RACE DAY!
EXCHEQUER XC
3/28 -3/29
According to the flyer, a lap is 5.8 miles with 700 feet of elevation gain, but the Starva link says 1090 ft. This will be a lap that has it all—climbs, single-track, double-track, fire roads, good ups, and fast downs.
DIRECTIONS
The drive is about 3 hours from Mill Valley (150+ miles). A lot of miles are on twisty back roads. On a Friday afternoon it will take longer than you think. Traffic into the venue will stack up also. Please plan your departure time from Mill Valley accordingly.
Venue entry fee $10 per vehicle. BRING CASH.
For day use, you can now pay online! Please either pay online in advance or bring $10 cash. Just select Merced Irrigation District, then go in and purchase a parking pass. This will be for people who have not booked a campsite.
And you MUST have this park liability waiver printed and signed for Coach Joe at the pre-ride.
ALL PARENTS MUST VOLUNTEER
HOTEL OPTIONS
There are many hotels in around the area.
PACKING LISTS
TAM HIGH RACE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
THURSDAY - PACK
Pack all gear the night before you leave. You shouldn't be stressing before you get in the car or while riding in the car wondering if you have all your gear.
Your bike should be clean. Chain cleaned and lubed. Tire pressure checked. Wheel thru axle-bolts or quick releases should be checked for tightness.
Pack your team kit (jersey).
Don’t forget your race plate. If you don’t have one yet Coach Joe will have it for you. If you lost yours, bring $20 and Coach Joe will get a replacement for you.
Try to make your pre-race routine simple and non-stressful.
FRIDAY - Pre RIDE
Pre-ride meet-up at 3:00 pm. We will ride the course at 3:30 pm as a team. Don’t be late.
All registered racers will have early dismissal cleared for them after Tutorial.
Meet Coach Joe and Coach Matt at Matt’s Sprinter van at our team pit zone.
We highly suggest you pre-ride the course. Coach Joe, Coach Matt and other Tam coaches in attendance will lead team pre-rides.
NOTE: you CAN NOT pre-ride the course without your race plate number or a Ride Leader.
Eat a good dinner. Hydrate. Get some rest.
SATURDAY - RACE DAY
ALL RACERS MUST ARRIVE to the team tents at 7:00 am. We’re a team, and when we’re not racing, we are here to cheer on our teammates. All racers, regardless of your start time.
Give yourself adequate time to make your way through the venue traffic.
Team meeting at 7:15.
Eat 3 hours before your race start time. Eat what you normally eat, what works for you. Varsity riders, eat at your appropriate time.
Varsity Boys and Girls on trainer at 7:10am. You race 3 laps.
Varsity Boys start at 8:00
Varsity Girls start 8:03
JV 1 & 2 & Freshman Girls on trainers at 8:30am.
JV 1 start 9:20 - 2 laps
JV 2 start 9:23 - 2 laps
Freshman Girls start 9:26 - 2 laps
JV 2 Boys on trainers at 9:35 am. You race 2 laps.
JV Your start time is 10:25.
Freshman Boys on trainers at 10:20 am. You race 2 laps.
Freshman Boys start 11:30 pm
JV 1 Boys on trainers at 11:35 am. You race 3 laps.
JV Boys start 12:25
Podiums at 2:30 ish.
Race Day ends after awards! Racing etiquette dictates racers to stay until after awards. If you're on the podium you are required to receive your award on the podium. If the team wins, we all get on the podium. No exceptions.
ALL PARENTS MUST VOLUNTEER
Click on sign-up buttons above. You’ll have a blast being part of our team Pit Crew.
Racing at a NICA event is much more than the actual racing. Race Day encompasses racing, logistics, comradery, partying, and, yes, cleaning/repacking at the end of the day. Given all the above, it takes a legion of parents to orchestrate Race Day from 6:30 am setting up team tents, breakfast, bike trainers, race number placements, lunch, and awards to finally, at 3:00 pm, repacking. Yep, it’s 9 hours non-stop well oiled frenzy of work. At the end of the day, although you might be tired, you’ll be smiling, stoked, and so proud of the kids because there’s no other high school sporting event that can compare to NICA high school MTB Race Day!
TEAM VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
Team Volunteer Coordinator (TVC) / Gena D’Angona
Coordinates volunteers for all team races and events. Manages and maintains Signup genius (SUG). Budgets and plans for race/event related purchases. Updates SUG for each race/event. Communicates with Race Day Coordinators, NICA and Pit Volunteers to ensure they show up and execute their team commitment so that our Pit Zone runs smoothly.
Pit Zone Coordinator / ?
