How To Support the Sport You Love
Rudy Project is a longtime supporter of the endurance sports community. Its connection to USA Triathlon (USAT) goes back decades. Rudy Project’s work with the teen mountain bikers competing in the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) has grown to keep pace with the organization’s expansion. And with People for Bikes, Rudy Project has committed to boosting cycling’s profile across all types of uses, not just competition. The trio of organizations chosen by Rudy Project offers a solid road map for anyone to follow when it comes to supporting their sport. The map starts with participation (USAT), then volunteering (NICA), followed by advocacy (People for Bikes).
Of course, you’re free to re-prioritize these areas of support to best fit your goals and lifestyle as you see fit. You can even strive to give each the same amount of attention. The key is to do something, anything, to give back to the sport that gives you so much joy.
Participate
Participation is the easiest way to show your support. Every time you sign up to do a race or event, you’re participating and helping create a temporary critical mass of like-minded folks doing what they love. This simple step increases awareness of and support for your sport within your community.
For example, a USAT-sanctioned triathlon requires a USAT membership (a one-day membership is usually added to your registration fee if you don’t have one). That membership ensures the race is safe, fair, and insured. It also includes points that count for competitors’ USAT rankings, which can bear on entry to the USAT national championship race.
By participating in an event, you’re nurturing your sport at the local and national levels. And the more people who participate, the healthier the sport becomes.
Volunteer
Rudy Project’s involvement with NICA cycling holds tremendous appeal for reaching and developing the next generation of cyclists. The high-school mountain bike leagues it governs bring out more than 25,000 kids on more than 1,000 teams to compete in state-wide leagues throughout the country. But the program’s impact extends further than thousands of bike-riding high schoolers. NICA draws more than 14,500 volunteer coaches to the sport as well.
In addition to organizing practices and races, NICA teams put in time to build and maintain the dirt courses they compete on. In 2022, the group worked on more than 500 mountain bike trails alone, an effort that makes mountain biking more enjoyable and accessible for everyone. Following this example, you can pass on your passion for your sport by volunteering at a race or event or donating goods and services to a local organization that could use your help.
Advocate
Advocating for your sport is vital to its health. Both participation and volunteer work help boost your sport’s visibility, but advocacy ensures you have access to the trails, roads, courts, parks, and facilities to actually do your sport. This is where Rudy Project’s support of People for Bikes comes into play. The organization has been at the forefront of getting more people on bikes by working with local, state, and national governments and organizations to improve cycling safety, access, and more.
People for Bikes city rankings are one of its signature vehicles for advocacy. The rankings serve as a high-five to cities doing it right — and show those who rank low how they can promote more cycling on their own streets and trails.
You can advocate for your sport in ways big and small. Writing to your local city council member for more access to your sport or reminding them to consider bike safety (in the case of a street improvement project, for example) can make an impact. Or you could pitch and lead a project to raise funds to build a secure bike rack at a local school to make it easier for students to consider pedaling to class and back.
Show Your Support
Be proud of your commitment to whatever it is you do. Wear that finisher’s t-shirt from your last triathlon or a volunteer’s shirt from a recent race. Show people that you’re involved, and you’ll likely inspire more people to get involved themselves.
Rudy Project does this with limited edition products such as its Rush Youth USA Triathlon helmet, which supports the sport of triathlon and its next generation of participants.
How you support your sport is up to you. The first step, of course, is to get started with a sport you love. The next step is to deepen your love by giving back and sharing your passion with others. Thus, the virtuous cycle continues. Do your part.
