Building resilience and life skills on rocky trails!
This event is part of the Rocky Trail Academy junior development program, sponsored by Shimano, CST Tyres, Raceface, Marzocchi and Sendy Gear and endorsed by AusCycling.
VIDEO BRIEFING
RIDER BRIEFING
The Rocky Trail Academy is coming to Eastern Escarpment/Mt Cotton Trails to launch the 2025 QLD Racing Season as part of the Redlands MTB Rumble!
- Rocky Trail Redlands Rumble: three days of absolute MTB mayhem! Academy for high schoolers, Fox Superflow® for pinners and pros, plus the EMX launch – our new eMTB moto-cross! Race your way, push limits, witness the future.
- Attention – Cyclone Alfred impacted planned routes, so we’ve made track changes for this event. Click through to the Track Guide and Maps below or read more in the news update from 30/04/25 …
This event is proudly supported by these epic local partners:
New to Academy racing? Check out the Event Guide for everything you need to know. Jump on our Venue Guide for location and parking info. Hit the Track Guide for info on all the tracks. Our team has been on-site and have provided some more information about the race day – scroll down for the detailed Rider Briefing.
Emergency contacts:
Race Director – Bob Morris +61 458 299 558
Event Director – Jo Parker +61 424 955 332
Key things to remember for the ACADEMY:
- EVENT FORMAT: 3 timed race tracks from 9am – 1:30pm offering a balanced skillset challenge and a rewarding experience for all – from “park rats” to inexperienced riders and already racing kids.
- Competition will consist of 3 timed stages and neutral liaison rides: Endurance, Speed and Technical Skills.
- You need to complete at least 1 time on each stage to be in the results.
- You get 5 possible attempts on each track, the fastest time per track then counts towards the result.
- Parents and teachers are needed to help on the day. Come prepared, bring a bike if you ride or pack the hiking shoes for a great day in the bush.
- Classic Rocky Trail Academy Results: Podiums will be awarded for the top 3 riders in each category, and Champions school.
Event services and facilities:
- Food – Food, Coffee & Refreshments will be provided by these awesome local businesses:
- Coffee – Johnno from Groupset Coffee will be ready and waiting to take your first order.
- BBQ operated by Moreton Bay College. Grab a breakfast or lunch burger and cold drink
- Unisex toilets on site
- School marquees are welcome to be setup in the Event Hub area, email jo@rockytrailentertainment.com to secure your spot. Please bring weights to secure the tent. Bus/Trailers parking is available at the entry carpark before proceeding down the hill. Please check with our parking marshall on arrival.
Weather:
Mostly fine with some possible showers. Come prepared you never know with our current QLD weather pattern.
Volunteers:
We encourage volunteering and we need your help! – Parent/teacher volunteers required on the day. Roles include bike and course marshalling. Add your name to the list at registration, or register via https://rockytrailentertainment.com/home/volunteering/ and we will create a roster on the day. Bring a Bike or chair, jumper and sunscreen, wear walking shoes and prepare a loud cheering voice to encourage the kids out on track. Come and have a great day in the outdoors!
We need 5-6 marshal spots for each time slot (9am until 10.30, 10:30 to Midday, Midday to 1.30pm)
Venue Information:
Address: 1 Karingal Rd, Mount Cotton QLD 4165, Australia. Accessed from Mount Cotton Road. Do not park on West Mount Cotton Road as you will be far away from the event hub.
Race Course Description:
Liaison stages will be marked with orange laminated signs – This way to Event Hub or This way to Start
- SHIMANO – “Escalade” has become a favoured climb track but it’s origins was as a descent. Time to return to the original… Then cross the main fire road and drop into “Powerful Howl” which is great fun. Designed for adaptive cycles means the track is wide but this deceives the inexperienced to believing lines aren’t still important for fast. 1.7km and 105m vertical drop.
- BOMBER – This year we will be using the mostly descending “Leo Land” from the top to the first fire road crossing. 1.9km long descending 50m and only climbing 15m.
- SENDY – “Cotton Canyon Part 1” offers riders a gradual descent where a strong pedal will find the fastest rider.
Location Details
Event Hub within the Karingal Scout Park for 2025.
Robs Kitchen activity area provides amply room for team tents, food vans and plenty of parking. Plus easy access into the trail network and climbing track to the start areas.
Access is via Mount Cotton Road into Karingal Road.
