Girls Moving Mountains

In Episode 10, we get to talk with Rebecca Rusch, the “Queen of Pain.” Whether she is on a cycling expedition in a remote part of the world or teaching others at her namesake gravel bike academy in Idaho, she inspires people to be their best with energy, positivity, and passion. On the bike, she is a seven time World Champion, she is the only female competitor to win the Leadville 100 four times, and she has won the renowned Unbound gravel grinder in 6 of 7 attempts, including the notoriously demanding 350-mile XL. She is also a two time, first female finisher at the Iditarod Trail Invitational. Most recently she completed a previously unattempted North to South route traversing Iceland in winter by fatback alongside Chris Burkard and Angus Morton.  

Equally impressive, Rebecca has found a calling to the adventure side of cycling and has gone on expeditions throughout the entire world. She has paired this with a desire to “be good” by entering the world of philanthropy. Specifically, we get to talk with Rebecca about the Giddy Up Challenge, which is free for all NICA teams to enter. Rebecca has become very involved with NICA and her home Idaho League as she works to help get #morekidsonbikes while also inspiring them to be their best self. This episode dives into Rebecca’s accomplishments while also reminding us to always go back to our “why” for cycling and seek adventure.

GMM is funded by NICA National with support from Rapha Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and Continental Tires. Also, the folks at The Gravel Lot, another wonderful podcast, have spent countless hours helping us!

NICA Teams can sign up for  the Giddy Up Challenge for free! Learn more and register here: https://www.giddyup.rebeccasprivateidaho.com

Learn more about NICA, GRiT, and getting #morekidsonbikes and #moregirlsonbikes here: https://www.nationalmtb.org

Jen Malik is the League Director for the Ohio League. Learn more about the Ohio League here: https://www.ohiomtb.org

Nikki Peterson is the Program Coordinator for the SoCal League. Learn more about the SoCal League here: http://www.socaldirt.org

In Episode 9, we have an amazing and inspiring talk with Vida Lopez de San Roman! Vida is 15 years old, loves to ride all types of bikes, and already has two National Championship titles under her belt. Her work ethic and drive comes naturally alongside the support of her parents, brother, coaches, and teammates. Vida is the niece of two-time Olympian Mary McConneloug, and while that is inspiring, she is determined to create her own story through bike riding and racing. For starters, Vida plans to use other female riders as support and motivation to lift each other up. Vida is a very mature student athlete and we are excited to follow along with all of her bike adventures as she rides and races with her local NICA Norcal team as well as the Bear Development team!

GMM is funded by NICA National with support from Rapha Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and Continental Tires. Also, the folks at The Gravel Lot, another wonderful podcast, have spent countless hours helping us!

Learn more about NICA, GRiT, and getting #morekidsonbikes and #moregirlsonbikes here: https://www.nationalmtb.org

Jen Malik is the League Director for the Ohio League. Learn more about the Ohio League here: https://www.ohiomtb.org

Nikki Peterson is the Program Coordinator for the SoCal League. Learn more about the SoCal League here: http://www.socaldirt.org

In Episode 8, we get to talk to a phenomenal person and mountain biker, Larissa Connors! Larissa is full of energy and has a long list of mountain bike accolades. She has won the ProXCT series, made the Olympic Long Team in 2016, won the Leadville 100 and Belgian Waffle Ride two times each, and won every NUE race she has entered. Larissa is also a wife as well as a mother to an adorable 16 month old, Addie. She teaches high school math and just signed up to be a NICA NorCal coach after moving back to her hometown from SoCal, where she started a team and coached. This episode talks about all that Larissa has accomplished, how she thinks we can recruit more girls and women into mountain biking, and what some of her hopes are for her daughter as she grows up!

GMM is funded by NICA National with support from Rapha Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and Continental Tires. Also, the folks at The Gravel Lot, another wonderful podcast, have spent countless hours helping us!

