Chapel Hill High School offers more than a dozen varsity sports and performing arts programs, providing students with ample opportunities to pursue their passions. But for those seeking an active way to explore North Carolina’s scenic trails, build endurance and strength and be part of a supportive team environment, the school’s mountain biking program presents a unique option.
Through its partnership with the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), students can join a regional mountain biking team that emphasizes fitness, competition and community. NICA, a nonprofit serving over 25,000 student-athletes across 32 states, is committed to developing “strong minds, bodies, character and communities through cycling,” according to its mission statement. The program provides a safe and inclusive space for middle and high school riders to hone their skills through organized races, coaching and teamwork.
While the Chapel Hill High School mountain biking team is not directly affiliated with the school and does not compete in its athletic conference, nearby schools like East Chapel Hill High School and Carrboro High School also participate through NICA. Riders from the three schools often train and race together, creating a broader sense of community among local student-athletes.
“A really cool thing about NICA is that the Chapel Hill High team meets together with East Chapel Hill and Carrboro High School, so riders get to meet people from every school,” sophomore Leif Hastings said.
The season begins informally in December with “pre-rides” that allow new athletes to try out the sport before committing. The official season runs from January through May, with five to six competitions scheduled for each category. Racers are grouped based on experience, age and gender, and course lengths vary accordingly.
Junior Ada Watson is a standout member of the program. She began riding at age six and racing at age eight and now has over 150 races to her name, including multiple top-10 finishes at national events and appearances at world championships. Recently, she was invited to join the USA Junior National Team.
“Mountain biking is a pretty interesting sport, but not a very well-known one,” Watson said. “It’s a very individual sport, so training is kind of up to you and where you want to go with the sport.”
She added that mountain biking has allowed her to travel, meet new people, stay active and push herself physically and mentally.
Mountain biking competitions typically take place on closed circuits with riders completing a set number of laps or racing for a fixed duration. Races can last anywhere from 18 minutes to over an hour, depending on the rider’s category. Practice sessions, held several times a week, emphasize both endurance and technical skills, helping athletes improve bike handling and use momentum efficiently.
“We make practices [work] for everyone and try to meet people’s needs rather than forcing them on strict schedules,” Watson said. “We strike a balance between helping riders improve and also making sure that for those who are training outside of practice, we’re not giving them too much.”
Freshman Anne Neal, who brings prior experience to the team, appreciates the traditions and camaraderie that come with racing.
“Usually, the team travels to the race a day before, camps on the course property or stays at a local hotel,” she said. “Then, the team gathers for a pre-ride and team dinner to prepare for the race the following day.”
According to Hastings, race weekends are less about performance and more about enjoying the experience. Events often feature vendors, food trucks, obstacle courses and bike-related games organized by NICA, creating a festival-like atmosphere for riders and their families.
The team travels all over to compete and connect with other riders. The most common sites are in Mayodan, NC Salisbury, NC, Elizabethton, NC and Denville, VA, Mayodan being the furthest and Denville is the closest.
The team is led by Coach Abel Hastings, who oversees student and volunteer recruitment, coordinates practices with other coaches and helps maintain local trails. He also supports athletes during race weekends and focuses on making the program accessible to riders of all experience levels.
“As head coach, I am responsible for recruiting students and volunteers, partnering with other coaches to organize practices, helping to organize team volunteer efforts during which we repair and maintain trails and supporting student athletes during race weekends,” he said.
Coach Hastings promotes a coaching philosophy grounded in inclusivity and individualized development. With athletes ranging from beginners to internationally ranked riders, he works to foster growth for each student regardless of their starting point.
Looking ahead, the Tigers mountain biking team hopes to expand its roster, increase volunteer involvement and raise awareness of the sport throughout the area.
Riders like Watson, who tied for the state varsity championship in 2024, aim to finish the current season strong. Junior Radek Prochazka, who won the 2024 junior boys series state championship, has similar aspirations.
“I was not satisfied with that,” Prochazka said. “This year, I am going to try and go for my second state title.”
Watson is also focused on growing the sport’s reach. “I’m very involved with some advocacy groups through mountain biking to get more girls involved,” she said. “Even though we’ve had more and more girls, there’s still a long way to go.”
Through their work with NICA, the team continues to advance its goal of “getting more people on bikes”—one trail, one race and one new rider at a time.
