What you need to know

What equipment is needed?

Required:

There are loads of nice bikes at a decent price which will work great for riding, practicing and racing on our Team. Start with a Mountain bike, 26″ to 29″ wheels, knobby tires, disc brakes, Cross country or Trail model with front or full suspension.
We have a great relationship with various bike shops and our coaches are fanatics. If you have questions please ask, we would love to help.
Students are eligible for 15-25% discounts from Specialized, Scott, Trek, Cannondale, Canyon, and Salsa brands (NICA pricing) That’s huge!


Optional:

Parents, what you need to know

Coaches Contact List:

Head Coach- Jason Williams seviervalleytrailblazers@gmail.com


How do I register my rider?

Refer to the homepage for step by step instruction. Contact us with questions.

Safety

There are definitely risks associated with this sport; however, we try to make sure that these risks are minimized to the best of our ability. Here are some ways to minimize the risks:
All adult volunteers, at a minimum, must pass a background check and a CDC concussion certificate course.
Coaches must pass a Risk Management Course, Wilderness First Aid and CPR class. We bring a first aid kit to every ride and event.
We rely on you to tell us if your student has a medical condition that we need to watch closely, i.e. asthma, diabetes.
We enforce proper riding gear, especially helmets. Please invest in a properly fitted “mountain bike” helmet. **Road bike helmets don’t protect the back of the head enough.**
We preach hydration on every team ride. We will not let a student ride without a water bottle or hydration pack.
Always at least one adult rides “sweep” during every ride and every race.
We will evaluate skill levels during our fun rides and work more on basic skills to those that need additional help.
We will not ride if we do not have the appropriate amount of NICA licensed adults. Minimum 2 on EVERY RIDE + Minimum 1 Level 2 Coach per ride + 1 per 6 students ratio.
RACE DAY SAFETY – There are EMT’s, ambulances, medical tents and other medical personnel on hand at every single race.

How often do you practice and how long are they?

We have several skill trainings and fun rides starting April 1 through May 31st. Official practices begin mid July and last through the end of the race season in October. We hold three practices a week on Mondays, Wednesday, and Thursdays. We also hold optional rides on some Saturdays. Most practices last 2-2.5 hrs. The rider needs to come prepared with a mechanically sound Mountain bike, helmet, hydration, snacks, any required medication, and small repair kit. Official times and dates of practices will be posted on the calendar. Refer to the calendar tab frequently for updated information on all events.

Who can ride with the team?

Students who will be in grade 7th-12th of the upcoming school year. We accept all skill levels and everyone has the option to races.

Who rides with the kids?

The coaches and ride leaders will be with all athletes at every skill level. We generally have two adult leaders for every 8 athletes. The coaches are all trained on safety, skills and first-aid.

What is a ride leader and how do I become one?

A ride leader is someone that has some basic training (30-40 minutes online) and has completed a background check with the Utah League. They provide support and enthusiasm for the kids…plus have fun riding. We love having parents involved and riding with their kids. Even if you are new to mountain biking, your support and riding is a massive help.

As a parent what does my level of involvement have to be?

Our team has ~60+ racers and is quite complex to handle. We need help with food organization and prep, race day setup, feed zone on race day, ride leading practices, fundraising… and the list goes on. It is expected that parents will volunteer at the league and team level each season. We cannot do it without you. Please feel free to ask how you can get involved.

Once the riders are on the team how is communication handled?

During the registration process riders and parents provide phone #s and email addresses. We communicate via text, phone, email, Facebook and our website.

What are the costs?

Due to our amazing local sponsors, a large portion of the costs have been covered. That said, competitive high school mountain bike racing is not cheap, and since this is not a sanctioned high school sport, the team members and their parents are required to pick up the balance.
The cost to be part of the Sevier Valley Mtn Bike Team is broken down into team fees, league fees and personal expenses. This information can be found on the homepage under registration. 

What if we are not able to financially make it work?

The Utah League offers scholarships and “loaner” bikes to students in need. Depending on the needs, nearly all the costs can be reduced or eliminated!
Sponsors: Business sponsorship helps cover the costs of the team and we pass along 20% of any sponsorship money raised by your rider toward their Team fees.
Fundraiser: We have fundraising opportunities that 100% of the money raised by the rider can be applied to Team / League Fees or Personal equipment expenses.
If you need help, please ask.

Riders, what you need to know

How often are practices and do I have to be to all of them?

There are 3 practices a week starting in July. All of them take place in the evening around 5:30 pm and then getting earlier as the daylight disappears.  We would highly encourage you to make it to at least 2 practices a week in order take advantage of skills development, endurance, and friendships within the team.

What happens at practice?

Brief team meeting discussing practice objectives (10 min), Skills training and trail riding (1.5-2 hrs), practice recap and end (10 min), riders dismissed.

Does everyone race?

Everyone registered with the team can race if they desire. Junior Devo race 3 times, and the High School 4 or 5. This season, riders will have to qualify to race at State Championships. Qualification Criteria is listed on the league website. All HS riders will participate in their REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE which is the 4th race.

Other expectations

Ride open trails:
*Respect trail and road closures—if you’re unsure, ask a land manager.
*Don’t trespass on private land—get a permit or other required authorization.
*Never ride in areas protected as state or federal wilderness—it’s against the law.

Leave no trace:
*Muddy trails are vulnerable to damage — consider other options if a trail is soft.
*Stay on existing trails — never create a new one.
*Don’t cut switchbacks.
*Pack out at least as much as you pack in.

Control your bike:
*Obey all speed regulations and recommendations.
*Stay alert — inattention for even a moment can put yourself and others at risk.
*Always ride within your limits.

Yield appropriately:
*Always let other trail users know you’re coming — give a friendly greeting.
*Anticipate other trail users as you ride around corners.
*Yield to non-bike trail users.
*Yield to riders headed uphill whenever you’re riding downhill (gently enlighten them if the trail is clearly signed for one-way or downhill-only traffic).
*Make every pass a safe and courteous one.

Never scare animals:
*Stay alert — animals are easily startled by an unannounced approach, a sudden movement or a loud noise.
*Give animals enough room and time to adjust to you.
*Use special care when passing horses — follow directions from the horseback riders (ask if uncertain).
*Never disturb wildlife, cattle or other domestic animals.