LAKEWOOD, Colo. (April 2, 2025) – National Ski Patrol (NSP), one of the largest organizations committed to safety and rescue education for the outdoor industry, is proud to announce partnerships with two innovative bike-industry organizations, National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) and Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc. (Specialized). Both relationships reinforce NSP’s commitment to advancing mountain safety for every generation of bikers across the nation.
NSP’s collaboration with NICA focuses on education and prevention. By staffing NICA’s youth mountain-biking events and providing medical training for coaches, NSP is helping create a safer environment for young athletes and fostering mutual support within the outdoor recreation industry.
“Providing safe, predictable programming is a priority for us, as it’s what gives our student-athletes the confidence to build their skills, try new things, and enjoy a long future in the sport,” said Amanda Carey, NICA President. “We’re excited to have NSP as a partner, helping NICA leagues and coaches provide a high level of safety for our students at practices and events.”
Under its pro-deal partnership with Specialized, more than 30,000 members of NSP will have exclusive, discounted access to Specialized bikes and components, designed with the highest standards of technology and functionality on the mountain. This partnership benefits all NSP patrollers, particularly getting bike patrollers and bike hosts equipped for their roles supporting the safety and well-being of bikers on mountain and urban trails.
“Specialized is excited and honored to partner with NSP in support of its mission providing outdoor safety and education to lovers of the outdoors. We hope that this special access to our bikes and equipment will keep patrollers safe and responsive when on patrol (and having a blast on their own riding sessions). We appreciate NSP’s commitment to helping riders come home safely and serving as trusted members of the outdoor and mountain biking community, and we look forward to seeing patrollers out on the trails,” said Zac Weggeland, Emerging Business and Partnership Manager, Specialized Bicycle Components.
NSP brings more than 85 years of expertise in outdoor safety and education to both partnerships.
According to Stephanie Cox, CEO of National Ski Patrol, avid mountain biker, and former coach of the Golden High School Mountain Bike Team. “While the NICA and Specialized partnerships are a bit different, both organizations are fundamentally aligned with NSP’s core commitment to safety, athleticism, and service. With NICA, we're investing in the future of mountain biking, empowering young athletes and their coaches with the knowledge and skills to navigate the trails safely. And with Specialized, our members have discounted access to top-tier bikes and components, helping them respond more effectively and confidently on the trails.”
“We're not just partnering; we're building a safer, more supportive community for everyone who loves the outdoors. It's incredibly exciting to watch these collaborations come to life, and I'm eager for the positive impact they'll have on our members and the wider biking community,” Cox added.
About National Ski Patrol’s Bike Program
NSP’s Bike Program responds directly to the growth of year-round outdoor recreation, particularly the increased summer activities at ski resorts and urban areas. With more lift-accessed biking, as well as patrol responsibilities extending to urban and open space parks, NSP is equipping its members with the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure the safety of all trail users. The Bike Program reinforces NSP's commitment to adapting its education to meet the evolving demands of the outdoor recreation industry. Bike patrollers and bike hosts are trained as first responders through NSP’s education programs, Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) and Outdoor First Care. Visit NSP Membership and NSP Bike Program to learn more.
About National Ski Patrol
National Ski Patrol (NSP) is a federally-chartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit education and membership association. As the leading authority of on-mountain safety, NSP is dedicated to serving the outdoor recreation industry by providing education and training to emergency care and safety service providers. With more than 30,000 members across 650 patrols, and affiliated organizations in Canada, Europe, and Asia, NSP is one of the largest organizations committed to safety and rescue education for the outdoor industry. Members include ski and bike patrollers, as well as mountain and bike hosts, alumni, associates, and physician partners, working on behalf of local ski/snowboard areas and bike parks to enhance the overall experience for outdoor enthusiasts. Founded in 1938, NSP continues to advance its commitment to safety and its vision by leveraging the latest technology, innovation, and education. Visit NSP.org, and follow on Facebook and Instagram.
About National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA)
The National Interscholastic Cycling Association’s (NICA) mission is to build strong minds, bodies, character, and communities through cycling. Founded in 2009, NICA develops interscholastic and community-based mountain biking programs for student-athletes and coaches across the United States. NICA provides leadership services and governance for its local leagues to deliver quality cycling programming and events. NICA leagues have served almost 90,000 student-athletes since 2009. Currently, NICA has 32 state and regional leagues and 14,000+ registered volunteer coaches, who annually support over 25,000 student-athletes on nearly 1,000 high school and middle school teams in the USA. Visit nationalmtb.org to learn more.
About Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
Specialized Bicycle Components was founded in 1974 by riders for riders. Based in Northern California, Specialized focuses on the rider’s need for functional and technically advanced products that provide a performance benefit. Visit specialized.com.
