2024 YEG Trail Blazers - A Kids' Mountain Bike Race

In conjunction with our sponsors, we will be hosting a children's and youth mountain biking race again this spring.

WHEN: Saturday June 1, 2024

WHERE: 10955 50 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6A 2E9

All kids and youth aged 16 and under are welcome to sign up to race, and kids of all ages and their families are welcome to attend. Please see Race Categories below for age recommendations.

The ABA requires that we submit a signed ABA waiver for each racer. We are no longer permitted to use our consent that was built into the Eventbrite platform previous years. Please complete and submit the required waiver form for each child prior to the race. Waivers are mandatory, you WILL NOT be able to receive a race plate for your child if you have not submitted a completed waiver.

Please find the waiver here: CANADIAN CYCLING ASSOCIATION (albertabicycle.ab.ca)

We encourage you to bring a completed copy to registration on race day. There will be copies available at the registration table.

Schedule details:

Check in and race plate pick up will start at 8:30 am. Races will start at 10:00 am. Updates will be provided on our website and via email to parents closer to race day. Please be prepared to spend a good portion of your day at this event!

Race category descriptions are listed below. Parents are welcome to sign their child up in whichever category they are most comfortable in, please only pick one category per child. For the categories that typically have very high numbers of registrants, they are further broken down this year into "casual rider" and "experienced rider." A "casual rider" would typically be a child who rides their bicycle for fun or transportation, with other children / teens, or in a recreational setting. An "experienced rider" may include children or teens who have participated in cycling coaching clinics/programs, mountain bike group rides, mountain bike races, skills practice, children whose parent(s) are avid mountain bikers, etc. Pending registration numbers, organizers reserve the right to combine experienced and casual racers in an age category.

Requirements and What to Bring :

Please note that each racer REQUIRES a well fitted, CSA approved bicycle helmet, close-toed shoes, and a mountain bike or strider bike in good working repair in order to participate in the race. Parents should bring blankets or chairs if desired, water, food, age and weather appropriate clothing (for during the race and staying to spectate afterwards), sunscreen, bug spray, and any medications or supplies that could potentially be required. Basic First Aid equipment will be available on site.

Some of the race routes may differ slightly from last year. The 2022 race courses and videos are available on the Vixen Racing MTB website. The 2024 routes will be posted prior to the race on www.vixenracingmtb.com under the Trail Blazers tab.

Tickets will be available for purchase ONLINE ONLY UNTIL 9:00PM THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE the race (May 29, 2024 ). THERE WILL BE NO IN-PERSON REGISTRATION ON THE DAY OF THE RACE.

**PLEASE NOTE that if you would like to cancel your child's entry or change their category, you are able to log in to Eventbrite via a computer and do so. (You cannot do this from a mobile device). Due to the high volume of racers, this will be the responsibility of parents. The race organizers do not have the capacity to facilitate these requests. Refunds are available until May 24, 2024. We thank you in advance for your understanding and your consideration of our volunteers.

During the registration process, you will be asked if you would like to donate to the Edmonton Mountain Bike Park. This park is not funded by the City of Edmonton and all funds donated through the event will be forwarded to the Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance to begin construction of the park. More details can be found here.

The Vixen's are always looking for prizes for the racers and our adult volunteers. If you have something you would like to donate or if you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to us.

For any event concerns or inquiries, please contact :

Marcie, 780-405-1095

E mail: [email protected]

Looking forward to seeing you all at the event!

Cheers,

Vixen MTB Racing

RACE CATEGORIES:

Strider

The “Strider” category encompasses the youngest first time mountain bike racers.

Only those with strider and push bikes will be allowed to race in this category. Recommended age for Striders is 5 years-old and under. The Striders Race will have a primary focus on fun, offering no technical sections. Boys and girls will race together in this category unless there are high numbers of registrants. Bikes in this category must be a balance/run/strider bike (no pedals) or a tricycle.

Little Pedaler

The "Little Pedaler" encompasses the youngest first time mountain bike racers. This category was added specifically for kids who have graduated from a strider to a pedal bike, but not quite ready to race in the "Little Ripper" category. Recommended age is 6 years-old and under. The Little Pedalers will have a primary focus on fun, offering no technical sections. Boys and girls will race together in this category unless there are high numbers of registrants. We suggest bikes in this category have a tire size of 20" or less.

Little Ripper

The “Little Ripper” category encompasses the second youngest racers. Recommended age for Little Rippers is 8 years-old and under. The Little Rippers Race will have a primary focus on fun, offering very few technical sections. Boys and girls will race together in this category unless there are high numbers of registrants. We suggest bikes in this category have a tire size of 24" or less.

Gnarly

The “Gnarly” category riders will be first-time racers from all age groups and graduates from the “Little Rippers” race category. The emphasis of this race course will be fun, with mild technical sections to challenge the riders’ abilities and introduce them to mountain bike racing. The recommended age group for this category is 9 to 12. We suggest bikes in this category have a tire size of 26" or less.

Geared

The “Geared” category is offered for riders who have tried a Trail Blazers mountain bike race in the past and are looking for a new challenge. The emphasis of this race will be fun, with increased technical skills development. Riders in the Geared category will primarily be graduates from the Gnarly category and older first-time racers. The recommended age group for this category is 11 to 14.

Dialed

The “Dialed” category is offered for riders looking for the biggest challenge on race-day. Riders in this category will be graduates of the Geared category, or advanced first time racers. Technical skills will be put to the test in this category offering a mix of difficult climbs/descents and technical singletrack sections. The recommended age group for this race category is 13 to 16. This season there will not be an adult lead for this category. The course is well marked with marshals and will be posted in advance for racers to pre-ride.

Host or Publisher Adele Wardley