“Receiving the NorCal Achievement Award is such an honor and means so much to me. Having close connections with my team before high school gave me a great sense of my strengths and weaknesses. Throughout these last 4 years, I was able to learn the dynamics of racing at a high level from older riders, and was able to later share that knowledge with my teammates and competitors. Though I have always been competitive and have loved chasing the top spot of the podium, my favorite part of this league is the comradery shared between all athletes. Thank you so much for an amazing 4 years, NorCal League!”

“After many years on basic 10-speeds, I finally got my first road bike in my 20’s, after years of commuting and eventually road racing for the Thirsty Bear Cycling Team my boys started to show an interest in mountain biking. That is when we found the Oakland Composite team. During that first year coaching for them I had a lot of support and encouragement to launch the Hayward Composite team. A few of the other families were on board to come along and we had commitment from coaches to kick off our 1st year. Our team supports both middle and high school and is now 5 years old. Cycling has been a big part of my life, and I’m happy to be able to give back to the cycling community coaching and managing a team for NICA. I truly believe in #morekidsonbikes and hope those adventures, races, camping weekends together help them find a love of cycling. I’ve had amazing memories from riding, I’ve met amazing riders, pedaled through stressful times, seen beautiful places while riding and found a ‘cycling family’ that I love in both road and mountain bike riding.”

“I am currently a Junior and this is my second year of racing. This league has really taught me the value of having good friends and meeting new people. I really love cheering on teammates and competitors alike. I was so honored to receive the Best Sportsmanship Award this year. It made me realize just how important it is to keep spreading joy to others. Thank you! I have already made many new friends through NorCal and can’t wait to make more next year, as we shred with NICA!”

“Hi, I’m Sierra and I’ve been riding with Humboldt Composite for three years now. I love planning GRiT events to get more girls on bikes—everything from scavenger hunts to mechanic clinics to movie nights to fun rides and more. It makes me so happy to see the increase in girls mountain biking each year!! Thank you to all of my role models and amazing fellow NorCal GRiT riders! 🤗”

“El Cerrito is thrilled to be named as the recipient of the Team Spirit Award for 2023. This year, the team has worked hard to be about stoke, inclusivity, and community spirit, whether that‘s through the fun video recaps of the races on our Instagram channel, the growth of GRiT riders on our team, or our fun costume planning for the races. We also made strides to leave a positive impact on the communities in which we race, such as by organizing a fundraiser at the Fort Ord event to benefit the local towns affected by flooding. We work hard, play hard, and try to lift up the whole mtb community in the process. We are so proud of all our riders and how far they‘ve come this season, and are immensely thankful to our coaches, families, and supporters for a great year.”

“It was so great to have a full season this year, getting to be around all the teams is always such a great experience. Getting the supportive teammate award surprised me, I always love getting cheered on by my teammates and coaches so I try to make sure other riders get that experience and I always try to yell and cheer on everyone I can because I know everyone can use a boost.”

“Hi, I am a senior and ride for San Francisco Composite. I have raced with the NorCal Leauge all four years of high school, and I feel so honored to have received the most supportive teammate award! I love racing mountain bikes and the stoke that everyone in the league has. I think my karaoke mic and speaker, posters, and my enthusiasm for cheering people on helped me win, but I was happily surprised! I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a community like this, and I am excited for future fun times on my bike!”

“My NICA commitment began four years ago at the first race of the season with a 2 mph crash, an ambulance ride and bruised ego. But a little thing like a showing-off accident didn’t keep me from taking on the Team Director role two years later for the exponentially growing North State Composite team in Chico, a role I love and in which I will continue indefinitely. Why do I think I received Coach of the Year Award? Honestly- I believe that our 80 athletes and families are so incredibly happy with our amazing coaches and the overall success and joy of our season, they just wrapped up their love in me. And, well, I might the loudest cheerleader on the trails— for MY team, and for YOURS. Yes, I’m the one screaming, “Let’s GOOOO (fill in team name)! Yewwww!” next to your grandma at Six Sigma. The stoke of the kids and families in NorCal is tangible and contagious. And our kids need us to be cheerleaders. Woot!”

“I was surprised that I received my award, but it was a great way to finish an awesome season. I’m so glad I got to spend this year racing and practicing with a great group of people. I’d like to say thank you to all of my coaches for making it possible for our team to have a successful season. “

“This is was my fourth and final year with NorCal. I’ve had so much fun over the years and have loved learning how to race. It’s always interesting to see the entire venue unfold and see the sheer size of the league. It’s amazing how many people we are. Thank you, NorCal for allowing us to have this space to push ourselves. It’s been a blast.”

“I’m so grateful to be part of the NorCal community and am honored to receive this award. Thank you to SF Composite coaches, teammates, and parents who have supported me throughout my four years on the team, bringing the stoke and encouraging me to achieve my personal best.  NorCal has been a huge, formative part of my life and I can’t wait to pay it forward by continuing to grow and support the league.“

Humbled and very honored to receive this award, I owe this success to my team and fellow coaches though. After starting our team in 2019, then navigating our way through the pandemic, our team grew stronger, larger, and “funner”. Being a part of the NorCal family and leading our team has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I look forward to many more years of riding, racing, and enjoying life on the trails with our team and the NorCal League. Go Modesto Dust Devils!

