About ten percent of the giant SLO Scoters mountain bike team with a rare riding pause at practice. Photo courtesy of Coach Taylor Congdon.

  The SLO Scoters started their season this spring, with San Luis Obispo High School students riding alongside students from schools across SLO County. They kicked it off with their first race at Fort Ord, with great performances from riders all around. As the season progresses, students will get a more detailed look at what the sport means for its athletes.

  NICA, or the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, organizes mountain biking for thousands of students across the nation. Supporting students with joining a local team, practicing, having fun, and competing with other riders in their league. Mountain biking is a sport that’s hard to get into, but the incredible community creates such an incredible environment. The Scoters include riders from all over SLO County, allowing riders to meet new people and make friends who are all into the sport.

  “I think that one lesson I have taken away is that a shared passion can really bring people together. While mountain biking isn’t necessarily the easiest sport to join or try out, all of the people in the community make it so much easier and welcoming,” said senior Georgia Keeling.

  Being apart of a team sport is a super rewarding experience, and not solely in the competitive aspect; community can factor in just as much!

  “The thing I like the most about NICA is the community I get, every year I get to make new friends and some of my best friends I’ve met through the team,” said senior Finn Selman.

  Mountain biking is a great way to get out and exercise, having a team that pushes each other is extremely valuable, along with having fun and meeting new people.

  “Getting outside and having fun with friends is what I look forward to each week. Everyone in the team is so welcoming and you make friends so easily. NICA is an organization that’s fairly different from other sports organizations in the sense that it’s built around having fun and community rather than being fully performance-focused,” said freshman Aleydis Barber.

  Anyone can begin mountain biking, and having a strong community built around it makes it all the more inviting for newer riders. There are people of all skill levels, and anyone is welcome to give it a shot.

  “Just get outside, away from your screens, and explore new places. We are so blessed in San Luis Obispo to have the uncrowded outdoor space that we do. There are literally enough places and trails in SLO county that an average fit adult could explore a new place by foot or bike everyday of the week for a month. The NICA community is vast and wide with new cyclists every year. We often have connections for used quality bikes and only half of our team races. The other half just likes hanging out riding trails with their friends from Morro Bay, Templeton, A-town, AG, and of course SLO. We are also 25 percent female (both riders & coaches). Mountain biking isn’t just for the boys!” said head coach Jeff Jantos.

  As the season progresses, Tigers can expect to see major progress from these athletes, and to have a fun time enjoying the community that this team provides!

Source: nationalmtb.org