The PRIDE.MTB program is all about making cycling more accessible to youth. We understand that historically the sport of mountain biking hasn’t always been welcoming to everyone. We hope to change this through education, advocacy, support, and camaraderie.
Everyone is welcome at Ohio Mountain Bike League practices, events, rides, and races. All of our coaches and volunteers are required to participate in trainings that address athlete abuse. These trainings help our adult volunteers create physically and emotionally safe environments for our student athletes. Problematic (racist, sexist, transphobic, ableist, etc.) statements or behaviors have no place in the OMBL community.
All student athletes can participate in the ride or race category that feels most comfortable for them and their gender identity/expression.
Girls: this category is open to any female identifying student athlete
Boys: this category is open to any male identifying student athlete
Open: this category is open to any student athlete and is not gender specific
We are the first NICA league in the country to offer an open race category. This allows any of our student athletes to participate in OMBL events without having to select a gendered category.
The open category available to ALL Ohio Mountain Bike League student athletes. Those who participate will be scored in the same way as girls and boys categories.
Other benefits of having an open category
Students who want to ride/ race with their friends
Siblings who want to race/ ride together or apart
Riders will register with Pitzone when it opens in March. Riders can petition to participate in the Open category via the Ohio League Petition Log. *Link to Petition Log*
Each student athlete is allowed to submit one petition to switch categories. Upon switching categories, their points from previous events will not follow them.
Advocates are members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Nonbinary, Questioning, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Ally (LGBTQ+) communities who support student athletes by sharing their stories and promoting the OMBL goal of getting more kids on bikes.
We recognize that being in school can be tough for LGBTQ+ students. On top of classes and homework, LGBTQ+ students have to deal with issues like bullying, harassment, family rejection, and increased levels of discrimination across many aspects of their life.
Adult allies who visibly show their commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ students are essential to helping them become their best selves.
The first part of being an advocate involves sharing your story for others to see. Your bio will be included on the PRIDE.MTB page of OMBL website and featured on the PRIDE.MTB Instagram feed.
Advocates will publicly identify themselves as LGBTQ+ allies at OMBL events. They let participants know that they are a safe person to talk to about LGBTQ+ issues and concerns. Additionally, Advocates will strive to make OMBL events and safe emotional and physical spaces for our student riders. This is done through challenging actions, comments, and attitudes that are intentionally racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, classist, and/or ablest.
Advocates agree to:
1. Be at least a Level 1 coach through NICA
2. Attend the PRIDE.MTB Advocate training
3. Commit to the core principals of the PRIDE.MTB program.
Coaches, volunteers, family, community members… anyone 18 or older who is interested in participating in OMBL events/activities and creating more inclusive MTB communities.
Copyright 2020
Ohio Interscholastic Cycling League
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