ALL RIDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARK AND SETUP WITHIN THE SCOUT PARK NOT ALONG WEST MOUNT COTTON ROAD. All event services including registration, medical, timing, food, coffee, toilets will be located at the bottom.
The road into Scouts will be ONE WAY only until 9.30am. If you are not staying on site please drop and go at the top entrance gate.
Camping is allowed – fees apply see Jo at the rego tent.
Schedule for the day:
Friday
- 7.30am – Registration opens
- 8.45am – Rider call up – compulsory safety briefing
- 9.00am – All tracks open for racing
- 1.30pm – Last race run
- 1.45pm – Presentation
- 2.00pm – Event closed
Course Marking:
- Course marking is a combination of Orange laminated A4 signs and bunting tape.
- Liaison stages (=untimed “up” to start trails) are marked with “Neutral to Start” and arrows signage
- On track riders must stay within the designated trail and are not allowed to cross bunting tape.
- Riders who are seen to shortcut race tracks will have timed runs removed from the result.
We can’t wait to see you smashing it! –
#rockytrailracer
#rockytrailacademy
What else is happening?
Fox Superflow® Gravity Enduro – 3 stages, 5 runs on each possible!
We can’t wait to see you smashing it! After the event we will provide links for you to access content from the race. Be sure to download them after the race and share your stories with eeeeeveryone using:
#ROCKYTRAILRACER #ROCKYTRAILACADEMY
We are guaranteed a great weekend and look forward to seeing you all here!
About the Rocky Trail Academy Schools events
This popular schools comp with timed sections and multiple runs provides a fun racing experience for the next generations of mountain bikers. The Queensland season of Academies has been huge with over 300+ riders at each round. Chat to Jo at rego if you are interested to have your school involved in the planning.
The format was the brain-child of Bob Morris and Jo Parker, our National Event Managers, who looked to create a format that tested multiple skills of mountain biking, whilst challenging the skilled pinner and yet providing an opportunity for riders of all abilities to have a go. Courses are designed to have a flat pedal for XC riders to excel, a technical gravity track for the gravity pinners to shine, and a flow track for the funsters to speed down. The format duplicates our very popular Fox Superflow with 3 tracks, multiple runs, and live timing, in a social safe environment.
Watching the growth of schools offering Mountain Bike programs as a school sport just demonstrates the tremendous popularity of Mountain Biking in the community and the benefits to all. Jo Parker, strives to see #morekidsonbikes and #moregirlsonbikes.
With almost 20 Academies planned for 2025 it is going to be an epic year of school events, including the first Rocky Trail Schools Academy at Sea Otter Australia on 23 October 2025 on the Mogo Trails in Batemans Bay! Subscribe now to our newsletter to stay up to date with all of our announcements.
News
Last-minute changes are communicated via:
Rocky Trail Merchandise NEW JERSEYS!
- Rocky Trail Jerseys designed by Dharco ($75, long or short sleeve)
- NEW Rocky Trail T-shirts $40ea
- NEW: Sea Otter Australia Festival MERCH!
- NEW: Dharco Bucket hats! $35
- Socks $25
- Mudguards $25
- Available from the Rocky Trail rego desk all weekend!
Event Content
We can’t wait to see you smashing it! After the event we will provide links for you to access content from the race. Be sure to download them after the race and share your stories with eeeeeveryone using:
#ROCKYTRAILRACER #FOXSUPERFLOW
We are guaranteed a great weekend and look forward to seeing you all here!
General race regulations
- Race etiquette – Important: you MUST adhere to social distancing rules AND rude behaviour out on track is not acceptable. Please be kind to each other. We are all here to have fun. Chat to our Event Managers if you have any questions.
- We love to help and chat! Our staff at rego and at the starts are there to help. Talk to them.
- Don’t litter – please take your rubbish back with you limited bins on site.
- Timing will be done with your timing chip – please ensure it is on your bike/attached to your chest and in the MTB that the plastic doesn’t touch any metal parts of your bike (e.g. don’t wrap the number plate around your handlebar).
- You agreed to our RACE WAIVER when you registered online – here is a link to the RACE WAIVER again
- Click here for DETAILED RACE RULES
Any questions?
Talk to us via our online chat – click on the orange circle symbol on your bottom right screen corner and we’ll be right with you! (We always love talking bikes, racing and riding!)
See you soon.
