OT - Pursuit of NICA League?

Jeremy Schroeder

2014-03-10

Thanks Ed,

I am glad MTB is on the radar and moving forward. Since I started the
conversation, what does one need to do to get the teams up and running here
in Oregon to join up with Washington? I'm thinking you just need a person
to get the ball rolling correct?

Feel free to hit me up off the list as I am interested.

Jeremy

On Mon, Mar 10, 2014 at 6:39 AM, Ed Fischer wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Thanks for the references on our involvement in the Washington Student
> Mountain Bike League. We have coached and ran a team functioning within
> this league since it's inception in 2010. It is true that this league was
> started as a NICA League, but selected to run independent a couples years
> later so it could introduce Middle School(7th and 8th grade level) students
> to the mix, The League is now parented by the Evergreen Mountain Bike
> Alliance and the league site is washingtonleague.org
> The two main thing to note here is that the Washington League has three
> teams functioning here in SW WA; our Camas Composite MS and HS team, and
> the newly formed Vancouver Composite team lead by Chris Brannen and other
> OBRA members, Columbia River Cycling. The league welcomes Portland students
> to participate in the Washington league, they can either start a Portland
> based team, run as an independent, or join one of our Clark County based
> teams. Our goal is to have more teams here, right now it is very
> Seattle-centric with 25 plus teams from Olympia north.
>
> I am also more than willing to come to the table with any interested
> parties to have the conversation of getting a Oregon League developed, or
> just getting portland more engaged with the WA League. The mission is to
> get more of our youth involved in the sport we love, and I would be happy
> to help break any barriers so that a Student League of any sort has more
> opportunities to grow and thrive!
>
> Kenji mentioned the Doubleheader race our team will be putting on May
> 17/18. The 17th will be an OBRA sanctioned race to benefit the Washington
> league and race that will be the following day. I will post more details on
> that race soon, it is destined to be a good one!
>
> Any other questions on Wa League or if you have a student that wants to
> get involved, feel free to get a hold of me
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Ed Fischer
> Camas Bike and Sport
> 360-210-5160
> ed@camasbikes.com
> www.camasbikes.com
> 240 NE 3rd Ave
> Camas, Wa 98607
>
>
>
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: OBRA Digest, Vol 99, Issue 2
> From: obra-request@list.obra.org
> Date: Fri, March 07, 2014 3:27 pm
> To: obra@list.obra.org
>
> Send OBRA mailing list submissions to
> obra@list.obra.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> obra-request@list.obra.org
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> obra-owner@list.obra.org
>
>
>
> 5. Re: OT - Pursuit of NICA League? (lisa belair-sullivan)
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2014 09:52:35 -0800
> From: lisa belair-sullivan
> To: Jeremy Schroeder
> Cc: obra
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] OT - Pursuit of NICA League?
> Message-ID:
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
> I was involved in coaching a junior MTB team for the NorCal high school
> league a few years ago. When I moved back to PDX, I was disappointed for my
> own kids' inability to participate in such an amazing league. What seems to
> be the biggest barrier here is the lack of trails in the metro area for the
> kids to ride on (well, anyone for that matter). In many areas of northern
> California where the teams form, there's a lot of trail networks that the
> kids, many of whom do not drive, can just ride to. Unlike cities like Bend,
> we just don't have much to train on in Portland yet. I'm hopeful about the
> future with areas like Riverview being developed.
>
> Lisa
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 4:31 PM, Jeremy Schroeder <
> jeremyridesbikes@gmail.com
> > wrote:
>
> > Hello All,
> >
> > I have been out of the state for about a year and just moved back. While
> > I was gone was there any interest or traction towards creating a NICA
> > league here in Oregon?
> >
> > http://www.nationalmtb.org/
> >
> > Does this overlap with what OBRA is trying to accomplish with the youth
> > riders? Or can both organizations benefit?
> >
> > Just curious as I have a 8 year old and a 3 year old I'd like them to
> have
> > the option when they get to high school.
> >
> > Thanks for your time,
> >
> > Jeremy
>
>
>
>

--
Visit me online at http://zendoughnut.org/ or
sent me a tweet on twitter via @zendoughnut

Ed Fischer

2014-03-10

Hello,



Thanks for the references on our involvement in the Washington Student Mountain Bike League. We have coached and ran a team functioning within this league since it's inception in 2010. It is true that this league was started as a NICA League, but selected to run independent a couples years later so it could introduce Middle School(7th and 8th grade level) students to the mix,  The League is now parented by the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance and the league site is washingtonleague.org

The two main thing to note here is that the Washington League has three teams functioning here in SW WA; our Camas Composite MS and HS team, and the newly formed Vancouver Composite team lead by Chris Brannen and other OBRA members, Columbia River Cycling. The league welcomes Portland students to participate in the Washington league, they can either start a Portland based team, run as an independent, or join one of our Clark County based teams. Our goal is to have more teams here, right now it is very Seattle-centric with 25 plus teams from Olympia north.



