Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Frazier.
Hi Eric, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After 20 years as a freelance advertising photographer, I decided to change careers and start a coaching company for cyclists in 2018, FSE Coaching. I train local and remote clients around the country for bike racing. In 2020, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) started a Missouri league. NICA is a national youth mountain bike racing association for kids in grades 6th-12th. Currently, there are 31 state leagues around the country. My friend Chris Mileski founded the Missouri League, and I immediately wanted to start a St Louis City team.
That year my wife and I started the South City Composite Otters with me as the Head Coach and her as the Team Director, along with a handful of other teams around the state. Currently, there are 21 teams all over Missouri. Last year our team consisted of 48 student-athletes and 32 coaches. Being a city team, we have one of the most diverse teams in the state, with 33% girls and 16% kids of color. White men have traditionally dominated cycling, so we’re proud of our efforts to bring more underrepresented groups into this sport we love.
One of the biggest reasons we started the Otters is because we believe strongly in the NICA mission to build strong minds, bodies, characters, and communities through cycling. Mountain biking can be hard, and sometimes crashes happen, but learning how to push through fear and discomfort can build traits in kids that will help them become successful adults who respect themselves, others, and the environment. Mountain biking is fun and healthy and builds determination and grit in these kids they don’t often get with other sports or activities. It’s also a sport that can continue after high school with their family members, unlike many school sports. And unlike school sports, we encourage parents to join us as coaches, where they get to ride with their kids at practices.
The other great thing about NICA is there are no tryouts or cuts. Everyone who wants to join our team can, and they can choose to race or not – it’s totally up to them. For those who can’t afford the bike, equipment, or fees, multiple scholarships from Trek, the league, and our team remove those barriers. Kids and coaches often come to us with little to no mountain biking experience, and we teach them everything they need to know. We have a very extensive skills curriculum that is on par with the top mtb skills schools in the country. Each fall, the Missouri League produces 5 races around the state. These are very professionally run events that place the safety of all riders as their highest priority. And while we are a race league, we always focus more on the kids having fun. Our practices consist of trail riding, skills practice, and games. We have competitive kids who want to get on the podium, but we also have kids who want to ride a party pace with their friends and have fun, so there’s something for everyone.
While I love my job as a cycling coach and running my company daily, I get more fulfillment from volunteering for the Otters than I ever thought possible. Showing our kids and their parents how fun biking is while helping to create strong and confident humans in both body and spirit makes all the hard work worth every minute, now going into our fourth year!
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
As with any new venture, the path can be unclear. We had great support from NICA National, but we had to figure out many things as we went. We started the team in the first year of the Missouri League, so we were all learning as we went. As a team, we’ve been incredibly successful with solid growth and 95%+ of the kids returning each year. So much of this we owe to all of our coaches who donate so much of their time and energy to making sure the kids have fun and stay safe.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In 2018 I started my cycling coaching company FSE Coaching. I program bike and strength training for athletes around the country. I build training plans, assign workouts, analyze power data, discuss strategy and tactics, give feedback, and help them prepare for their race season or specific big races or events they have coming up. I’m one of the few cycling coaches in Missouri that offers such individualized, customized training, both on the bike and in the gym.
Networking and finding a mentor can positively impact one’s life and career. Any advice?
Being a part of the local cycling community for many years has helped me tremendously. Having been a bike racer for 30 years and still competing, I come into contact with riders my age as well as those that are younger. Staying connected is the key to meeting new people and learning from them. Social media is also a great resource for learning and hearing about new ideas or techniques. Twitter is one of the best places to hear directly from other professionals and sports scientists that are the best in the business. Sports science is a relatively young field, and it’s changing rapidly. As a coach, it’s critical to keep learning and staying curious. As soon as you think you know all you need to know, you’re about to be left behind.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southcitycomp/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southcityotters
Image Credits
Sara Pointer and Eric Frazier
