U.S.  Mountain Bike champion and Olympian Adam Craig will be the guest of honor at the 2011 National Interscholastic Cycling Association Awards banquet, Jan. 14, 2012, at the Clif Bar and Co. headquarters in Emeryville, CA.


The NICA Awards acknowledge outstanding work in the growing high school cycling community.

 

Craig, who grew up in Maine, is a 2008 Olympian, and holder of 16 U.S. national titles in cross country Mountain Biking, Cyclo-Cross and the Super D hybrid cross country/downhill event. He is on a quest to compete in the 2012 London Olympics Mountain Bike event and earn a coveted Olympic medal. He will talk about the highs and lows of his journey from high school athlete to his effort to make the U.S.  Olympic team for London 2012.

“I first heard whisperings about the NorCal League when I landed in Oregon in 2003, and shortly thereafter saw the student mountain bikers at the Sea Otter Classic,” Craig said. “But it wasn't until the world championships in 2008 that I truly realized the depth of talent coming through the ranks with (NorCal alum.) John Bennett's inclusion on our relay team, and then our subsequent rides together. I'm pumped for this opportunity to learn more about the NICA mission and those that support it across the spectrum, from the kids to the donors and everyone who works hard in between.”

NICA will present awards to the individuals that the Association considers to be the most outstanding athletes, the most dedicated coaches, and the most passionate volunteers to have supported high school mountain biking in the past 12 months as it progresses on its quest to reach from coast to coast by 2020. To view the list of awards presented at last year's event, go to 2010 NICA Awards.

Founded in 2009, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) is the National Governing Body for grades 9-12 interscholastic mountain biking and fosters the development of high quality competitive cross-country mountain biking programming for high school aged athletes. NICA provides leadership, governance and program support to promote the development of interscholastic Mountain Biking Leagues throughout the United States.

 

NICA exists by virtue of generous donors and sponsors including the founding national sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components, as well as Easton Foundations, SRAM, Trek Bicycles, Clif Bar and Co., Primal Wear, Shimano, GU Sports, Kinetic, Maxxis, adidas Eyewear, CamelBak, Crank Brothers, Dirt Rag, Feedback Sports, Fort Lewis College, Fox Racing Shox, Mellow Johnny's, Mountain Bike Action, QBP, Ritchey Designs, WTB, and Yakima.