line (information and link is below) so that those who cannot make the trip to Emmeryville California can participate. I am personally stoked to see Todd Wells speak. I have crossed paths several time with Todd at events around the globe and his is great guy. His presence at this event and his involvement in NICA is invaluable to the continued success.

Todd Wells is Honored Guest at 2015 NICA Awards Banquet

Recipient list shows diversity of people involved in interscholastic cycling

Contact: Austin McInerny [email protected] www.nationalmtborg.org

BERKELEY - From winning multiple National Championships, Leadville 100 twice and competing in three Olympic games, Todd Wells is arguably one of America’s most accomplished cyclists and the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) is thrilled to have him as the guest of honor for NICA’s 6th Annual Awards Ride & Banquet January 30th, 2016. Lucas Euser, professional racer and US Olympic 2014 Jack Kelly Fair Play Award recipient, will serve as the master of ceremonies for the banquet.

The NICA Awards provide insight to the tremendous diversity of people and roles involved in the interscholastic school cycling movement. Among those honored on this night are student-athletes, coaches, volunteers and partners who have made outstanding contributions toward the expansion of interscholastic cycling across the United States.

Todd Wells states, “I am humbled to be named as the guest of honor at NICA’s 2016 Annual Awards Banquet. I have been involved and inspired by NICA since it blossomed out of the NorCal League seven years ago. The tireless and selfless work by everyone involved is nothing short of amazing, more kids on bikes, what more can you say.”

Todd Wells was born in Kingston NY and fell in love with the bicycle shortly thereafter. He raced BMX from the age of five before switching to the mountain bike upon graduating high school. He moved to Durango, CO to race bikes and attend Fort Lewis College and finished his business degree at the University of Arizona. He took a short hiatus from cycling to work in the corporate world before returning to racing where he went on to win fifteen National Championships across multiple disciplines, win the Leadville 100 twice as well as representing the U.S. in three Olympics. When he isn’t racing around the world you can find him hanging out with his family in either Durango or Tucson.

Austin McInerny, NICA’s executive director, said, “Todd is a very special individual and athlete and all of us at NICA are ecstatic to have him attending the awards event. Much like the individuals we recognize this weekend, Todd has displayed incredible dedication to cycling, his supporters and family and to giving it his best effort in everything he pursues. From multiple Olympic games, to the trails above Leadville, Colorado, to the classrooms at Ft. Lewis College and to countless races in multiple disciplines, Todd has shown what can be achieved when one works hard and commits themselves to clean and rigorous training; he is a true champion and a role model for NICA’s youth.”

In addition to recognizing many outstanding individuals, the awards event is an opportunity to summarize NICA’s successes over the past six years and to detail efforts to strengthen opportunities for youth development thru cycling, particularly in communities where cycling is not an established sport. Austin explained, “As NICA expands into new regions and builds on the knowledge gained over the past few years, we are working diligently to bring cycling to disadvantaged communities to help inspire, motivate, equip and support a new generation of individuals as they become life-long cyclists.”

NICA will present awards in eleven categories to sixteen outstanding individuals across NICA’s leagues in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota, New York, Northern California, Southern California, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Virginia.

Student-Athlete Categories:

Specialized Student-Athlete Leadership Award honors student-athletes who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, sportsmanship, academic performance and volunteerism in their team, school and community.

Trek All Star Student-Athlete Award recognizes student-athletes for their outstanding competitive achievements and potential for future success in competitive cycling.

Camelbak Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes a student-athlete who carries on the spirit of high school cycling beyond their high school years.

GU Energy Extraordinary Courage Award recognizes student-athletes who have persevered through challenging circumstances, overcome adversity to develop and excel as an individual and role-model to other students.

REI & International Mountain Bike Association Teen Trail Corps Award recognizes a student-athlete who has demonstrated respect, empathy and compassion towards other trail users by working both on and off the bike to build awareness and care for trails in their community.