Follow Larissa on Instagram: @larissaconnors

Learn more about NICA, GRiT, and getting #morekidsonbikes and #moregirlsonbikes here: https://www.nationalmtb.org

Jen Malik is the League Director for the Ohio League. Learn more about the Ohio League here: https://www.ohiomtb.org

Nikki Peterson is the Program Coordinator for the SoCal League. Learn more about the SoCal League here: http://www.socaldirt.org

Episode 7 features a NICA SoCal alumna, Hannah Rae Finchamp. Hannah started competing in XTERRA competitions at the young age of nine and has multiple world championship titles in the discipline. She went on to run, swim, and cycle at Lindenwood University in St. Louis, Missouri while earning a double major in Athletic Training and Exercise Science. She is now a Professional athlete for the Orange Seal Off-Road Team, a USA Cycling-certified coach, and a writer for publications, such as Velonews. She has been named to the Olympic Long Team for the Tokyo 2021 team. While attending Lindenwood, she began working with now-Missouri League Director Chris Mileski, who joins us for the conversation. This is a dynamic duo and we learned a lot about Hannah’s work ethic, her outlook on keeping riding fun, and their teamwork to work towards some big goals, like the Olympics!

GMM is funded by NICA National with support from Rapha Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and Continental Tires. Also, the folks at The Gravel Lot, another wonderful podcast, have spent countless hours helping us!

Learn more about Hannah at https://hannahfinchamp.com and follow her on Instagram at @hannah_finchamp.

Learn more about NICA, GRiT, and getting #morekidsonbikes and #moregirlsonbikes here: https://www.nationalmtb.org

Jen Malik is the League Director for the Ohio League. Learn more about the Ohio League here: https://www.ohiomtb.org

Nikki Peterson is the Program Coordinator for the SoCal League. Learn more about the SoCal League here: http://www.socaldirt.org

In Episode 6, we get to talk to a NICA legend, Vanessa Hauswald!. Vanessa is full of positive energy and she has helped get more kids on bikes for many years. Vanessa has directed the NorCal League since 2010 and has also served as a volunteer, board member, and coach for the organization. A native Californian, she spent many years as a high school teacher before taking over as League Director, when the NorCal model burgeoned into a national movement. Vanessa is a proud cancer survivor, a Juliana Bicycles ambassador, and uses her role and life experience to eagerly support the growth and development of the sport. This episode dives into some of the history of NICA and it is an episode that is very inspiring to listen to!

In Episode 5, we have an inspiring discussion with Erin Garvin. Erin has loved the outdoors since she was a young girl and has followed her heart and passion throughout her life. She has a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, a Master of Science in Exercise Science, and currently is a yoga and pilates instructor. Erin was also the first woman to complete the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. The route follows the Continental Divide from north to south starting in Banff, Alberta, Canada and finishing at the US/Mexico border in Antelope Wells, New Mexico. This episode truly embodies GRiT adventure and we are so stoked to have had the opportunity to talk with Erin!

GMM is funded by NICA National with support from Rapha Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and Continental Tires. Also, the folks at The Gravel Lot, another wonderful podcast, have spent countless hours helping us!

Learn more about NICA, GRiT, and getting #morekidsonbikes and #moregirlsonbikes here: https://www.nationalmtb.org

Jen Malik is the League Director for the Ohio League. Learn more about the Ohio League here: https://www.ohiomtb.org

Nikki Peterson is the Program Coordinator for the SoCal League. Learn more about the SoCal League here: http://www.socaldirt.org

Follow Erin Garvin's EmPower Pilates and Yoga on YouTube: EmPower Pilates and Yoga

In Episode 4, we had a fun talk with Idaho NICA student-athletes Zoe and Payette. Joining them is their superstar mom, Yadi. Zoe and Payette have been mountain biking from a very young age but they also have a lot of other interests, mostly involving the outdoors. They have also started their own upcycled jewelry business with the encouragement of their mother, Yadi. Yadi joins us for the show to talk about her motivation for raising four children to love adventure and being outside, her start with mountain biking, and even describes how wonderful their hometown of McCall, Idaho is. She also talks about how she went from mother to coach, NICA Coach Supporter, and NICA GRiT Coordinator for the Idaho NICA League. This episode truly is a family affair!

