Events & Races

FUN – INCLUSIVITY – EQUITY – RESPECT – COMMUNITY

• Teams and individuals may use the Pit Zone area to set up tents, etc. There is no cost to set up tents.
• Pit Zone is a DISMOUNT ZONE and no bike riding is allowed.
• Anyone setting up a tent should bring appropriate spikes or sufficient weight to secure tents during high winds.
• No vehicle/trailer parking in Pit Zone (apart from unloading/loading equipment)
• We encourage you to leave your dogs at home. If you choose to bring them, they must be under control and on a leash at all times.
• Teams must remove all garbage from Pit Zone and camping areas.
• No BBQs, cooking devices or other open flames allowed in the Pit Zone

• All racers should plan on pre-riding the course during the designated pre-ride hours:
  • Saturday: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• Course will be closed from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM for GRiT (Girls Riding Together) pre-ride
• Sunday: 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM
• Pre Ride Rules
  • ALL STUDENT ATHLETES MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A NICA COACH or NICA STAFF MEMBER IN ACCORDANCE WITH NICA STANDARDS.
  • Riders must adhere to any course restrictions
  • Ride with respect and control your speed in congested areas.
  • Number plates/coach plates must be on bike at all times while on course
  • ALL RIDERS (STUDENT ATHLETES AND COACHES) MUST BE LICENSED IN NICA’S PIT ZONE REGISTRATION SYSTEM
  • PLEASE RESPECT THE GRiT PRE-RIDE! If you are not part of the GRiT pre-ride, please wait to start your pre-ride when the course opens up to all riders.

• Racers will turn laps on our courses with the following Race Duration Guidelines for each category:
  • <45 minutes for Primary and Junior categories
  • <75 minutes for Secondary categories
  • <90 minutes for Senior categories
• Due to the elevation, weather, and challenging terrain of NICA courses, these duration guidelines may be changed at NICA staff discretion.
• Student athletes may be asked to withdraw at the finish line after time limits have been reached. Race officials reserve the right to determine these time limits at any time. Time limits may be imposed for reasons that include but are not limited to safety, heat, cold, rain, muddy conditions, clearing the course, and relieving the course marshals. Course closures may be announced at any time and do not need to be announced in advance.
• Racers who do not make the time limit cut-off will still be scored and ranked.

• Students and coaches will receive a race plate to use for the entire race series, however, we ask that you return them to NICA staff after each race. Race plates have timing chips on the back and require care to avoid damage.
• Multi-category waves may also receive a category indicator to be worn in a prominent place.
• Race plates need to be attached to the front of the bike on the handlebars and clearly visible from the front. They should not be folded, bent or cut. They should be attached at both the top and the bottom to prevent the plate from falling off and/or flipping over.
• Improperly attached number plates may lead to missed chip reads and inaccurate timing.
• Number plates are required for all riders and coaches at any time while on the course.
• Riders and coaches cannot use someone else’s number plate at any time.

• Staging and the race start has the potential to be a stressful time of the day for everyone. We really want it to be a fun event for the student athletes, so it is important that you help us prepare them for the process.
• Here are some tips to help ensure your student athlete’s staging goes smoothly:
  • Look at the wave start times and the staging report. A staging report is posted to the Race Series page on the Thursday prior to each race.
  • This report includes the staging order, time, and location as well as the start time for each student athlete.
• Student athletes are the only ones allowed in the staging areas. 
  • Parents, spectators, and coaches should not enter the staging area. It will be crowded with student athletes and their bikes and extra people add to the congestion. Let our awesome staging volunteers do their jobs!
• Please make sure they are in their staging area before their group starts getting called into the start corral. 
  • We will start calling names/numbers right at the staging time listed on the sheet. If they are late, we will attempt to get them into the lineup when they arrive, but we will not reposition anyone already staged.
  • If you see a student athlete who appears distressed or confused, even if they are not from your team, try to help them out or get one of the volunteers’ attention so we can point them in the right direction.
• Make sure your student athlete knows their staging location (number). 
  • It’s helpful if they also know their number plate. It’s nearly impossible for us to look up this information on the spot with all the activity and time constraints. Staging volunteers will be holding up numbered cards that match the staging location.

• Mountain bike racing is a highly weather dependent activity. NICA must evaluate many factors regarding the impact of moisture, temperature and other environmental conditions on the safety of participants, spectators, staff and volunteers, as well as the long-term impact on the trail systems and venue.
• Any decisions regarding cancelling, postponing, or altering race start times, lap lengths, number of laps, etc. will be made jointly by the NICA Director, the land manager, and the lead official. Often, this decision cannot be made until the morning of the race due to the unpredictable nature of wet or stormy weather, or acts of nature such as lightning, forest fires, etc.
• Race starts may be delayed and races that are underway may be shortened or stopped due to weather conditions or other acts of nature that create dangerous conditions. This includes (but is not limited to) rain, wind, fire, and air quality.
• The full NICA Weather Policy can be viewed HERE.

• Race day would not be possible without the incredible work of our volunteers. It takes a “village” to put on quality youth mountain bike races. Many parents and cycling enthusiasts find that getting involved with our events is a fun and rewarding experience.
• Rest assured, ALL of our volunteer positions are fun and straightforward. With the help of our training guides HERE and on site review with our staff members, you’ll feel confident and well-prepared to volunteer. Pick one (or two!) positions that sound interesting to you and prepare to have fun!
• Check out each race flyer for specific weekend volunteer opportunities.