Positive Energy - While the thrill of race day is part of the draw, it’s the energy of the mountain biking community that keeps Claire coming back year after year. “There’s no pressure to be the best,” she explains. Her role as a student-athlete at PICL has even turned her into a bit of a campus recruiter—her love of the sport has sparked curiosity and inspired peers to give it a try.

PICL student-athlete Nate Olmsted led the creation of a new singletrack trail in E Bradford Township, partnering with local parks officials to connect Star Farm Park to M John Johnson Nature Center.

Maris Raisch, a PICL alum and RIT engineering student, combined cycling and trail design in her TTC Captain project at Twinning Valley, creating youth-friendly, skill-based trails.

Hannah Puttcamp, RPI Cycling athlete and former Keystone MTB rider, led major trail projects at Lackawanna State Park through Girl Scout awards and PICL, creating safer paths and native habitats.