February - Race Season Begins!

Race season is finally here! Team campouts, meals, fire-pits and guitars. Races are so much fun, it's why we keep coming back year after year. 

Some notes for new and experienced racers alike

• 1. On the starting line, some nerves are good. They mean you care. If you feel really nervous just ask youself if there is anything else you can do now? The answer will be no, so that means it's time to drop your heartrate, visualize the course, and be ready to rip!

  2. When passing, be cool and courteous and make sure you finish the pass with 20 seconds of threshold work (Thank You Vivas Interval Days!)

  3. Maroons are expected to sprint the final 100 yards of any race!

Practices schedule going forward will be normal M/W/Sat and race week M/W will be 'taper' workouts, focused on race technique and technical riding in a effort to keep getting better at bikes while not introducing any fatigue on the week leading up to the contest.  

All hands on deck for the race season!

Coaches - There are several coach-specific volunteer roles on a race weekend. Make sure you're contributing. If roles are filled by existing coach volunteers, find a coach and shadow them, particularly if their child is in high-school. You'll be needed soon enough. 

Saturday

• Coaches ride

  • Coaches ride is at 10:00 am on Saturday. Don't miss this. Ride at the race speed of your POD (or the POD you'll have at pre-ride) so you can help them anticipate and overcome any obstacles on the course. 

    • At race speed small obstacles disappear, ledge-ups become easier. 

    • At race speed little bumps become jumps, little jumps end up hucks to flat, hucks to flat become hospital trips. 

• Pre-ride

  • Level 2 and 3 coaches are needed to shepherd their PODS around the course on 1 or 2 laps. 

  • Important things to note: obstacles, tech spots, and items that will be different at race speed. 

  • Do a bit of work but do NOT introduce any fatigue on pre-ride. That said, punchy/momentary climbs etc. are prefect to open the legs. 

Sunday

• Warm-ups

  • Coaches will take kids out in groups to warm them up before the races. These warm-ups start 30 minutes before staging. Athletes must be fully kitted and ready to race. Warm-up coaches do not wait for unprepared athletes. 

  • Coach Tyler and Coach Tim have been handling these. They could use a shadow or 2 this year. 

• Feed zone coach

  • While not strictly a coach-only role, feeds are usually handled by coaches familiar with the athletes, their needs, and the mechanics of a successful feed.