We’re on a mission to get more girls on bikes.
What is GRiT?
GRiT Texas is an outreach program of the Texas Interscholastic Mountain Bike League, focused on recruiting and retaining female athletes, coaches, ride leaders and volunteers.
To promote GRiT, develop leaders, and #getmoregirlsonbikes, we have three GRiT leadership roles:
- GRiT Coach: NICA coaches interested in being GRiT leaders on their team, in their regions, and at the league-level
- GRiT Ambassador: high school student-athletes
- GRiT Junior Ambassador: middle-school student-athletes
GRiT Coaches, Ambassadors, and Junior Ambassadors (collectively called GRiT Leaders) are role models who organize, support and encourage other female student-athletes to find joy and empowerment through cycling. They are always thinking about ways to bring more girls into the sport, and particularly girls from all races, geographic regions, and socio-economic backgrounds. GRiT Leaders promote inclusion and are full of stoke for cycling. They are also welcoming, positive, supportive, kind and passionate about life.
GRiT Leaders represent the league and their fellow athletes and are guided by NICA’s core values:
Fun: NICA inspires friendship, joy, and adventure.
Inclusivity: NICA believes everyone should be able to participate in our programs and feel welcomed, respected and supported.
Equity: NICA is committed to fair treatment, equal access, opportunity, advancement and elimination of barriers to encourage participation for all.
Respect: NICA expects consideration for all others, oneself, and the outdoors.
Community: NICA unites diverse people, families and communities through cycling by creating fun and welcoming experiences.
Season XV GRiT Leadership
These student-athletes and coaches have made a meaningful commitment to growing the sport and creating welcoming spaces for girls in cycling. We’re proud to have them lead the charge in getting #MoreGirlsOnBikes across Texas.
North Conference Ambassadors
| Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Alex Brainerd | South Metro Cyclones |
| Haven Eberling | Heart of Texas |
| Madison Fields | South Metro Cyclones |
| Taylor Fulks | South Metro Cyclones |
| Madison Gochnauer | ETX Piney Woods Composite |
| Makena Hilkemann | Midway High School |
| Annaleigh Lasher | ETX Piney Woods Composite |
| Khloe Le | NTX |
| Madison (Maddie) Lee | NTX |
| Scout Pointer | Fort Worth Flyers |
| Ella Zakrzewski | |
| Hailey Zakrzewski | Midway High School |
North Conference GRiT Coaches
| Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Jayme (I read the race flyers) Arsenault | South Metro Cyclones |
| Amanda Cook | Rose City |
| Vanessa Gibson | Heart of Texas |
| Sara Greer | East Texas Piney Woods Composite |
| Michelle Lasher | ETX Piney Woods Composite |
| Tamara Moore | Heart of Texas |
| Lynn Pointer | Fort Worth Flyers |
| Lauren Stephens | Classical School of Dallas |
| Katara Trammel | Heart of Texas |
South Conference Ambassadors
| Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Alexandra Anderson | Steiner Ranch |
| Kayla Benson | Austin High Maroons |
| Josie Cowan | Houston Composite |
| Kaleah Duggan | Steiner Ranch |
| Camila Dunn | Westlake |
| Madelyn Hill | College Station |
| Aria Koberg | Lake Travis Composite |
| Sophia Lillard | College Station |
| Josie Mack | Steiner Ranch |
| Gracen Mick | North Austin Composite T-Hawks |
| Sierra Mickler | Steiner Ranch |
| Madigan O’Hara | College Station |
| Lily Osborne | Lake Travis |
| Paige Owens | Bulldogs |
| Willow Peck | College Station |
| Caroline Price | Bulldogs |
| Ryan Quirk | College Station |
| Sofia Torres | San Marcos |
| Miriam Vogler | Steiner Ranch |
South Conferene Coaches
| Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Dawn Bosland | Steiner Ranch |
| Kirstin Hammersley | Bulldogs |
| Kathryn Hunter | Bulldogs |
| Jennifer Loy | Hays |
| Tosha McSloy-Alvarez | Lake Travis |
| Staci Mickler | Steiner Ranch/Vandegrift |
| Tressa Strickland | Heart of Texas |
GRiT Coordinators
Meredith Hill
GRiT Coordinator
Maegan Fitzgerald
GRiT Coordinator
Who is part of GRiT Texas?
- All girls who participate in the Texas Interscholastic Mountain Bike League.
- All girls who participate in GRiT events.
- All women who volunteer for the Texas Interscholastic Mountain Bike League as coaches, ride leaders or other roles.
- All women and girls who support getting more girls on bikes and are committed to helping increase the number of girls participating in the Texas Interscholastic Mountain Bike League
Where is GRiT at the Races?
Checkout the GRiT tent at each race in the Infield.
GRiT Texas Pre-Ride Events
We will host GRiT Rides and Social Events at the races. Details will be posted in on each race webpage and in the singletrack times emails.
Race Day Tent Activities
- Our amazing GRiT Leaders work hard to plan out fun and inclusive activities at our tent each race.
- Tent activies help us reach individuals, teams, build community, and of course #getmoregirlsonbikes
- We want to increase female involvement in the GRiT community and the Texas Interscholastic Mountain Bike League.
GRiT Ride
The GRiT Ride is group mountain bike ride that takes place at 3:00 p.m. each Saturday of NICA race weekends. It is open to all girls and women who want to ride bikes in a safe, inclusive, and fun space! You don’t need to be a coach or student athlete to participate, but if you are not registered in PitZone you need to fill out an agreement to participate and a medical release – these will be available at the GRiT tent before the ride.
How to participate
Check the race flyer web pages leading up to race weekends for the waiver form. This will help keep the ride check-in rolling smoothly.
Otherwise, you may visit the registration tent between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. prior to the GRiT Ride. Volunteers will be there to help you get signed up!
We always ride in groups. When signing-up you can choose which group you want to ride with. There are 5 groups: 4 groups that will ride a full-lap of the race course and 1 group that will do a half-lap.
Beginner Friendly
If you’re brand new to mountain biking, we recommend signing up for the Bell Pepper group that will do a half lap. This is the most beginner friendly option that will give you a feel for what GRiT rides are all about and then at the next ride you can choose a different group or ‘keep on keeping on’ in the Bell Pepper group!
What to Bring
- Helmet
- Water
- Athletic/bike shoes
- Bike tools (multitool, spare tube, etc.)
- Good attitude
- Medical aids (inhaler, epipen, etc.)
Medical Concerns
If you have any medical concerns that could impact the ride, make sure to let your group’s ride leader know (e.g. asthma, bee allergy) and be sure to take everything you might need (e.g. inhaler, epi pen).
Questions
If you have questions on race weekend, just ask!
- Maegan Fitzgerald (GRiT co-coordinator)
- Meredith Hill (GRiT co-coordinator)
- Staff at the registration tent
- Find a GRiT Coach or GRiT Ambassador and talk to them!
GRiT Ride
The GRiT Ride is group mountain bike ride that takes place at 3:00 p.m. each Saturday of NICA race weekends. It is open to all girls and women who want to ride bikes in a safe, inclusive, and fun space! You don’t need to be a coach or student athlete to participate, but if you are not registered in PitZone you need to fill out an agreement to participate and a medical release.