Coordinates Pit Zone setup and breakdown, working with the TVC to recruit enough volunteers to unload and reload the Team Trailer.
Feed Zone Coordinator / MOLLY & CLAY KELLOGG + ?
Coordinates the cleaning and filling of Feed Zone water bottles, stocking of Feed Zone fuel, as well as recruits and manages the Feed Zone volunteers. They also transport the teams’ bottles and food to the Feed Zone using a small trailer.
About the Feed Zone:
The Feed Zone is the only place on the course where racers are allowed to accept water bottles or fuel from the team. Each team is allowed to have three (3) people in the Feed Zone at any one time, and race coaching is not allowed in this space or anywhere on the course.
Swag Coordinator / Rhian Gracey
Coordinates creation and management of all team merch.
Trainer Coordinator / Dale Kunkel, Daniel Robinson, Brian Camposano
Coordinates the deployment of trainers. Puts racers’ bikes on and takes them off the trainers as needed by the coaches. Works with the coaches to manage trainer workouts and guides racers to the starting line.
TRAINER WARMUP GUIDES / Chuck WONG & COLIN CAMPOSANO
Coordinates race day warm sessions on the trainers before each race heat.
Lunch & Snack Coordinators / Windy Creath
Coordinates the advance ordering and purchasing of lunch/snacks for racers at each race. They research vendors both on and off-site, review menu options, quantities and costs with the TVC. Race day is an all day event and races are frequently held in remote locations with no running water. These sites lack enough concessions to feed teams. The team provides lunch and snacks to approximately 60-70 people at race venues as cost efficiently as possible, and with minimum burden to our team community and the environment
Trailer Coordinator/Tower / Chuck Moore
Coordinates the towing of the trailer from the Tam High parking lot to the race venue and back to the high school. The Trailer Tower works alongside the Pit Zone Coordinator to get the most crucial pit items set-up early on race morning..
Breakfast Coordinator / Christine & K.G. Nesbit
Coordinates the purchase of breakfast items and organizes breakfast at each race. Typically, the team serves a light breakfast that includes: oatmeal cups, bagels with cream cheese, peanut and almond butter, bananas, Cliff bars and hot drinks such as hot chocolate and herbal tea.. A light breakfast is encouraged before racing.
Fuel Zone Coordinator / Esther Chang
Coordinates the purchase of Pit Zone and Feed Zone fuel, and sets up and cleans up the Fuel Zone table in the pit. The Fuel Zone Coordinator also supplies the Feed Zone Coordinator with fuel for the Feed Zone. Racers can stash fuel in their jerseys for the race, take fuel from the Feed Zone during the race or enjoy fuel after racing. Appropriate fuel includes: gels, bloks, electrolyte mix, etc. The team has an electrolyte drink dispenser, which the Fuel Zone Coordinator fills and cleans. Caffeine is a banned substance at NICA races so all fuel purchased must be labeled “caffeine free.”
Water Coordinator / ?
Coordinates with the TVC to take home the teams’ water containers, fills team containers in Marin and transports them to the race. Water containers can be returned to the trailer or can remain with the Water Coordinator for race season.
Ice Coordinator / ?
Coordinates the purchase and transport of 60lbs. (3-4 large bags) of ice to the race venue.
Treasurer / ESTHER CHANG
The team treasurer is in charge of all team finances.
Coffee Coordinator / Doug Newman
Coordinates the on-site delivery and/or brewing of fresh hot coffee to keep team volunteers well-caffeinated.
Garbage Coordinator / Laura Mani
Coordinates the setting up and sorting of garbage and recycling in the Pit Zone. Transports garage/recycling to vendor designated containers or brings to dump/ home as needed.
NICA VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR / JESSICA KAplan
Coordinates Tam's parents with our team NICA/Norcal volunteering obligations.
Beverage Coordinator / Lissa Bernstein-Lawler
Coordinates with the TVC to purchase the appropriate amount and mix of all race day drinks and stocks the coolers prior to travel to eliminate waste. The team enjoys chocolate milk and milk alternatives, sparkling water and sparkling juices.
Team Photography Coordinator / Laura Taichman
Captures photos of riders on course and throughout the day.
End of Season Party Coordinator / Gwen Marinozzi:
Coordinates with the TVC to plan our end of season celebration.
Nervous, Maybe. Anxious, definitely.
Racing against 50 peers on miles of single track will put you on edge. However, once the race starts all nerves/anxiety disappears into laser focused energy, oh, and some serious pain from exertion. Racing is not just about being on the podium. Racing mountain bikes is about competing with yourself, your peers, meeting new friends and pushing above your limits.
If you place 1st excellent, if you place 25th excellent, as long as you finish exhausted it’s all excellent.
