Charlotte is represented as MTB Season begins for N.C. Teens

Charlotte was represented in Elizabethtown, N.C. this week as Charlotte Catholic High School (CCHS) sent its Mountain Biking Team to the first race of the season sponsored by North Carolina's branch of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) at Brown's Creek on March 10th , 2019.

Charlotte's CCHS MTB team competed with more than over 430 youths who formed 40+ co-ed teams. The Freshmen race was complicated by 70 riders, the largest turnout NICA has had yet for a freshman division, and a slight start crash that threw riders from their bikes. In spite of that, Charlotte's CCHS, placed #21 in Division 1, with the help of freshmen athletes: Angelo Foto, placed 9th and Michael Konopasek, placed 17th on the individuals. Teens ranged from grades 6-12 riding hard in the unexpected 80˚ weather. Riders were grouped by age and sex for fairness. The course was 3.4 miles long and the number of laps was determined by the division.

NICA which is based in California, has branched out across the United States to introduce teens to a healthy approach to having fun as well as competing within the sport of mountain biking. They generally hold about 4-5 races each spring and encourage youths to get together in the pit zone, to bond over common interests and cultivate healthy interaction between sports, nature and team spirit. Students are not only taught the components of race safety and trail care, but also concussion awareness and prevention is highlighted.

NICA's next race will be held later this month at Fisher Farm Park in Davidson, NC, on March 24, 2019.