Galena Growlers gear up to start new racing season Sunday
Submitted Photo
CHENANGO COUNTY – The 2019 National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) New York league High/Middle School Mountain Bike season is well underway with kids from in and around the Norwich, Sherburne and Oxford areas have teamed up to for the Galena Growlers second season.
The Growlers first race of the new season is scheduled for Sunday, April 14 at Catherdral Pines County Park in Middle Island of Long Island, NY.
A composite team that currently consists of riders from sixth grade to 12th grade from Norwich, Sherburne-Earlville and Oxford schools, the team will have 11 returning riders and 14 new riders with 11 NICA Certified coaches involved.
“We’re expecting a couple more riders to join the team as warm weather is finally here,” said Rob Baker, head coach and founder of the Galena Growlers team. “The Galena Growlers are open to all students, public, private or home schooled, located within Chenango County. Our goal is all about having #MoreKidsOnBikes and in our area. This year we are really trying to get #MoreGirlsOnBikes with New York’s new Girls Riding Together (GRiT) campaign.”
The Growlers currently practice three to four times a week on the Greenway of Norwich and around the hills of North Norwich as the all-inclusive sport is cross country mountain biking that focuses on both adventure and competition.
“Not everyone has to race,” said Baker. “Some kids just like the exploring aspect of mountain biking, while some thrive on the competition. The other benefit that NICA is an all-inclusive sport, meaning we don’t have cuts.”
The local NICA Composite team is an outside the school-based team for a geographic region that allows kids to get into the sports of cycling and mountain biking in particular, which is a lifelong sport.
While the New York league the Growlers participate in is a Spring based league, the kids began practicing in December with help from one of our sponsors, the YMCA as athletes have been using their indoor spin bikes.
“A huge shout out to Jamey Mullen and Shannon Gawronski for making that happen,” Baker said.
The racing schedule does start Saturday but the five-race series continues with courses in Peekskill, Queensbury and Oneonta while it wraps up with the New York State Championship at the Windham Resort in Windham, NY.
To go along with their sponsorship from the Norwich Family YMCA, the Galena Growlers are backed by several other sponsors in the area. Baker and the Growlers extend a thank you to YMCA, Chobani, NBT Bank, Skylla Engineering out of Humble Texas, NYCM, Preferred Mutual, Gilligan’s, Anthon LLC, T-Squared Custom Millwork out of Oxford, Action Cyclery, LLC, Growler Bikes out of Rochester, NOMAD Mobile Bike Repair out of Hamilton, Woodland Cycles out of Milford, 6D Helmets out of California, and StansNoTubes out of Painted Post, NY.
Overall, NICA continues to see a huge increase in student-athletes joining this lifelong sport of adventure. NICA established leagues in two more states this year – South Carolina and Missouri – and already hosts leagues in 24 other states across the country now.
The NICA organization is also very welcoming to parent involvement. Parents can become a NICA volunteer and help out the team whether it is riding with the kids at practice or volunteering at races for helping to run a smooth race.
If your child is interested in joining, please contest Rob Baker via email (GalenaGrowlers@gmail.com) or by phone (607-244-2520 or 607-373-3431).
Help grow the sport and get #MoreKidsOnBikes.
The Growlers first race of the new season is scheduled for Sunday, April 14 at Catherdral Pines County Park in Middle Island of Long Island, NY.
A composite team that currently consists of riders from sixth grade to 12th grade from Norwich, Sherburne-Earlville and Oxford schools, the team will have 11 returning riders and 14 new riders with 11 NICA Certified coaches involved.
“We’re expecting a couple more riders to join the team as warm weather is finally here,” said Rob Baker, head coach and founder of the Galena Growlers team. “The Galena Growlers are open to all students, public, private or home schooled, located within Chenango County. Our goal is all about having #MoreKidsOnBikes and in our area. This year we are really trying to get #MoreGirlsOnBikes with New York’s new Girls Riding Together (GRiT) campaign.”
The Growlers currently practice three to four times a week on the Greenway of Norwich and around the hills of North Norwich as the all-inclusive sport is cross country mountain biking that focuses on both adventure and competition.
“Not everyone has to race,” said Baker. “Some kids just like the exploring aspect of mountain biking, while some thrive on the competition. The other benefit that NICA is an all-inclusive sport, meaning we don’t have cuts.”
The local NICA Composite team is an outside the school-based team for a geographic region that allows kids to get into the sports of cycling and mountain biking in particular, which is a lifelong sport.
While the New York league the Growlers participate in is a Spring based league, the kids began practicing in December with help from one of our sponsors, the YMCA as athletes have been using their indoor spin bikes.
“A huge shout out to Jamey Mullen and Shannon Gawronski for making that happen,” Baker said.
The racing schedule does start Saturday but the five-race series continues with courses in Peekskill, Queensbury and Oneonta while it wraps up with the New York State Championship at the Windham Resort in Windham, NY.
To go along with their sponsorship from the Norwich Family YMCA, the Galena Growlers are backed by several other sponsors in the area. Baker and the Growlers extend a thank you to YMCA, Chobani, NBT Bank, Skylla Engineering out of Humble Texas, NYCM, Preferred Mutual, Gilligan’s, Anthon LLC, T-Squared Custom Millwork out of Oxford, Action Cyclery, LLC, Growler Bikes out of Rochester, NOMAD Mobile Bike Repair out of Hamilton, Woodland Cycles out of Milford, 6D Helmets out of California, and StansNoTubes out of Painted Post, NY.
Overall, NICA continues to see a huge increase in student-athletes joining this lifelong sport of adventure. NICA established leagues in two more states this year – South Carolina and Missouri – and already hosts leagues in 24 other states across the country now.
The NICA organization is also very welcoming to parent involvement. Parents can become a NICA volunteer and help out the team whether it is riding with the kids at practice or volunteering at races for helping to run a smooth race.
If your child is interested in joining, please contest Rob Baker via email (GalenaGrowlers@gmail.com) or by phone (607-244-2520 or 607-373-3431).
Help grow the sport and get #MoreKidsOnBikes.
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