Volunteer & Support Categories:

SRAM Coach of the Year Award acknowledges a head coach whose qualities as a leader and motivator embody NICA’s mission to provide student-athletes with the coaching and camaraderie to help them achieve both competitive and noncompetitive goals in a safe and enjoyable manner.

Clif Bar and Company Volunteer Service Award honors an exceptional volunteer whose dedication of time, expertise and enthusiasm goes above and beyond to make a difference in the organization.

Quality Bicycle Products Community Impact Award honors an individual whose dedication to high school mountain biking has resulted in positive impacts on youth, the community and the organization. This individual is an outstanding representative of the organization, both internally and externally.

Primal Wear Race Production Partner Award acknowledges an individual whose outstanding partnership role in race productions is key to the success of a league’s race event production.

Easton Foundations League Founder Award recognizes an individual’s commitment, enthusiasm and perseverance in launching a new NICA league.

NICA Legacy Award honors an individual for their tremendous philanthropic support of NICA and NICA leagues. Recipients of this award are individuals who understand the importance of empowering youth through sport and who have put their energies behind efforts that demonstrate and exemplify the traits that they themselves possessed and utilized to help them achieve success.

Online registration for the NICA Annual Awards Ride & Banquet is now open. In addition to the awards dinner, a benefit ride with Todd Wells and Lucas Euser offers ticket holders an exhilarating adventure. The location of the ride will be announced early January. The ride includes Clif Bar and GU Energy nutritional products, a catered trailside lunch and the opportunity to ride with two legends of the sport as well as many of the award recipients.

2015 NICA Annual Awards and Benefit Ride tickets are on sale now here.

Awards Presentation & Banquet:
What: 6th Annual NICA Awards Banquet
Who: 2015 NICA Awards Guest Host Todd Wells, Master of Ceremonies Lucas Euser, NICA league directors, coaches, volunteers and student-athletes from across the country.
Why: The event honors student-athletes, coaches, volunteers and partners who have made outstanding contributions toward the development of interscholastic cycling in the United States.
When: January 30th, 2016, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM PST
Where: Clif Bar and Company, 1451 66th Street, Emeryville, CA
More Information and to Register: http://www.nationalmtb.org/2015-nica-awards-banquet/

Benefit Ride with Todd Wells and Lucas Euser:
What: No-drop mountain bike ride led by NICA licensed coaches along with award recipients, friends and family members. Limited number of loaner bikes available.
When: January 30th, 2015, 9:00AM – 1:00 PM PST
Where: Location will be announced January 6th.
More Information and to Register: http://www.nationalmtb.org/2015-nica-awards-banquet/

Can’t Attend?
That’s OK! The evening will be streaming LIVE on Periscope, be sure to follow us on Twitter to get in on all the action!

About the National Interscholastic Cycling Association
Founded in 2009 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) develops interscholastic mountain biking programs for student-athletes and coaches 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. As of winter 2015, NICA is supporting over 3,000 coaches and over 7,500 student-athletes from over 500 middle and high schools in fourteen (and growing) separate leagues with another five leagues coming online over the next two years [(2016) Nevada, Pennsylvania, Arkansas; (2017) New Jersey and North Carolina].

NICA exists by virtue of generous sponsors, donors and partners, including the founding national sponsor Specialized Bicycle Components; as well as establishing sponsors Easton Foundations, SRAM, and Trek Bicycles; major sponsors H2, Bicycling, Clif Bar & Company, Clif Bar Foundation, Giro, Primal Wear, Quality Bicycle Products, CamelBak, GU Sports, Maxxis, Athletic Event Supply, Brooks England, Cannondale, Continental Tires, Crank Brothers, DeFeet, Feedback Sports, Fi’zi:k, Fox Racing Shox, Kinetic, Optic Nerve, People for Bikes, Ritchey, Selle Royal and Yakima. For more information on NICA visit www.nationalmtb.org or call (510) 524-5464.