Sept 4-10, 2023
Practice Time Change, Austin Professional Photos, WBL Race Two: Xcel Energy, SHARE Your Photos
Tuesday, September 5, 6:00-7:30 PM (Arrive by 5:45 PM, be ready to ride at 6 PM)
PRACTICE: Whitetail Ridge, River Falls, WI
Lot Parents: Glick and Telsrow Families. Thank you!BOOSTERS MEETING: held during practice
Every parent is welcome and encouraged to join!
Topics: 2023 budget, process reimbursement requests, and race day nutrition planning.
Thursday, September 7, 6:00-7:30 PM (Arrive by 5:45 PM, be ready to ride at 6 PM)
PRACTICE: Battle Creek, 75 Winthrop St. S.
Lot Parents: Thielen and Ballenthin Families. Thank you!
Saturday, September 9, 9-11 AM (Arrive by 8:45 AM)
COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT: Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN
1500 Old Highway 8, New Brighton MN 55112
Meet at the second public beach parking lot. Bring work gloves. There will also be some there to borrow if you need.
PRACTICE TIME CHANGE BEGINS NOW!
As the sun sets earlier, we need to be off the trails earlier. For now this means practice begins at 6:00 PM and ends at 7:30 PM. Please still arrive 15 minutes early and be ready to ride at 6 PM sharp.
Starting September 19, practice will begin even earlier: 5:30 PM, and towards the end of the season, practice starts at 5 PM. We’ll continue to provide reminders when time changes, and it’s all listed in TeamSnap, as well.
RACE ONE Professional Pictures and Results
Official race results and professional pictures are posted!
SHARE your race day pictures (and practice pictures) in the team image bank!
Race #3 for the League, Race #2 for White Bear Lake
WBL Race Two: Xcel Energy MTB Park: September 16-17
For the most complete, up to date info on races, ALWAYS see the MCA website race pages. They already have race information for each and every race this season that just gets more and more complete as race day arrives. Bookmark these pages and refer back to them often.
LOCATION
Xcel Energy Mountain Bike Park at Quarry Lake Park
6201 Innovation Blvd., Shakopee, MN 55379
This 3.25-mile all-weather course navigates around Quarry Lake in Shakopee. The trail is flat (130 ft of climbing per lap), fast and a good combination of woods and prairie riding. This venue also provides some of the best spectator viewing of any venue: from the infield you will be able to see the riders multiple times race around the course!
DATES/TIMES
Saturday, September 16
Middle School Races
10:30 AM-4:30 PM
Sunday, September 17
High School Races (Freshman, JV2, JV3, Varsity—Grades 9-12)
7:30 AM-4:30 PM
SEE THE RACE SCHEDULE HERE. This schedule is the same all season long, except for the state at Mankato.
What is a Call-Up, and how do I know what mine is? Beyond the race times for each age/skill group, there are “call-ups.” This is a number that indicates where you will be placed in the race line up. Call-ups will be posted on the MCA race website closer to race weekend. Link to race page below. This info will also be at our race tent.
When can I pre-ride the course?
Friday from 4:30 pm* – sunset; (start time may vary depending on course set, do not enter the course until it is announced and marked as open)
Saturday from ~7:30 am – 11:00 am (last rider may enter course, all riders must be off the course by 11:30 am) and
Saturday afternoon, after racing is concluded and the course is announced as open for pre-ride – sunset, and
Sunday from 7:00 AM (last rider on course at 7:30 am, all riders must be off the course by 8:00 am).
Pre-ride for Xcel is highly encouraged because the race course runs BACKWARDS from the normal course. Race plates and coaches are required on course for pre-rides. Please don’t pre-ride at race pace. This is a more leisurely ride to get to know the course.
When do I arrive? If you can’t pre-ride, arrive at least one hour before your race begins. Of course, it’s always encouraged to come early and stay all day to cheer on your teammates!
Where to I go once I arrive? We’ll share the location of our tent during practice as our race day gets closer. Otherwise, look for our our orange tents, or hit the information trailer near the entrance of the venue and ask them for our location.
What do I bring as a spectator or racer? Handy guide from MCA here. Coaches will have your race plates, at least this first time.
Race Plates are essential to race and preride. Don’t lose them. But if you do, registered racers can get them for a price at the race information trailer on race day.
Will there be food? There will be snacks for racers, and there will also be concessions for racers and families.
If the weather is bad the day of the race, how will I know it’s still on or timing is adjusted?
Text 2023XCEL to 84483 for Race Weekend 3: Xcel Energy MTB Park
How can I see race times?
Unofficial results are posted here on race day.
Official results are posted on the MCA website in the days after the race.
If you haven’t done this before, once you get there, relax, ask a COACH or veteran all your questions. It’s a bit overwhelming, but we’ve all been there before. Race weekends are the BEST weekends and soon you’ll get into the swing of it!
WE NEED YOUR HELP ON RACE DAYS!
Trailer Transport/Tent Set Up/Tent Take Down: Sign up on TeamSnap. Several people are needed for these jobs each and every race, and many people chip in, but it’s good to know we have the bases covered in advance so the load can be spread among the many families on our team.
MCA Volunteer Positions: There are a variety of positions available and parents are encouraged to volunteer at least one race during the season.
WHITE BEAR LAKE RACES, 2023
August 26-27: Schindler’s Way, Austin (regular season)
September 16-17: Xcel Energy Mountain Bike Park, Shakopee (regular season)
September 23-24: Theo Wirth Regional Park, Minneapolis (regular season)
September 30-October 1: Gamehaven Scout Camp, Rochester (regular season)
October 14-15: Mt. Kato Ski Resort, Mankato (State Championship, qualification required)
Important: you are responsible for scheduling any hotels/campgrounds you’d like for race weekends. This year, if you are attending both days of racing (which is GREAT to do for team support), please consider getting accommodations ASAP—even for the State Championship.