I am also more than willing to come to the table with any interested parties to have the conversation of getting a Oregon League developed, or just getting portland more engaged with the WA League. The mission is to get more of our youth involved in the sport we love, and I would be happy to help break any barriers so that a Student League of any sort has more opportunities to grow and thrive!



Kenji mentioned the Doubleheader race our team will be putting on May 17/18. The 17th will be an OBRA sanctioned race to benefit the Washington league and race that will be the following day. I will post more details on that race soon, it is destined to be a good one!



Any other questions on Wa League or if you have a student that wants to get involved, feel free to get a hold of me



Thanks,





Ed Fischer
Camas Bike and Sport
360-210-5160


Camas, Wa 98607



 

 








-------- Original Message --------

Subject: OBRA Digest, Vol 99, Issue 2

From: obra-request@list.obra.org

Date: Fri, March 07, 2014 3:27 pm

To: obra@list.obra.org



Send OBRA mailing list submissions to

obra@list.obra.org



To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit

http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra

or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to

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You can reach the person managing the list at

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5. Re: OT - Pursuit of NICA League? (lisa belair-sullivan)




------------------------------



Message: 5

Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2014 09:52:35 -0800

From: lisa belair-sullivan <lbelair@gmail.com>

To: Jeremy Schroeder <jeremyridesbikes@gmail.com>

Cc: obra <obra@list.obra.org>

Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] OT - Pursuit of NICA League?

Message-ID:

<CAFkQ8ut204hgSUnq+zbJ4eaBpxDwt0hC5z824w6k82Qu2=-JKQ@mail.gmail.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"



I was involved in coaching a junior MTB team for the NorCal high school

league a few years ago. When I moved back to PDX, I was disappointed for my

own kids' inability to participate in such an amazing league. What seems to

be the biggest barrier here is the lack of trails in the metro area for the

kids to ride on (well, anyone for that matter). In many areas of northern

California where the teams form, there's a lot of trail networks that the

kids, many of whom do not drive, can just ride to. Unlike cities like Bend,

we just don't have much to train on in Portland yet. I'm hopeful about the

future with areas like Riverview being developed.



Lisa





On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 4:31 PM, Jeremy Schroeder <jeremyridesbikes@gmail.com

> wrote:



> Hello All,

>

> I have been out of the state for about a year and just moved back. While

> I was gone was there any interest or traction towards creating a NICA

> league here in Oregon?

>

> http://www.nationalmtb.org/

>

> Does this overlap with what OBRA is trying to accomplish with the youth

> riders? Or can both organizations benefit?

>

> Just curious as I have a 8 year old and a 3 year old I'd like them to have

> the option when they get to high school.

>

> Thanks for your time,

>

> Jeremy





T. Kenji Sugahara

2014-03-05

I'm going to chime in here. Ed Fischer of Camas Bike and Sport will
be running the Washougal XC Double Header on May 17-18.

May 17th will be an OBRA Race and will be benefit for the Washington
Student League.
May 18th will be the annual student race/Evergreen Washington Student
League race!

We're definitely in contact with the WSL- but John explained
everything very well. The biggest issue is getting traction in
schools. We've opened up conversations with some folks on the board
of the Oregon School Boards Association are looking at additional
avenues. We're always open to ideas and are actively looking for
volunteers to help John out! If you're interested let me know!

