The Classical Academy MTB Team is up and riding for 2021! Although our season will be a bit different this year we hope to see more riders joining the team and hitting the trails with us!
Whether you are a new rider to the team, returning rider or just here to check out what we are all about, we are happy to see you. This will provide information to help you plan for what’s ahead this season.
Due to current Covid-19/CDC requirements we ask that you maintain social distancing while off the bike and please wear a mask. We will address mask wearing while riding during our meeting and provide reminders at the start of each ride.
WE HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF SLOTS AVAILABLE FOR OUR TEAM. WE RELY ON VOLUNTEER COACHES AND MUST REMAIN WITHIN THE REQUIRED RATIO OF COACH:RIDER
If you are interested yet not sure you want to join, you may have a parent sign a one-day waiver to give a practice a try and see if you like it! We are all about having fun on the trails!
Our team is not a CIF sport but rather is operated throught a national organization called, NICA ("Nye-Ka"). What is NICA?
Founded in 2009, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association develops mountain biking programs for student-athletes across the country. The NICA mission is: We build strong minds, bodies, character, and communities through cycling. All of our coaches have been extensively trained through NICA and must meet specific safety requirements before coaching. See below for more information about our coaching team. The CAHS MTB Team is part of the SoCal league of Southern California.
SoCal League
One of 31 NICA leagues across America, the SoCal League was formed in 2008 and continues to grow each year. It is a thriving community of athletes and families. Once you are a registered rider you will begin receiving emails directly from this league regarding upcoming events, races and announcements (no in-person events currently scheduled for 2021).
You can also follow the league on Instagram @socalleague
You can follow our team on Instagram @classical_academy_MTB
Team Specifics
We encourage all abilities of riders to join us! We expect safe riding while working hard, having fun and reaching goals. We have athletes that choose to race and are working hard to make it to the podium, while others are simply trying to get to the top of the next hill! We welcome all levels of riders. Racing is an optional component of our team.* If you have goals to race, our head coaches can work with you on a targeted training plan. Keep in mind we are a cross-country mountain bike team. We do not train or practice for downhill, freestyle or enduro riding. We do not allow jumping at practices. For the 2021 season Classical Academy and Mission Vista teams will practice together every week and on occasion we may group up with team riders from a couple other teams in our area.
*All 2021 racing in the SoCal league has been suspended at this time
TEAM LEADERSHIP for 2021
Team Director- manage team admin, Pit Zone assistance, uniforms, sponsors, jokes, etc. NEW RIDER INQUIREES.
Gary Murphy [email protected]
Head Coaches- manage practices, racing, nutrition, bring in the fun & bring down the hammer
Carrie Hammond [email protected]
Dave Pankratz [email protected]
SEASON Schedules/Details
Practices: Practices will be held at 1:00pm every Saturday. TEAM SNAP will have the schedule posted with details on where to meet each Saturday. Location will vary but likely be focused in the Lake Hodges area. Additional practices (mid-week) may be added after Daylight Savings begins.
Equipment: There are minimum equipment requirements in order to participate on a NICA team. Coaches can help with ANY questions pertaining to equipment.
Required gear:
· Mountain bike (good working order)
· Eye protection/glasses
· Water bottle
· Gloves
· Comfortable riding clothes
Uniforms: We are working with local apparel company, Eliel. Information for ordering jersey and bibs (shorts) will be coming soon!
Team Costs/Dues:
· NICA League Rider Registration fee: $200.00
· Team Dues: none in 2021 (usually around $100)
· Team Jersey: $45-$65 (OPTIONAL)
COACHES: We are always in need of more coaches! This is a volunteer organization and this team absolutely would not happen without the coaches. Most of our coaches have a child on the team but it is not a requirement. Team Manager, Gary Murphy, can provide more details on how to get certified! Level 2/3 coaches hold certifications in first aid, CPR, MTB skills and risk management. All coaches hold a certificate in concussion prevention and management.
COMMUNICATION: We utilize the Team Snap app for our team communication. We will send most of our messages (texts and emails) via this platform. To join, get a link from Gary to be linked to our team page. In addition, this app has our calendar of events/practices. **RIDERS and COACHES MUST MARK THEIR AVAILABILITY FOR EVERY PRACTICE. We must make sure we have the required ratio of coaches to riders in order to practice each week.
Important Websites:
This is the SoCal league website which contains useful information for riders, parents and coaches. It also includes the calendar of events, race details, etc.
This is the registration site where you register to become a registered rider.
REACH OUT TO A COACH IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE TEAM!