Darin is an avid outdoor enthusiast who has been riding and racing mountain bikes for over thirty years. A passionate advocate for the sport, he is involved in a number of local trail advocacy and mountain biking organizations and initiatives. 

Darin is currently a Level 3 coach and a team director. 

Hello! I’ve been mountain biking since my sophomore year and it has been wonderful to finish out my senior season with this award! I absolutely love the atmosphere at all of the norcal races and within my team of support and love that you can definitely feel from the cheering. I was a team captain this year and had the best time getting to know the new riders and making memories as a team. I love screaming support at races and making every practice or event into an adventure where everyone has a good time! Receiving this award was definitely a surprise and I’m honored that my teammates thought of me. I’m so grateful to be a part of the mountain biking community that is so full of support for everyone! 

“If I had to sum up my season, I’d say that I stayed positive and focused on the fun. That allowed me to make some incredible friends, and get a lot closer with my awesome teammates and fellow racers. It also allowed me to eat a lot of Denny’s pancakes and breakfast burritos, which helped keep the stoke high and the wheels rolling. This was a rad season, and I’m beyond hyped for the next one!”

“This season has been incredible. Not only because of our results, but more because real growth occurred in our team. We went from 13 to 28 riders, with 17 regularly racing. We incorporated tempo endurance workouts and added a core strength day. Our coaches all grew, taking on all aspects of our program and dramatically improving it with enthusiasm and vibrant energy. That segues to my thoughts on this award, it was a shock because I have had to step back this year for work-related issues and do less than I have in prior years. This award is for our team coaches who have made this team a tremendous community asset and visible manifestation of the NICA and NorCal League mission – to build better humans. Thanks.”

“This season has been my favorite season so far, and I really enjoyed the team dynamic, which was so supportive to everyone on the team. I have seen so many acts of kindness from many different people, from small things like giving water to someone who had ran out, to people giving their bike for another person to be able to ride.”

“Thanks for another fun season! It’s been a great year of working hard, setting goals, and overcoming challenges. The best part of the season was making friends with teammates and other athletes I raced with. I was really surprised and honored to receive the sportsmanship award. Thanks to the whole mountain bike community for setting great examples of good sportsmanship for me to follow and pass along.”

“This season was a special one for sure. Mountain biking has become the biggest part of my life and I am so grateful to have been nominated for this award by my peers. It was a great four years!”

“It has been a honor to be apart of NorCal the past 4 years. This past year I finally got a varsity podium and I just want to thank all the varsity girls for being amazing ladies. I have made so many friends through biking including my best friend, Alison O’Dell. Ever since freshman year we have cheered on every rider from every team and winning the Most Supportive Teammate Award showed how people notice our kind actions and it warms my heart. Thank you NorCal for everything!”

“I was honored and really surprised to receive the Most Supportive Teammate award! Being a part of the NorCal League these last four years has allowed me to meet so many great individuals who like mountain biking as much as I do. I enjoy helping out the newer riders and make them feel like they are a part of the team.”

“SRV is all about having a safe, fun time on mountain bikes, so our club spirit is all about sharing the stoke about riding, we’re not necessarily about winning races, although that sure helps. Our riders really got into the themed races this year, and with some encouragement and help from our younger (alumni) coaches, earned the League’s award. The coaches and parents couldn’t be more proud of them. Also, we were so impressed by the leadership and enthusiasm that our captains Gabriella Dube and Jaden Davis brought to our club this year. Their mentoring of our younger riders and cheering and support for our racers created great positive team spirit. We certainly felt honored to be recognized by NorCal with the “ Team Spirit Award”, and are looking forward to even more team spirit and enthusiasm next season.” -Bruce Bilodeau and Ken Mozek

“This year was such a celebration of community. Starting early in the season, our riders connected both on and off the bike – they had fun, supported each other, and pushed their limits. It was amazing to see what these kids could accomplish as a team. The Granite Bay Grizzlies are blessed to be surrounded by the most awesome parents, ride leaders, and coaches and we are stoked to be chosen for the Spirit Award!” -Jon and Carrie Hyatt

“This season I realized that one of the best things about racing is the freedom that comes with it, that I’m the only person in charge of my own success. So I just started setting goals. First I wanted to get under 15th, but then that actually happened, so I needed another goal. And then eventually I needed another…and another… It was so gratifying to know that my team and NorCal recognized my hard work.”

“This year was such a celebration of community. Starting early in the season, our riders connected both on and off the bike – they had fun, supported each other, and pushed their limits. It was amazing to see what these kids could accomplish as a team. The Granite Bay Grizzlies are blessed to be surrounded by the most awesome parents, ride leaders, and coaches and we are stoked to be chosen for the Spirit Award!” -Jon and Carrie Hyatt