My name is Chelle Frost and I am with the Caldwell County Composite team. I just felt compelled to take a moment to thank you for all the hard work that is done to make this league a great experience. We moved to North Carolina about a year and a half ago. I am a single mom, we knew no one here, and had never done biking before, so to say that we were a bit intimidated is an understatement. I am extremely grateful that we crossed paths with Golden and Shawn Moore, who do a phenomenal job of building the kids’ confidence and skills, but also of making parents feel included and informed as well.
Last year my 12 year old son Cole raced, and my daughter and I had a fun time watching and volunteering. We were a little out of our element at first as we had never even been to a bike race before, but this league does such an awesome job that we felt right at home very quickly. Thanks to NICA, by the end of last season, all three of us had mountain bikes and were hooked. This year my son is racing again, my 11 year old daughter Madi raced for the first time yesterday, and I am now a Level One coach with our team. I wanted you to know what a fantastic job you are all doing of creating a fun, safe and welcoming environment for these kids and their families.
My kids did a lot of lacrosse and field hockey when we lived in NY and the community of student athletes, parents and coaches in NICA creates a vibe that can’t even be compared. It is a genuinely nice group of kids and their sportsmanship is awesome. My own father actually started and has run a nonprofit motorsports dirt track for kids in NY for over 20 years, so I know that there is a massive amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to make these kinds of things run smoothly and maintain a great, supportive, and safe environment. Whether we are talking about the racing itself, the communication, the organization of race days, venues, or even the camping (which is one of my kids’ personal favorite aspects providing an opportunity for them to make new biking friends) and awards ceremonies where such a large percentage of folks stick around to cheer for these kids’ hard work… this league absolutely nails it! I wanted you to know that not only is it noticed and appreciated, but it clearly makes a huge positive impact on those involved. I know it has for myself and my two kids. Thank you so much for all that you do to make that happen.
As we were leaving yesterday and driving across the field, you (Mike Long) drove by in your truck and waved and my daughter said “Mom, it’s the guy that does the medals! He waved to us! He is always so nice. It’s like he is everywhere!” So, these kids notice and appreciate you too, as well as all the effort going on to make these things happen that they enjoy so much. I don’t even think she knows exactly who you are, but she clearly sees and knows that you do an awful lot. It made me laugh because as a kid, that was my dad at our track, the one everyone knew was always running around making things happen, even if they weren’t sure who he was or had never met him personally. I know that also means you are the first to hear when things don’t go perfectly, or if someone has a complaint. We just wanted to make sure you know that you are all doing a whole lot of things not just right, but GREAT, and we are thankful for that. Have a great week.
Chelle
Chelle Frost is a parent and new coach who experienced the wonder and beauty that is the NICA Experience for the first time at our first race of the 2018 season at Browns Creek . She’s given us permission to publish her words. We encourage you to remember your first experience so that you can pass on the NICA Experience, too. You, as parents, as coaches and as student athletes make the NICA Experience what it is in North Carolina.