On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 9:52 AM, lisa belair-sullivan wrote:
> I was involved in coaching a junior MTB team for the NorCal high school
> league a few years ago. When I moved back to PDX, I was disappointed for my
> own kids' inability to participate in such an amazing league. What seems to
> be the biggest barrier here is the lack of trails in the metro area for the
> kids to ride on (well, anyone for that matter). In many areas of northern
> California where the teams form, there's a lot of trail networks that the
> kids, many of whom do not drive, can just ride to. Unlike cities like Bend,
> we just don't have much to train on in Portland yet. I'm hopeful about the
> future with areas like Riverview being developed.
>
> Lisa
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 4:31 PM, Jeremy Schroeder
> wrote:
>>
>> Hello All,
>>
>> I have been out of the state for about a year and just moved back. While
>> I was gone was there any interest or traction towards creating a NICA league
>> here in Oregon?
>>
>> http://www.nationalmtb.org/
>>
>> Does this overlap with what OBRA is trying to accomplish with the youth
>> riders? Or can both organizations benefit?
>>
>> Just curious as I have a 8 year old and a 3 year old I'd like them to have
>> the option when they get to high school.
>>
>> Thanks for your time,
>>
>> Jeremy
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Visit me online at http://zendoughnut.org/ or
>> sent me a tweet on twitter via @zendoughnut
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OBRA mailing list
>> obra@list.obra.org
>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>

--
Kenji Sugahara
Executive Director
Oregon Bicycle Racing Association
Phone: 503-278-5550
http://www.obra.org

lisa belair-sullivan

2014-03-04

I was involved in coaching a junior MTB team for the NorCal high school
league a few years ago. When I moved back to PDX, I was disappointed for my
own kids' inability to participate in such an amazing league. What seems to
be the biggest barrier here is the lack of trails in the metro area for the
kids to ride on (well, anyone for that matter). In many areas of northern
California where the teams form, there's a lot of trail networks that the
kids, many of whom do not drive, can just ride to. Unlike cities like Bend,
we just don't have much to train on in Portland yet. I'm hopeful about the
future with areas like Riverview being developed.

Lisa

On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 4:31 PM, Jeremy Schroeder wrote:

> Hello All,
>
> I have been out of the state for about a year and just moved back. While
> I was gone was there any interest or traction towards creating a NICA
> league here in Oregon?
>
> http://www.nationalmtb.org/
>
> Does this overlap with what OBRA is trying to accomplish with the youth
> riders? Or can both organizations benefit?
>
> Just curious as I have a 8 year old and a 3 year old I'd like them to have
> the option when they get to high school.
>
> Thanks for your time,
>
> Jeremy
>
>
>
> --
> Visit me online at http://zendoughnut.org/ or
> sent me a tweet on twitter via @zendoughnut
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>

Eric Aldinger

2014-03-04

First off, compared to other topics we entertain, this is on topic here.
Secondly there is a push to broaden high school mountain biking that
started with the great people in Camas. It has spread to a new
Vancouver/Portland team forming for the 2014 season. Check out the Columbia
River Cycling team.
On Mar 3, 2014 8:43 PM, "Jeremy Schroeder"
wrote:

