Building resilience and life skills on rocky trails!
This event is part of the Rocky Trail Academy junior development program, sponsored by Shimano, Marzocchi and Sendy Gear and endorsed by AusCycling.
VIRTUAL RIDER BRIEFING
Read the full rider brief information below.
RIDER BRIEFING CONTENT IN WRITING
Sunshine Coast Schools, Rocky Trail Academy is coming back to Sugar Bag and this year it’s even bigger:
- Due to popular demand, this is a 2-day event. Primary (Y5-6) and Junior (Y7-8) are racing on Thursday; Intermediate (Y9-10) and Seniors (Y11-12) are racing on the Friday.
- We’re bringing an ADDITIONAL Graduation Cup Classification for secondary students! This is an annual competition that combines individual skill with team spirit. – Put in your team nomination NOW!
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.
Key things to remember:
- 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. Parent and teacher 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.
- GRADUATION CUP for secondary students: this is an optional, additional classification; riders will still get their standard Rocky Trail Academy Results.
Graduation Cup:
Team Nomination:
- School students: The School team manager is responsible for nominating the final team in this Form.
- Individual/Independent students: The parent/guardian is responsible for nominating the team => please make sure that only one nomination is filed per team, ie that each students is only entered once per team nomination.
Team Composition:
- Each male team will consist of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 riders in the same category.
- Each female team will consist of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 riders in the same category.
- This flexible team size allows schools to assemble teams based on the available riders and ensures that both male and female teams have an appropriate number of members.
Team Score Calculation:
- For male teams, the team score will be calculated based on the aggregated ranking scores of the lowest three ranked male riders in the team.
- For female teams, the team score will be calculated based on the aggregated ranking scores of the lowest two ranked female riders in the team.
- The lower the aggregated score, the better the team’s performance.
- By considering the lowest rankings of three male riders and two female riders respectively, we aim to emphasize the importance of teamwork, strategy, and collaboration to achieve overall success.
- More info here
Event services and facilities:
- Great coffee and food available at the onsite cafe Declans
- Local vendor Italian Street food Van – Dar Nasone will be operating both days serving great pizzas and food.
- Local legends HITBIKES will be on site to help with those last minute bike issues
- School marquees are welcome to be setup in the Event Hub area. Email jo@rockytrailentertainment.com to secure a spot. Bus/Trailers drop off then park down near the Caloundra High School. We will try to park onsite if space is available.
Weather:
Cloudy skies with a possibility of showers across the day. Low 11c High 22c
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: Sugar Bag Rd, Caloundra West QLD 4551
Event Hub:
Parking – Important: click here for Parking MAPS
- The new redevelopment has limited onsite parking, therefore we have created a Stop, Drop and Go zone for all riders to utilise. Arrive early to allow enough time to park and return to the event hub for registration and racing. We are expecting over 250 each day so arrive early!
- Offsite Parking areas available are:
- Caloundra High School Carpark
- Additional Parking is available on Bower St and at the sporting facilities there.
- Onsite overflow parking via the industrial estate, access gate Mark Rd E.
Race Course Description:
- SHIMANO – Intermediate and Seniors (Friday) will race “Golden Rough”. This technical track includes rock drops and pinchy rocky short climbs. 850m long and drops 20m. For Juniors and Primary (Thursday) we have created a track that starts on “Milky Way” and drops into “HONEYCOMB” . 1km long and drops 20m
- BOMBER – All categories will race “Syrup” starting on the “Milky Way” near the water tank riders will then drop into the ever popular flow track. 1.1km long and drops 25m.
- SENDY – All categories will race a shortened loop through the “Party Mix”. 1.4km long and basically flat.
Schedule for the day:
Thursday and 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 incl. NEW TEAM AWARD’s
- 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 on race day?
Shred & Flow plus pump track race on Saturday
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!
Emergency contacts:
Race Director – Bob Morris 0458 299 558
Event Director – Jo Parker – 0424 955 332
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 20 Academies planned for 2024 it is going to be an epic year of school events. 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)
- Socks $20
- 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 or throw it in the bins/bags near the registration tent.
- 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.