For more information on the upcycled jewelry event taking place on Saturday, February 20th at 4p PST/7p EST, materials needed, and registration, visit the New York League’s Information Email. You can also register HERE.

This podcast is made possible by the generosity of the Rapha Foundation. Also, the folks at The Gravel Lot, another wonderful podcast, have spent countless hours helping us!

Learn more about NICA and getting #morekidsonbikes here: https://www.nationalmtb.org

Watch the CBS News clip here: CBS NICA News Clip

Jen Malik is the League Director for the Ohio League. Learn more about the Ohio League here: https://www.ohiomtb.org

Nikki Peterson is the Program Coordinator for the SoCal League. Learn more about the SoCal League here: http://www.socaldirt.org

In Episode 3, we had an inspiring talk with Carmen Luna. Carmen is a SoCal GRiT ambassador and was recently appointed to the SoCal League Board of Directors. She is also the Team Director for Southbay Composite and Eastlake HS. The team has grown significantly since she has been at the helm and she continues to bring on more female student athletes and coaches. She has created a team culture that is inspiring to learn about and was even featured in a CBS National News piece on youth mountain biking booming during the pandemic! 

This podcast is made possible by the generosity of the Rapha Foundation. Also, the folks at The Gravel Lot, another wonderful podcast, have spent countless hours helping us!

Learn more about NICA and getting #morekidsonbikes here: https://www.nationalmtb.org

Watch the CBS News clip here: CBS NICA News Clip

Jen Malik is the League Director for the Ohio League. Learn more about the Ohio League here: https://www.ohiomtb.org

Nikki Peterson is the Program Coordinator for the SoCal League. Learn more about the SoCal League here: http://www.socaldirt.org

In Episode 2, we have a great conversation with Ella Kearney and Izzy Lawhorn. Ella is an 8th grader on the Big Bear Composite team in Big Bear Lake, CA. She is also a SoCal GRiT Ambassador for the 2021 season, though we haven’t been able to have any in-person gatherings yet. Izzy Lawhorn is a 6th grader who lives in Chillicothe, Ohio. She will be a part of the Ohio NICA League when it launches in the fall of 2021. During this episode, we learn more about why these girls love mountain biking, tips for new riders, their favorite hometown trails, and more!

This podcast is made possible by the generosity of the Rapha Foundation. Also, the guys at The Gravel Lot, another wonderful podcast, have spent countless hours helping us!

Learn more about NICA and getting #morekidsonbikes here: https://www.nationalmtb.org

Jen Malik is the League Director for the Ohio NICA League. Learn more about the Ohio League here: https://www.ohiomtb.org

Nikki Peterson is the Program Coordinator for the SoCal NICA League. Learn more about the SoCal League here: http://www.socaldirt.org

Original song by Alexis Skarda.

In Episode 1, we have the opportunity to chat with Libba Moore. Libba is the National Manager for the NICA GRiT (Girls Riding Together) program, a position that is funded by the Rapha Foundation. She went from math teacher to PE teacher to leading GRiT nationwide in a short amount of time. During this episode we learn more about the journey that led her to where she is as well as her “why.”

This podcast is made possible by the generosity of the Rapha Foundation. Also, the guys at The Gravel Lot, another wonderful podcast, have spent countless hours helping us!

Learn more about NICA and getting #morekidsonbikes here: https://www.nationalmtb.org

Jen Malik is the League Director for the Ohio NICA League. Learn more about the Ohio League here: https://www.ohiomtb.org

Nikki Peterson is the Program Coordinator for the SoCal NICA League. Learn more about the SoCal League here: http://www.socaldirt.org

Original song by Alexis Skarda.