| Race day would not be possible without the incredible work of our volunteers! It takes a “village” to put on quality youth mountain bike races. Many parents and cycling enthusiasts find that getting involved with race production is a fun and rewarding experience. We have venue and course set-up opportunities the Saturday before each race, and of course, many volunteer opportunities on race day (Sunday). Please review the positions and shifts below and become part of our community by signing up to volunteer. If you want a better idea of what you’re signing up for, check out these VIDEOS from our good friends at NICA….we promise it’s just as easy (and fun!) as the videos show.
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER:
Follow these 3 easy steps below to get in on the fun!
1. Choose your volunteer job. Descriptions can be found below.
2.
Sign up at the links provided:
Race 1
Race 2
Race 3
Race 4
Race 5
3. Check in at the volunteer tent upon arrival to the venue.
DETAILED VOLUNTEER POSITION DESCRIPTIONS ARE BELOW:
Saturday Positions:
COURSE SETTING
Morning Shift: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Afternoon Shift: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
All Day sign-up for both shifts
As a course setter you will be marking the course for NICA student athletes pre-riding and racing. With the direction of the Chief Course Setter or League Director, you will be placing markings to alert riders to turns, dangers and confirm they are on course. This involves you riding your mountain bike with a backpack full of course-setting supplies: course tape, signs, zip ties and small wooden stakes. You’ll have fun getting out on course with some fellow League supporters. Come well prepared with your mountain biking gear and bring clothing for a range of weather, as well as sunscreen, snacks and drinks.
INFIELD SET-UP
Saturday Morning Shift: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Build the infield with a team of volunteers and race staff. A well-built infield brings excitement to the event. You will be starting with placing pins and poles for snow fencing and course tape, and possibly erecting EZ UP tents. At the end of the day you will be placing flags and sponsor banners. It takes a full morning, so you’ll be working with a quickly moving team. Unlike most race weekend volunteer positions you’ll learn all the skills as you go. Safety is key and we require gloves and eyewear so bring your own or use ours.
COURSE MARKING
Saturday Morning Shift: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Mark the race course on bikes with the chief course setter. You will be out on the trail with a backpack full of signs, ribbon, and stakes. It will be a fun adventure on the trail.
REGISTRATION
Saturday 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Greet student-athletes with a smile as they check-in at registration. This is a great way to meet athletes, coaches and parents from other teams. (Please note: If your child is racing let us know as we can make accommodations to allow for you to spectate their race.)
Sunday Positions:
COURSE MARSHAL
Course Marshals have an active role in ensuring safety on the course. Course Marshals stand at key marshal points along the course to warn riders of hazards, direct riders, ensure fair play and provide rapid response to incidents. Course Marshals may also act as crossing guards and/or League representatives to other trail users. Radios are provided to communicate, report any incidents, or to call in medical assistance. A note pad is provided to keep track of any outside support, rule violations and riders who abandon the race. Course Marshals can hike or ride bikes to their marshal points. Lastly, remember to cheer on those riders as they pass by!
ROVING COURSE MARSHAL
Course Marshals on bikes! Roving Course Marshals keep the entire course safe by reporting incidents and injuries while circling the whole course or a specific area.
SCORING ASSISTANT
Shift 1: 9:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Shift 2: 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM
All day shift 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
The Scoring Assistants provide a critical role to keep track of the action moment by moment. The Chief Scorekeeper will guide you and the rest of the team in the positions of Data Entry and Number Calling. Be sure to come prepared with appropriate layers for a range of weather, as well as snacks and water – we also recommend a hat and sunglasses.
RACE REGISTRATION
Shift 1: 7:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Shift 2: 10:15 – 12:30 PM
Greet student-athletes with a smile as they check-in at registration. This is a great way to meet athletes, coaches and parents from other teams. (Please note: If your child is racing, let us know as we can make accommodations to allow for you to spectate their race.)
FINISH LINE SUPPORT
Morning Shift: 9:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Afternoon Shift: 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Finish Line Support Volunteers ensure racer finish strong and make a smooth transition from competing to reuniting with parents, coaches and teammates. The finish line is often the most hectic and is the most crowded part of the race course. Parents and teammates are crowding around to see their athletes finish and athletes come through exhausted, fatigued, and in need of someone to corral them safely out of the way. Finish line support volunteers allow athletes a clear, safe exit from the race course. A quick training session meeting at the finish line will orient you in this unique part of the course.
ANNOUNCING ASSISTANT
Announcing invites all racers and all family into the action. This role allows the race announcer to be organized and keep up the energy level. You’ll be giving the announcer all the information he or she needs to announce athletes as they cross the finish line. The announcing assistant needs to be quick as they cross reference rider numbers with names and schools.
PARKING VOLUNTEER
Be the first to welcome student athletes, their families, coaches and supporters as they enter the race venue. Often there is just enough space for our growing League to park, so it’s important to park cars in an efficient manner. After parents park cars you can answer questions while setting the relaxed tone at the race. Be sure to come with layers of clothing appropriate for a range of weather, as well as snacks, water and sunscreen.
CATEGORY SWEEPERS
“Sweepers” add additional communication and emergency support out on the course. We want to ensure that every rider gets to the finish line in the safest way possible. While Sweepers enjoy riding their mountain bike around the course, they must also be willing to ride behind the tail end of a race category and tend to any issues that may arise on the course. You must be able to keep up with the last rider in that category. Please also check in at the volunteer tent at the time your shift begins, usually about an hour before your category starts, to receive your number plate and attend the sweeper orientation meeting.
FEED ZONE MARSHAL
Nutrition and hydration play key roles in keeping NICA students athletes safe and performing their best on the course. Feeders are often team volunteers doing this team job for their first time. As Feedzone Marshal, you will be guiding all the parent, coach and other volunteer feeders to keep the feedzone the ideal place it is for water and food hand-offs. The Feedzone Marshal needs to have a good understanding of the NICA rules about the feed zone and carries this portion of the NICA rulebook. “Everyone take one step back,” “No running,” and “Only feeders in the feed zone” are a few phrases parents and coaches come to expect from the Feed Zone Marshal. Keep everything running smoothly, but be sure to keep the fun levels high and enjoying being a key role at the feed zone.
MERCHANDISE SALES/INFORMATION BOOTH AT RACES
The League has things to sell like shirts and jerseys. They sit in boxes unless we can get some help selling them. This tent is the hub of information. Course maps, number of laps, Pit Zone layout, Venue questions, and other information is here. EZ-Up tent provided, please bring a chair!
START LINE STAGING
Volunteers attend all starts arriving at the start line a half-hour before wave starts
Wave 1 Girls Start (All Girls Categories, 2 needed) 9:30AM – 10:30 AM
Wave 2 Boys Start (All Boys Categories, 2 needed) 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
This is a very high-tension area with nervous racers queuing for their starts, and sometimes overly helpful supporters crowding in. Calm but assertive helpers are needed to keep the process orderly so that the races start safely and fairly.
VENUE TAKE DOWN
As soon as the last rider is off the course, we start takedown and clean up of the venue. The awards don’t start till the venue is cleared and all equipment is ready to be loaded in the trailer.
COURSE TAKE DOWN ON BIKES
As soon as the last JV or Varsity rider is off the course, we start take down and clean up. Volunteers who bring their bikes (and helmets!) takedown the course markings and clean up the course.
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