LMC MTB - Communique #1
Coach Tim Hall
***
OFFICIAL RACE FLYER ***
Go HERE for the flyer: Lees-McRaeCollege
MTB Race Flyer
Coaches and Athletes – please forward this email to anyone attending the event who might find this information helpful.
Race headquarters is located at Lees-McRae College at the Williams Physical Education Center (7860 Hickory Nut Gap Road, Banner Elk, NC 28604). Packet Pickup starts at 7:00 a.m. each day. Link to campus map for all locations: https://www.lmc.edu/admissions/visit/files/lmc-campus-map.pdf
Parking
We will be directing parking early on Saturday (by 6:30 AM). Bigger teams with
big trucks, vans, and trailers will be directed in the grass field behind the
softball field as well as the paved lot next to it. Please no trailers on the
main gym lot. Individuals and teams without trailers will be directed next to
gym as well as at the main gym parking lot. Please do NOT park in the grass
anywhere next to the gym, but you can set up team tents in the grass. Trailers
on the pavement can stay overnight. Some trailers on grass may be able to stay
provided it doesn’t interfere with our STXC course on Sunday. There is also
extra parking in paved lots next to Tate Field #47 on map, and across from
Wildcat Lake #68, both found on the left up Hickory Nut Gap Rd. We have a
volleyball match at 2 PM on Saturday, so expect more cars to arrive not
associated with the race.
Packet
Pick Up Tent
Will be setup near the gym parking lot between there and the softball field,
next to the Haigler Athletic Center, #43 on the map. Pickup starts at 7 AM each
day. If nobody is stationed there when you arrive then please call Coach Tim at
615-310-3745.
Number
Plates – Chip Timing
NEW numbers this weekend! We are using chip timing, and require the use of new
race numbers. Our numbers are to be used for this event only, and are clearly
marked as High Country Collegiate MTB Challenge. Pick up your plates at the
registration tent as the plates you have used for other races will not work
this weekend.
Release
Waiver
Pease make sure you sign your online waiver or bring us a signed copy of a USAC
release form to registration. Online waivers have been emailed to all
participants, so check your email to sign off electronically. We need a release
form from all riders. Riders will not get their number plate without signing
the online waiver or a printed copy!
Course Practice Times
XC – Friday at 12 PM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday from 7 AM until 8:15 AM.
Dual Slalom – Friday at 12 PM to 4 PM, and Saturday at 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
STXC – Saturday at 7:30 to 8:15 AM, and in between races
Downhill – course walks only on Friday and Saturday (no bikes), and bike practice
runs from 9 AM to 1 PM on Sunday
Please respect these practice times as it will help protect riders best and
ensure our courses are ready to race.
Medic / Athletic Training
Anyone needing immediate assistance can call Lucas Carson at 724-504-8804. LMC
athletic training staff will be located at the finish line of every race, and
have presence on the downhill course during practice/race. The door to our AT clinic
is located at #45 on the campus map above.
Timing and Officiating
Our registration/timing guy is David Harlowe, and our Chief Referee is Jim
Smalley. Both are veteran officials and have worked our event before. Questions
about registration, number plates, results, etc., should be respectfully
directed to them. Both are good at what they do, and are key to us pulling off
a successful event.
Results
Will be posted online at www.webscorer.com
by searching “High Country MTB Challenge” to see links for each event. Results
will also be posted at each finish line and at the tent at packet pick up.
Results will be uploaded to USAC by Monday.
XC Race and Parking/Shuttles
The XC start/finish is on South Campus near the end of Hemlock Trail, which is
the same area we were in last year. The start line itself is down the gravel
road into the wooded hollow. The feed zone will be located on the gravel road
going up to the cross. There is to be NO mechanical assistance during the XC
race, per USAC rules for a conference race. Racers must carry their own mechanical
support needs.
3 laps for Men A and 2 laps for Women A and Men B, all three categories will be doing the LONG course. 2 laps for Men C and Women B/C, both of which will be doing the SHORT course. These courses have separate sections and lines. LONG course does the full XC lap of last year's race, while the SHORT course does not do Nectar Sectar or our rock garden. See courses below.
There will be limited van/truck parking to teams ONLY at South Campus (no fans/family parking), and there will be a shuttle bus from the gym parking lot to and from South Campus throughout Saturday morning. The walk from the gym to XC start/finish is about 15 minutes, and riders should plan for it to take 10 minutes to ride there. Riders should be ready for call ups at least 15 minutes prior to their race start. Men A kick things off at 8:30 AM. See flyer link above for all start times.
XC Course Maps on Strava:
Long XC for Men A/B and Women A: https://www.strava.com/segments/32216046
Short XC for Men C and Women B/C: https://www.strava.com/activities/9894464291/overview
Dual Slalom
Practice is from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Qualifying begins at 1 PM. We have a
large turnout and will need to operate efficiently. There will be a rider
meeting BEFORE and AFTER qualifying in the center of the DS course. We will
strive to announce bracket sizes for each category prior to qualifying, and
after qualifying will announce rider plate numbers that qualified. We run a
tight ship on the process of DS, so make sure you are in the que and on time
for qualifying and heats. Full face helmets are mandatory on course at all
times.
Short Track
Kicks off with team relay at 8:30 AM behind the softball field on Sunday. We
will be pulling riders. STXC Course: https://www.strava.com/segments/18898422
Downhill
DH practice takes place only on Sunday from 9 AM to 1 PM. Walking the DH course
is open on Friday and Saturday, but no riding due to XC practice and racing. We
will have a few neutral shuttles available, but it would be best for teams to
have their own due to the large turnout. Do not stop or stand in the middle of
the downhill course during practice! Move off behind the tape to view the
course because riders are coming down fast behind. There is NO parking on the
road down to the shuttle area, and is used solely for drop off and pick up of
riders. Riders can also ride back to the top by taking Hemlock Trail across
from the waterfall.
Downhill Start Times
These will be available on Saturday evening and will be in the next communique.
Please check the start times to make sure your name is on the list when they become
available. If your name is not on the list, then see Chief Ref Jim Smalley to
get it corrected early Sunday morning at the short track. Full face helmets are
mandatory on course at all times.
Downhill Course: https://www.strava.com/segments/18898422
Podiums
XC podium will take place immediately after each race at the pavilion near the
entrance of South Campus. The pavilion is on the left as you enter that area.
DS podiums will be near the finish line in the open field. STXC podiums will be
near the finish line. DH podiums will take place back at packet pick up. Please
make sure riders stick around after the finish, and get the top 5 finishers
together in every category (preferably in team jersey).
Bathrooms
We have four port-o-johns near the softball field. Bathrooms are not available
inside our gym.
Bike Wash
A bike wash with a hose will be near packet pick next to the softball field, behind
home plate.
Campus
Police and Security
If you need emergency assistance please call 911 or campus police/security at 828-260-0505.
Other Questions
If I have failed to mention anything you want or need to know, then please
email me at ha...@lmc.edu or
text/call at 615-310-3745.
Looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend!
Coach Tim Hall
Lees-McRae College