Central Kansas youth in sixth through 12th grades have another sport to choose from – mountain bike racing. A small group of local cycling enthusiasts worked through all the requirements to sanction a team through the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), and they are nearly ready to start accepting participants. Parents interested in signing their children up for the Golden Belt Badgers can mark their calendars to attend an informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Front Door Community Center, 1615 10th St., Great Bend, KS 67530.
The team, known officially as the Golden Belt Composite, will likely be ready to accept participant registration before the meeting. Those interested who would like to be notified when registration is open can email Team Director Ruth Schiller at [email protected].
“The Golden Belt Badgers bike team will provide our local youth the opportunity to be part of a community-focused sport, one that encourages fun while engaging in skilled and safe trail riding,” she said. “Every participant will compete at the race events. In this sport, no one is left on the bench.”
The team already has seven certified coaches, with nine more working through the coach certification process and a few working toward higher levels of certification. A coach meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Great Bend Senior Center. Those interested in coaching are welcome to attend to gather more information about the requirements and time commitments. A low coach-to-athlete ratio is necessary to ensure individualized learning opportunities and safety on the trail. For more information about coaching, contact Head Coaches Neil Frizell at [email protected] or Brandon Steinert at [email protected].
Funding
Starting a NICA team requires funding. Fortunately, about $15,000 has already been secured through donations and a Youth Grant from the Golden Belt Community Foundation (GBCF). This funding will be used to secure equipment needed for practices, cover fees associated with coach certification, and offset a portion of the participant fees paid to NICA to make participation more affordable and accessible.
Fundraising Director Todd VanSkike at Golden Belt Bicycle Company said the Badgers committee is grateful to the donors and the GBCF.
“Without those funds, getting this team off the ground would be way harder and probably wouldn’t be happening so soon,” VanSkike said. “It has us all pretty excited that we can get it going now. Looking ahead, we definitely will need to continue fundraising to ensure the team remains stable financially.”
To support the Golden Belt Badgers financially, reach out to Fundraising Director Todd VanSkike at the Golden Belt Bike Company at (620) 793-7060. All donations are received through the Golden Belt Trails Alliance, a new 501c3 dedicated to trails and other outdoor recreation activities in central Kansas. The group also serves as the umbrella organization for the Badgers.
Sponsorships are also available. Deliverables will include mentions at events, in news releases, and logo placement on social media and the soon-to-be-launched website.
Requirements for Participation
Those interested shouldn’t let the lack of a bike stop them from signing up. While participants will need a safe and functioning bike, decent shoes, a bike helmet, gloves and other equipment, the Badgers Committee is working to reduce barriers to entry. There are resources and programs available to get kids set up with equipment so they can participate. Contact VanSkike at Golden Belt Bike Company at (620) 793-7060 to get connected to resources. NICA membership also grants access to discounts on bikes and equipment.
Race Season
Preseason technically started Oct. 15. The regular season begins Dec. 1, which is when practices can be held. The Badgers are looking to host their first practice in mid to late January. The five races that make up the Kansas NICA season are held on weekends in the late spring, typically April and May. The 2025 events have not yet been announced.
The Kansas NICA League has grown swiftly in the last few years, with several teams starting in 2024 and 2025. There are currently 10 teams listed, with at least two more to be added soon. Learn more about the Kansas NICA League at kansasmtb.org.
Steinert said having access to a mountain bike team would have made a huge difference in his own childhood.
“I would have loved something like this as a kid, as the typical ‘ball sports’ were certainly not my thing, and never really felt like I fit in with sports like football or basketball,” he said. “If this were available, it would have drastically changed my entire junior high and high school experience. I’m hoping this opportunity will help young athletes see that there is far more breadth to the world of sports. And, maybe we’ll even help some adults see that growing up doesn’t mean we have to stop considering ourselves to be athletes.”