1. League Background
March 11, 2012

2. MN League Development Committee
Minnesota High School Cycling League
Development Committee
Gary Sjoquist, Advocacy Director, QBP
Libby Hurley, formerly Erik’s Bike Shop
Mark Parr, Director Sec. Ed. Dist. 196
Josh Kleve, Sales Exec. DKS Systems
Mark Hartney, Specialized

3. MN High School Cycling League
www.minnesotamtb.org is the official MN High
School Cycling League site
National Interscholastic Cycling Association
(NICA) sanctioning body for high school
mountain bike racing
Minnesota High School “Cycling” League – the
hope is that students will start with mountain
biking but expand to road, cyclocross,
commuting, etc.

4. MN League/MNMBS/USA Cycling
Minnesota High School Cycling League
sanctioned by NICA (governance, insurance,
licensing of coaches)
MN League will be separate from the Minnesota
Mountain Bike Series (MNMBS)
MN League will not be affiliated with USA Cycling
MN League exists as a non-profit (donations tax
deductible)

5. MN League Updates
MN League timeline for 2012
Kick Off Open House – March 11th
Leaders Summit – April 21/22
Teams Form – April/May
Camps – Summer 2012
Beginner/Intermediate Camps
Girls Camp
Day Camps
Racing – Sept. through Oct, 2012

6. Typical Race Snapshot
Saturday:
- Course set up 7 am to Noon
- Pre-ride 1 to 4 pm
- Camping available on site or nearby
Sunday:
- Teams set up in Pit Zone
- Racing starts at 10 am
- Girls Freshmen/Soph, Jr. Varsity/Varsity
- Boys Freshmen/Soph, Jr. Varsity/Varsity
- Awards around 4 pm

7. Race Format
Courses are between 4 and 6-mile loops, mostly
singletrack, with passing zones
Climbing 400 to 600 ft. per lap
Fr/So – 45 minutes to one hour
JV/Varsity – up to 1:45
Not too technically challenging – more laps
Uphill starts/finish
Fenced through start/finish, feed zone, pit area
Partially visible for spectators

8. Teams and Scoring
Students can race:
- As independents
- As part of a high school team
- Composite team; racers from several schools
Teams with girls score more points
Every team member scores points
Awards:
- Individuals
- Team scoring

9. Ways to Help with the MN League
Opportunities to help:
1. As a parent of a
student athlete who
wants to race on a
team
2. As a volunteer at
race events
3. As a MN League
Manager

10. 1. Helping as a Parent for a Team
1. Help students form a team at the high school
- Team Starter Kit info on web site (handouts)
- Teams exist as a “club” like Chess Club or Debate
2. Help by becoming a team volunteer organizer
- Help communicate within team (meetings, practices, etc.)
- On race day, help with team logistics at event
3. Help by becoming a Ride Leader, Assistant
Coach, or Head Coach for a team
- Attend Leaders Summit and gain license
- Minimum requirement is passing a background check

11. 2. Helping as a Volunteer at Race Events
Variety of tasks take two or three hours
Can sign up in advance for specific task
Helping with registration, helping with parking,
course set-up, feed zones, etc.
Ride Marshalls – follow last racer, sweep
Timing and scoring helper
Tear down and clean-up

12. 3. Helping as a MN League Manager
Managers a small band of really committed
folks who agree to manage key tasks
Will get lodging expenses and stipend in return
for a season-long commitment
Major commitment – often all day Sat/Sun
Can’t have the race without these tasks
Basically making a statement – this league is
important enough to get going that I’ll step
up and do what it takes

13. MN League Key Manager Opportunities
Race Operations Manager
Chief Course Marshall
Chief Score Keeper
Registration Manager
Chief Course Setter
Volunteer Manager
Race Photographer

14. Race Operations Manager
Site manager – goal to execute race day layout
Pit zone, feed zones, timing and scoring, uphill
starts, fencing, start line structure, podium
Responsible for setting up course, tearing
down everything after, and transport/storage of
race kit
Will have team of assistants for both days

15. Chief Course Marshal
Responsible for integrity of race course
Establishes marshal points along race route
Trains and oversees race marshals
Monitor marshals throughout races
Liaison with EMTs

16. Chief Score Keeper
Sunday only position
Set up timing area
Set up scoring laptops
Train assistants
Track racers’ lap times
Assemble and post results
Resolve scoring issues

17. Chief Registration Manager
Assemble and organize online registration from
Pit Zone
Train and prepare assistants for race day reg
Hand out race numbers per category/gender
Track day of registration
Prepare starting wave lists prior to start times

18. Chief Course Setter
Saturday position
Responsible for laying out race course
Setting up fencing, stakes for arrows, feed
zone, ribbons (used to block shortcuts)
Works with Operations Manager to ensure
integrity of race course

19. Volunteer Manager
Coordinates MN League Volunteer Needs
Team of assistants will help
Teams will also provide volunteers
Walk-up volunteers need to be directed
Care and feeding of volunteers important
Meals, rotating shifts, right materials,
acknowledgment, etc.

20. Race Photographer/Reporter
Great graphics a key to success
Responsible for producing great photos for use
in MN League promotional material
Also need someone who can complete timely
race write-up per NICA guidelines

21. Leaders Summit
MN League Leaders Summit
- April 20/21 at QBP
- Agenda at www.minnesotamtb.org
- Part of the coaching licensing process
- One day option for Ride Leaders ($75)
- Two Day option for Assistant and Head
Coaches ($120)
- Lodging available at Holiday Inn Bloomington
- Fees include Saturday evening dinner at QBP’s
Spokes Café for two

22. Stickers!