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HELPFUL TIDBITS FOR HIGH SCHOOL RACE WEEKENDS
All athletes and parents should read and bookmark Geoff’s “GVYC High School Team Fall Schedule” document at the beginning of the season and refer to it weekly. It includes the head coach and assistant coaches’ contact info, roster/practice groups, schedule of practices with location details, parent volunteer link, and the “Race Flier”, which answers virtually every question you may have about Registration, Expectations, Dates/Times, Volunteering, Pre-race Protocol, Nutrition, etc. Please review it!
See the Colorado League website at coloradomtb.org for additional details about race weekend schedules, venues, and signing up for camping options that they endorse. There are also opportunities to assist as a CO League volunteer (in addition to our own GVYC volunteer needs). Fall race schedules are usually posted every year by late February, for those who like to plan ahead!
RACE WEEKENDS
We pre-ride one lap of the course as a team the afternoon before every race day. The expected schedule is:
3:00 PM Tent Setup
3:45 PM Team Pre-Ride
For Saturday races, it means students usually leave and miss school Friday afternoon for travel, to help set up and then be ride-ready at 3:45. If a student can’t miss school or arrive for our pre-ride, it’s ok and not required, but it is more fun and informative to ride as a group with coaches and upperclassmen to learn some race strategy and gain familiarity with the terrain. Pre-ride courses are only for athletes with a Race plate accompanied by adults with a Coach plate until 5:30 PM, friends/family may ride from 5:30- 6:30 PM the night before, plus there is a short 1-hour window from 7-8:00 AM the morning of each race if needed for those who cannot ride with the team.
Most families try to stay fairly close to the venue when possible, especially if the athlete’s wave is early in the morning. Allow plenty of time to find parking.
Start times for each race rotate each round among Freshman Boys/Girls, Sophomore/JV Girls, Sophomore Boys, JV Boys, and Varsity Boys/Girls.
Race days tend to be long days, typically with waves staging at around 8:15, 9:40, 11:20, 12:45, and 2:05. All riders are highly encouraged to stick around and support their teammates racing in other races throughout the day. Awards start as late as 4:45 PM, and we always need help packing up the team tent and trailer between the final race and awards.
The team brings bike stands and basic tools to the tent, and there is usually plenty of help around if a rider is having a mechanical issue with their bike.
Parent volunteers usually organize lunch and plenty of snacks and drinks at the team tent. It is a good idea to bring sunscreen, hats, and layers of clothing for a long day out with changing Colorado weather. Athletes often like to bring a change of dry clothing to wear after the race.
We always need parent volunteers to pull the team trailer to and/or from the venue. Please help if you can!
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