Giro Sport Design has announced it will sponsor the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) at the Gold level, as the official helmet brand of NICA. Sponsorship will include product and financial support.
“Supporting both mountain biking and youth development has always been close to Giro’s mission as a company,” said Eric Richter, Senior Brand Manager for Giro Cycling. “In the past we’ve supported NICA at events on a local level but we felt it was time to step up and expand our support across the county.”
Austin McInerny, Executive Director of NICA, said, “We are hugely grateful for Giro Sport Design’s contribution and assistance in growing the sport of cycling. This is a major milestone for NICA and we are proud to add Giro to our roster of sponsors. Safety of our participants is paramount and we are thrilled to offer Giro’s helmets to our licensed coaches.”
The NICA model has developed methods and curriculum for introducing adolescents to the world of mountain biking, as well as recruiting and training coaches to be committed to producing amateur athletes who are gracious in both victory and defeat, and are respectful of their environment and community.
During the 2013 season, NICA had just over 3000 student-athletes participate under the mentorship of nearly 1,000 licensed coaches in nine leagues. The newest league, Georgia, is coming online in 2014 for ten total leagues (NorCal, SoCal, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Tennessee, New York, and Georgia) operating this year. In 2013, there were 250 registered NICA teams representing over 300 schools. NICA is poised to bring on additional leagues in 2015 as the demand grows for structured school-based cycling programs.
“Supporting NICA is an amazing opportunity for Giro to help the next generation of riders,” said Richter. “NICA is the perfect introduction to cycling for these high school athletes, and we are proud to play a role in helping youth discover an activity they can enjoy for the rest of their lives.”
About Giro Sport Design: Founded in Santa Cruz, California in 1985, Giro Sport Design develops new ideas to enhance the Ride. From the first lightweight, high-performance helmets for cycling and snowsports, to apparel that reimagines what sportswear can be, Giro maintains a strong focus on creating products that enhance the feeling of freedom and independence that are at the core of a rider’s experience. As a leader in the design, fit and engineering of products that complement the body, Giro is the first choice of riders worldwide. www.giro.com
About National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA): Founded in 2009, NICA develops high school mountain biking programs for student-athletes 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. http://www.nationalmtb.org/