FAQ's

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TEAM

Who are the Corner Canyon Chargers and what is NICA?

A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, CCHS MTB is a member team of the Utah High School Cycling League, which is an affiliate league member of NICA, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association.

Is mountain biking a sanctioned high school sport?

Mountain biking is not a sanctioned high school sport. The CCHS Mountain Bike Team is operated as an athletic club team for Corner Canyon High School. Like other club sports, we are recognized by CCHS as a team under the Athletics Club Sports. Athletes are eligible to "letter" in Mountain Biking and the team and athletes are recognized by the school. As a Club, all coaches and other supporting staff are volunteers and all costs are covered by community sponsorships, donors, and team fees. We represent CCHS as athletes and ambassadors for sportsmanship.

Can I earn PE credit for my participation on the mountain bike team?

YES! Riders can earn a one time .5 elective PE credit (this doesn't not count towards required PE courses). Riders are required to participate in two team-sponsored trailwork days, a minimum of 75% of practices, all races and 2 team sponsored nutrition/health classes. Additional credits are available for participation on the team through Alta Independent, a Utah accredited online high school.

So can I letter in this program?

Yes, the criteria are as follows:

1. PERFORMANCE LETTERING CRITERIA (any one):

Any 1st Place finish in Varsity or A-Category race
1 top 10 finish in any Varsity or A-Category race
Overall Season Podium in Varsity or A-Category field
State Championship Podium in Varsity or A, B, or C-Category field.
All Varsity Racers (must compete in 4/5 races).

2. MULTIPLE YEAR PARTICIPATION LETTERING CRITERIA (any one):

Accumulate 7 top 10 finishes (boys or girls) in any category
Compete in at least 12 races in any category
Participate and race* in each of 4 years in any category
*Races cancelled by the league will be counted as a race for all current active team members.

3. To earn a letter all student athletes must also:

Maintain and meet all grade criteria (3.0 GPA)
Meet all attendance and community service (trail work) requirements

Can my business sponsor your team?

Absolutely! Visit our sponsor page for more details on sponsorship levels and benefits.

How do you decide who is on the team?

Our league’s (NICA) core values state that our teams are inclusive. There are no try outs. We will accept any fitness, endurance, or skill level. We have ride groups that practice at all levels. We train in those groups for our races that happen in various locations in the state. We recognize that the team is an inclusive one, but unfortunately we cannot always accommodate every interested athlete due to NICA requirements and the load on our trail systems. We utilize a priority registration process to keep total riders to a manageable number.

So are there team requirements then?

Yes, you need to register online and pay the team dues. Registration will be open shortly after the kickoff information meeting. You must maintain a 3.0 GPA or above for 3rd and 4th quarter of the 2023/24 school year. You need to have a mountain bike, helmet, and basic equipment to repair a flat on the trail. Riders are expected to obey team rules and have respect for all out volunteers. It is required that all riders attend practices and race.

Does everyone race at State?

For the 2024 season, riders will have to qualify to race at State Championships. Qualification criteria is listed on the league website. All seniors, Varsity Riders, JVA riders, Freshmen A, and a top percentage on JVB, JVC, and Freshmen B will qualify to race at state. All riders will participate in their REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE which is the 4th race. Approximately 60 percent of riders will qualify.

Who actually runs the team?

The team’s Head Coaches are Jason Grimes and Mandy Sybrowsky. They are supported by a team director and eight assistant coaches, as well as a committee that handles everything from race volunteers, organizing and ride leading practices, to race day food and kick off and year end banquets.

As a parent what does my level of involvement have to be?

A team our size is rather complex to operate given that everyone is an unpaid volunteer. We need help with food organization and prep, race day set up and take down, gear sales, race plate check out and check in, ride leading practices, photography, logistics, fundraising, equipment organization...the list goes on and on. It is expected that parents will volunteer at the league and team level each season. We cannot do it without you! We have a volunteer category selection as a mandatory part of the registration process. We look forward to your help and making more friends along the way.

Once the riders are on the team, how is communication handled?

During the registration process, riders and parents create an ID or use a previous ID to register through the TeamSnap platform. TeamSnap will be updated regularly with event dates and other important information. Weekly information is provided by email. Other notifications are through text, or push notifications sent to update/remind you and/or your racer of all the team activities, from practices to races to everything in between. We have an email list that we use as well as this web site. You can also follow us on Instagram!

Ride Leaders

What qualifications do I need to be a ride leader?

Our racers are at all skill levels, so we need ride leaders at all levels as well. There are two ride leader training sessions before the season starts. These clinics include an informational introduction to the team and ride leading, risk management, on-the-bike skills, and concept explanations. NICA has a certification process that must be completed by all ride leaders before attending practices, including a first-aid training. More specific information will be given to registered ride leaders once pre-season activities begin.

How often are practices and do ride leaders have to be at all of them?

There are usually three practices per week starting in June. All of them take place at 6:30am until the school year starts. Then they change to evenings. There is no minimum requirement for ride leader participation. If you can only make one practice a week, or even one per month, we are glad to have you. We have 20+ ride groups that utilize one to three ride leaders per group, so we need 40-45 ride leaders just to hold practice. This is one of the most difficult things to manage, so please add your name to the list to join us. Your skills will improve, too! Riding with the kids is rewarding and a lot of fun!

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