Step 1: Fill out the interest form

Start by filling out our interest form below.

This lets us:

  • Share details about preseason events and try-it rides

  • Send you a NICA Pit Zone invite when registration opens

  • Answer questions before you commit

The form is for parents or guardians, not student athletes. We never contact a student one-to-one.

Step 2: Come to a preseason event or “Try it Out” ride

Preseason rides and info nights are designed to be low-pressure. Your rider can:

  • Meet coaches and current riders

  • Try simple skills and an easy trail section

  • See if mountain biking feels like a good fit

You get to meet the adults, see the culture, and ask about anything that concerns you.

Step 3: Register in the NICA Pit Zone

Once you decide to join, you will receive a personal invitation email from NICA’s “Pit Zone” system.

In the Pit Zone you will:

  • Complete student athlete registration

  • Sign the Agreement to Participate / Release of Liability

  • Complete medical and media forms

  • Agree to the Code of Conduct

  • Pay the league registration fee (unless covered by scholarship)

Only student athletes officially registered in Pit Zone may practice or compete on NICA courses.

Step 4: Show up ready to ride

Once registration is complete and a coach has cleared your rider’s bike, it is time to ride.

Your student athlete will show up with:

  • Bike (approved by a coach)

  • Helmet

  • Water

  • Snack

  • Weather-appropriate clothing

  • Closed-toe shoes

  • Basic repair kit

  • Any personal medical items they need

We teach the rest.

How to join the

Lakeland Lynx

This page is your one-stop guide to getting your student athlete connected with the team.

Lakeland Lynx has about 20 volunteer coaches who bring a wide mix of experience:

  • Long-time riders with decades of trail and race experience

  • Parents who discovered mountain biking through their kids

  • Health and education professionals who care deeply about youth development

All of them share one goal: help student athletes grow in strength, character, and joy through mountain biking.

Every coach:

  • Is licensed through NICA

  • Has passed a background check

  • Has completed first aid and CPR training

  • Has completed NICA coach education, including abuse prevention and concussion training

At team rides:

  • A Level 2 or 3 coach leads each official group ride

  • Groups aim for roughly a 6:1 rider-to-coach ratio

  • Non-coaches do not ride with the team during official practices or race times, for safety and oversight

Here are their some of them in their own words:

Meet our

coaches

“My coaching philosophy is ensure that the student athletes have fun and promote safety for themselves and others and instill respect for the community, trails and each other.”

Loyd Corbett (5th year)
Team Director and founding coach, League Chief Referee

“My coaching philosophy is to provide student athletes with opportunities for physical, social, emotional, and mental health enhancement that will lead them to become good and productive citizens.”

Ken Stolzman (3rd year)
Designated Reporter

“My coaching philosophy is to create an experience where a student athlete can find their purpose, values, and mission.”

Kori Stolzman (3rd year)
League Medical Coordinator

“My coaching philosophy is PEDAL FASTER ;)!”

Ken Newman (5th year)
League Course Marshall

“My coaching philosophy is to make every rider, regardless of ability, feel valued, supported and challenged.”

Kyle Fedler (4th year)
Head Coach with 30+ years of riding and racing experience

“My coaching philosophy is that the harder a student athlete works at practice, the more fun they will have overall and at the races. Pain and pleasure!”

Anton Correa (5th year)
30+ years of riding experience.

Season fees

  • League registration: About $345 per student-athlete per season
    Covers NICA registration, secondary insurance at NICA-sanctioned events, snacks, hydration support, etc.

  • Team jersey: About $60–70 plus shipping
    Required for racing. Any comfortable shorts are fine.

Optional team and league merchandise is offered during the year but is never required.

Help with bikes and gear

We never want money to be the only thing standing between a kid and a bike. We have:

  • Loaner bikes available for families who need them

  • A team supply closet with helmets and basic gear

  • Local sponsors and donors who help offset costs where needed

  • Access to scholarship programs like Trek Pathfinders and NICA aid

If cost is the only thing holding you back, tell us. We will work with you.

Gear, cost,  

and access

We want to be clear about costs and just as clear about help that is available.

Do not buy a bike yet

Do not purchase a bike until you have spoken with a coach.

How we        

manage risk

Mountain biking is an outdoor sport with real risk. We do not pretend otherwise. We manage that risk so riders can grow without being reckless.

Key parts of our risk management plan:

  • Clear rules on helmets and gear
    Helmets are worn any time a rider or coach is on a bike. No exceptions. Riders must have a safe, working bike and basic repair gear.

  • Ride within limits
    Riders are coached to choose lines and speeds that match their skill and fitness. We avoid “risky line” choices, especially in group settings.

  • Trail choices that match the group
    We pick routes and features based on who is in the group that day, not just what the fastest riders can handle.

  • Communication and reporting
    We follow NICA guidelines for incident reporting, concussion protocol, and athlete abuse prevention. Concerns are taken seriously and acted on.

Physical and emotional safety

We watch not only for crashes and injuries, but also for signs of stress, fear, or conflict. Riders are coached to show respect and support for each other.

Lynx Interest Form

This form must be completed by a parent or guardian for every student athlete in order to sign up your student athlete for the Lakeland Lynx.