> Thank you John for the response. Great answers to my question.
>
> I really don't have an answer for your last question as to why NICA could
> work here in Oregon vs. the OBRA HS CX program other than personal opinion
> that is based on nothing by the way, and probably not wise to follow.
>
> I think that the entry level for youth MTBs seems to be cheaper than the
> entry level for youth CXBs. Looking at new/used prices.
> Therefore my theory would be that the participation rate could be higher
> for a MTB program since they are cheaper and that would also drive up that
> pool of volunteers as you would be hitting a bigger niche in the cycling
> market. There are probably statistics on this that could test that theory,
> but I'm not aware of them. I was looking at past race participant numbers
> but ran across the same kids for both niches. ;)
>
> Thanks for all you do John, I appreciate it.
>
> Jeremy
> On Mar 3, 2014 5:48 PM, "John Wilson" wrote:
>
>> A NICA Chapter/League in Oregon has come up several times in the past few
>> years.
>>
>>
>>
>> On each occasion so far we (OBRA board, other interested parties) have
>> talked ourselves out of it.
>>
>>
>>
>> NICA is doing some great things for sure, but the two biggest reasons
>> Oregon has not moved forward on NICA is as follows:
>>
>>
>>
>> 1. We already have a developing High School CX program. We want to
>> see that succeed before starting something else. Unless there is a greater
>> pull for MTB/High School, but our demographics showing very high popularity
>> in CX would seem to suggest this is a good place to invest.
>>
>> 2. There is not a volunteer base to pull off a NICA league at this
>> point.
>>
>>
>>
>> We are struggling with the CX High School program right now. We just
>> don’t have the Adult volunteers are not stepping forward to coach teams. To
>> bring teams together. I am encouraged that the JCS (Junior Cyclocross
>> Series) has been really successful. We are filling the pipeline with Middle
>> School kids who will graduate into High School and perhaps want to be part
>> of a team. Their parents may step up at that time.
>>
>>
>>
>> It would be great to hear thoughts from folks in the OBRA community. How
>> do we generate more volunteers? Coaching clinics perhaps?
>>
>>
>>
>> I have met with NICA administrators a couple of times. I have read much
>> of their info on their web page. I have done some costing analysis (ie how
>> much does it cost to run a NICA chapter vs running our HS CX league). I
>> have spent time talking with the folks in Washington who had a NICA league,
>> then moved to their own league. This does not make me an expert but just
>> wanted folks to know I have spent some time thinking about this.
>>
>>
>>
>> And, like I said, NICA is doing some great stuff. I have nothing against
>> NICA. I think we have an opportunity to do so much more with our
>> Cyclocross High School League. I ask the simple question: if that won’t
>> work in Oregon why would NICA? Maybe there is a good answer to that
>> question. I would like to hear it.
>>
>>
>>
>> John Wilson
>>
>> OBRA Board Member
>>
>> Director of the OBRA Junior & High School Cyclocross Series
>>
>>
>>
>> Web site for more information:
>> http://www.obra.org/junior_cyclocross_series/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] *On
>> Behalf Of *Jeremy Schroeder
>> *Sent:* Monday, March 03, 2014 4:31 PM
>> *To:* obra
>> *Subject:* [OBRA Chat] OT - Pursuit of NICA League?
>>
>>
>>
>> Hello All,
>>
>>
>>
>> I have been out of the state for about a year and just moved back. While
>> I was gone was there any interest or traction towards creating a NICA
>> league here in Oregon?
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.nationalmtb.org/
>>
>>
>>
>> Does this overlap with what OBRA is trying to accomplish with the youth
>> riders? Or can both organizations benefit?
>>
>>
>>
>> Just curious as I have a 8 year old and a 3 year old I'd like them to
>> have the option when they get to high school.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks for your time,
>>
>>
>>
>> Jeremy
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Visit me online at http://zendoughnut.org/ or
>> sent me a tweet on twitter via @zendoughnut
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>

Jeremy Schroeder

2014-03-04

Thank you John for the response. Great answers to my question.

I really don't have an answer for your last question as to why NICA could
work here in Oregon vs. the OBRA HS CX program other than personal opinion
that is based on nothing by the way, and probably not wise to follow.

I think that the entry level for youth MTBs seems to be cheaper than the
entry level for youth CXBs. Looking at new/used prices.
Therefore my theory would be that the participation rate could be higher
for a MTB program since they are cheaper and that would also drive up that
pool of volunteers as you would be hitting a bigger niche in the cycling
market. There are probably statistics on this that could test that theory,
but I'm not aware of them. I was looking at past race participant numbers
but ran across the same kids for both niches. ;)

Thanks for all you do John, I appreciate it.

Jeremy
On Mar 3, 2014 5:48 PM, "John Wilson" wrote:

> A NICA Chapter/League in Oregon has come up several times in the past few
> years.
>
>
>
> On each occasion so far we (OBRA board, other interested parties) have
> talked ourselves out of it.
>
>
>
> NICA is doing some great things for sure, but the two biggest reasons
> Oregon has not moved forward on NICA is as follows:
>
>
>
> 1. We already have a developing High School CX program. We want to
> see that succeed before starting something else. Unless there is a greater
> pull for MTB/High School, but our demographics showing very high popularity
> in CX would seem to suggest this is a good place to invest.
>
> 2. There is not a volunteer base to pull off a NICA league at this
> point.
>
>
>
> We are struggling with the CX High School program right now. We just don't
> have the Adult volunteers are not stepping forward to coach teams. To bring
> teams together. I am encouraged that the JCS (Junior Cyclocross Series) has
> been really successful. We are filling the pipeline with Middle School kids
> who will graduate into High School and perhaps want to be part of a team.
> Their parents may step up at that time.
>
>
>
> It would be great to hear thoughts from folks in the OBRA community. How
> do we generate more volunteers? Coaching clinics perhaps?
>
>
>
> I have met with NICA administrators a couple of times. I have read much of
> their info on their web page. I have done some costing analysis (ie how
> much does it cost to run a NICA chapter vs running our HS CX league). I
> have spent time talking with the folks in Washington who had a NICA league,
> then moved to their own league. This does not make me an expert but just
> wanted folks to know I have spent some time thinking about this.
>
>
>
> And, like I said, NICA is doing some great stuff. I have nothing against
> NICA. I think we have an opportunity to do so much more with our
> Cyclocross High School League. I ask the simple question: if that won't
> work in Oregon why would NICA? Maybe there is a good answer to that
> question. I would like to hear it.
>
>
>
> John Wilson
>
> OBRA Board Member
>
> Director of the OBRA Junior & High School Cyclocross Series
>
>
>
> Web site for more information:
> http://www.obra.org/junior_cyclocross_series/
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] *On
> Behalf Of *Jeremy Schroeder
> *Sent:* Monday, March 03, 2014 4:31 PM
> *To:* obra
> *Subject:* [OBRA Chat] OT - Pursuit of NICA League?
>
>
>
> Hello All,
>
>
>
> I have been out of the state for about a year and just moved back. While
> I was gone was there any interest or traction towards creating a NICA
> league here in Oregon?
>
>
>
> http://www.nationalmtb.org/
>
>
>
> Does this overlap with what OBRA is trying to accomplish with the youth
> riders? Or can both organizations benefit?
>
>
>
> Just curious as I have a 8 year old and a 3 year old I'd like them to have
> the option when they get to high school.
>
>
>
> Thanks for your time,
>
>
>
> Jeremy
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Visit me online at http://zendoughnut.org/ or
> sent me a tweet on twitter via @zendoughnut
>

