New England Bicycle Racing Association
How NEBRA supports an already strong race atmosphere
Bicycle racing has always been popular in New England. The region’s strong, healthy race environment is most recently evidenced by the 121 events permitted for the month of October alone by the New England Bicycle Racing Association (NEBRA).
It may not be the case in all parts of the country, but NEBRA Administrator Diane Fortini says, “Because of the enthusiasm for racing in New England and the full racing calendar we experience every year as a result, promoters and clubs really don’t need to be encouraged to put on more events. “
So instead of devoting the majority of its efforts to growing new race opportunities like many LA’s might do, NEBRA supports New England’s time-honored sport by providing the riders, promoters, and officials with as many resources as possible.
The exceptional level of support combined with quality communications has really added to the strength of New England’s racing scene.
NEBRA President Mark Hagen can be seen in CCB
colors near the front of the pack during the Wayne Elliot
Memorial Crierium in Haverhill, Mass. Photos courtesy of
NEBRA
“NEBRA has truly done a fantastic job in streamlining the interface between USA Cycling, its riders, race promoters, and officials,” explained USA Cycling’s LA Manager Lisa Berggren.
By making communications a priority, NEBRA is able to stay ahead of the game when it comes to supporting and meeting the needs of its riders, promoters, clubs, officials, and all other participants.
“Thankfully, e-mail and the website make it easier to stay in touch and pass on new information and updates to promoters, riders, clubs and officials as soon as it becomes available and as needed,” said Diane.
The NEBRA website is very educational and contains plenty of information for anyone that’s already involved or that is looking to get involved in the sport. The site also been an important resource to help promoters raise the bar at their events.
“By making ourselves available and listening to the riders, officials and promoters,” says Diane, “we can provide them with the necessary resources and as much information as possible to create quality racing in New England.”
One important resource NEBRA provides is its grant program. The LA certainly encourages promoters to offer more opportunities for juniors and women, but it also helps provide the means to offer those opportunities through monetary support.
NEBRA offers grants that support local grassroots activities like training clinics, junior development, and racing series—activities that further cycling as a whole, increase sales of racing licenses, and spread knowledge about the sport as well as skills and know-how around the Northeast.
This year, NEBRA supplemented its grant program with another important initiative—one that will make life a little easier for college-aged cyclists that want to remain competitive AND further their education.
“There are 153 USA Cycling member clubs (in the Northeast), over 30 of which are collegiate,” says Diane. “And most of these clubs are involved with hosting events throughout the year.”
The Beanpot Road Race, pictured above, takes place in
Grafton, Mass. As part of the Beanpot weekend and is
one of the most popular collegiate races in the country.
After one of the area’s undergrads approached a NEBRA board member this year about the possibility of financial assistance, NEBRA decided to establish the NEBRA Collegiate Scholarship Award.
In August, the first two scholarships were awarded: one-year $500 awards were presented to two student-athletes that best demonstrated to NEBRA’s Board of Directors their promise for a bright future on the bike. Rose Long (Lyndonville, Vt.) and Ben Corbalis (Attleboro, Mass.) became the program’s first two recipients, having both been involved with the sport for a long time.
“We do hope to make this an annual program,” Diane said.
As far as other initiatives for 2008—NEBRA will announce new plans and programs following its annual meeting and elections in January.
The LA will also unveil a new “look” for its website in January. The site is currently under construction, but still working. So for more information about NEBRA, its grant or scholarship program, or cycling-related information for the Northeast, check it out at www.ne-bra.org.