John Wilson

2014-03-04

A NICA Chapter/League in Oregon has come up several times in the past few
years.

On each occasion so far we (OBRA board, other interested parties) have
talked ourselves out of it.

NICA is doing some great things for sure, but the two biggest reasons Oregon
has not moved forward on NICA is as follows:

1. We already have a developing High School CX program. We want to see
that succeed before starting something else. Unless there is a greater pull
for MTB/High School, but our demographics showing very high popularity in CX
would seem to suggest this is a good place to invest.

2. There is not a volunteer base to pull off a NICA league at this
point.

We are struggling with the CX High School program right now. We just don't
have the Adult volunteers are not stepping forward to coach teams. To bring
teams together. I am encouraged that the JCS (Junior Cyclocross Series) has
been really successful. We are filling the pipeline with Middle School kids
who will graduate into High School and perhaps want to be part of a team.
Their parents may step up at that time.

It would be great to hear thoughts from folks in the OBRA community. How do
we generate more volunteers? Coaching clinics perhaps?

I have met with NICA administrators a couple of times. I have read much of
their info on their web page. I have done some costing analysis (ie how much
does it cost to run a NICA chapter vs running our HS CX league). I have
spent time talking with the folks in Washington who had a NICA league, then
moved to their own league. This does not make me an expert but just wanted
folks to know I have spent some time thinking about this.

And, like I said, NICA is doing some great stuff. I have nothing against
NICA. I think we have an opportunity to do so much more with our Cyclocross
High School League. I ask the simple question: if that won't work in Oregon
why would NICA? Maybe there is a good answer to that question. I would like
to hear it.

John Wilson

OBRA Board Member

Director of the OBRA Junior & High School Cyclocross Series

Web site for more information:
http://www.obra.org/junior_cyclocross_series/

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Jeremy Schroeder
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2014 4:31 PM
To: obra
Subject: [OBRA Chat] OT - Pursuit of NICA League?

Hello All,

I have been out of the state for about a year and just moved back. While I
was gone was there any interest or traction towards creating a NICA league
here in Oregon?

http://www.nationalmtb.org/

Does this overlap with what OBRA is trying to accomplish with the youth
riders? Or can both organizations benefit?

Just curious as I have a 8 year old and a 3 year old I'd like them to have
the option when they get to high school.

Thanks for your time,

Jeremy

--

Visit me online at http://zendoughnut.org/ or
sent me a tweet on twitter via @zendoughnut

Jeremy Schroeder

2014-03-04

Hello All,

I have been out of the state for about a year and just moved back. While I
was gone was there any interest or traction towards creating a NICA league
here in Oregon?

http://www.nationalmtb.org/

Does this overlap with what OBRA is trying to accomplish with the youth
riders? Or can both organizations benefit?

Just curious as I have a 8 year old and a 3 year old I'd like them to have
the option when they get to high school.

Thanks for your time,

Jeremy

--
Visit me online at http://zendoughnut.org/ or
sent me a tweet on twitter via @zendoughnut

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