Be part of The Wasatch Family

Participating in another sport can be great for fitness, and many times our schedules and coaches can work together. However, the high school team does have an attendance policy that must be met. 

Our practices not only prepare you for the physical fitness aspect of riding and racing, but we also work on skills and technique. As race season approaches, coaches need to feel confident that you are ready to race in terms of fitness and bike handling. 

Coaches on both teams reserve the right to hold you back from a race if they feel that you are not ready.

Our practice groups are organized by speed, fitness, and ability. We use previous race data, time trials, and input from ride leaders to make these groupings. 

If you feel that you belong in a different group, you are welcome to talk with your Assistant Coach or Head Coach and they can evaluate further. 

However, it is very important that each group rides at a similar pace so everyone in that group can get the appropriate training they need and so we are safe out on the trails! 

Even though you might be in a different group from your best friends, there will be plenty of socializing time after practices, at races, and at team dinners and parties. You might even make some new friends in your ride group!

NICA requires that at each practice we are organized into ride groups with a ratio of 2 certified ride leaders for every 10-12  riders. 

At the start of practice, we get into our groups, take attendance, review the practice plan, and take off right on time! 

If you are late, we cannot let you ride on your own to meet up with your group unless there is a certified ride leader with you. 

So… don’t show up late! There is a high probability that you will not be allowed to ride that night and it will be counted as a missed practice.

Our attendance policy requires that you attend 50% of practices in the summer (June and July) and 75% of practices during our race season (August- October). 

If you miss a practice, you can do a make up ride on your own of at least 1.5 hours, record it on Strava, and show it to a Ride Leader or Coach. 

If you don’t have Strava, a parent can vouch for you if they send a Slack message to your Ride Leader or Coach. 

If you have not met the practice requirements by the time a race comes around, you will not be allowed to participate in that race. 

The high school team will also be participating in a few PRPs (6-hour “Pre-Race Party” rides at a race venue). Participation in a PRP will count for 4 missed practices. 

Pre-Race Parties (PRPs) are 6-hour rides for high school riders at one of our race venues! 

We set up a small pit zone and provide food and snacks for riders all day. Not only do you get to hang out with friends, but you get in some good base training, and you get really familiar with the race course! 

When we asked riders about what they loved most at the end of last season… the answer was always, “PRPs!” See our calendar to know when and where our PRPs will be this year. 

Slack is our means of communication on both teams. 

Once you are officially registered for the team, you will need to download the app and join our Wasatch MTB Team workspace. 

We will share a link with you after registration that will allow you into our team workspace. 

You will need to be checking Slack on a daily basis once you are registered. ALL important information will be posted there. 

Since we still use TeamSnap for registration and calendaring, occasionally you will receive an automatic email when we make a new event. However, you should not rely on emails as your source of information. 

You will not get emails about everything you need to know. Slack is the only place where you will find all information. 

Riders AND parents should be in the team workspace and be checking it daily. 

High School Team:

Your first point of contact should be your Assistant Coach. You can contact them best by sending a DM (direct message) in Slack or by talking with them in person after a practice. 

Cirque Team Assistant Coach: Tara McGown

Peak Team Assistant Coach: John Grotegut

Apex Team Assistant Coach: Jarrett Welch

Head Coach: Scott Preston, coach@wasatchmtb.org

If you have questions about registration or volunteering, contact Team Director: Melanie Lake, hsdirector@wasatchmtb.org

Devo Team: 

Practice Coach: Aaron Bennion

Race Coach:  Kelsey Morgan

Devo Team Director: Kenzie Bennion

Our team doesn’t require racing, but we do encourage all team members to participate in at least one race. 

Racing gives us the chance to put our guiding principles into action. It is where we learn to be intentional, work hard, and be greater than our previous self. 

We feel respect for ourselves and for each other. We get to cheer for one another and celebrate our accomplishments. Racing will make you a better rider and a better person! 

We want our team to be accessible to all, including low-income families. Please reach out to Melanie Lake at hsdirector@wasatchmtb.org for more information.

All teams are required to wear matching kits (jerseys and bottoms) at races. 

We also wear our kits for team photos. 

We operate on a two-year cycle with kits, and 2024 is a new kit year, so all riders will need to purchase one. 

Kits typically run in the $160-$200 range.  We will make our kits available to purchase after our Fit Night on April 18th at the WHS WEST Campus from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, where you can come and try on the sizes. 

For high school riders, individual scoring is based on the best 3 of 4 in a four-

race series. In other words, the lowest score is dropped. 

A missed race would be the lowest score dropped. 

Our team score is based on the top sixteen point-earners, with a maximum of twelve of those point-earners scoring in either the boys’ or girls’ categories. Learn all about the specifics in the Rulebook starting on page 39. 

If you are injured after the practice season has begun, you can get a prorated refund if you are able to provide a doctor’s note. See more about our Refund Policy.

As a non-profit, volunteer-run organization, there is simply no way we can make this team happen without parent support. 

We require that each parent volunteers for a minimum of 8 hours per child on the team throughout the season. 

These hours can come from volunteering on the team level (ride leader, member of a committee, or race day volunteer) or on the league level. 

Those who fulfill this commitment will be refunded the $100 volunteer fee at the end of the season. Volunteer opportunities will be made available at registration, in Slack communications, and prior to every race. Sign up is required for verification.

We expect every person associated with our team- riders, parents, ride leaders, volunteers, and coaches to have a RAD status: To be RESPECTFUL, have a POSITIVE ATTITIDE, and be DEDICATED. 

This includes (but is not limited to) having good trail etiquette, listening to and respecting ride leaders and coaches, riding safely, abiding by league rules, demonstrating our guiding principles, helping with trail work and other volunteer opportunities, coming to practices prepared with a working bike, appropriate clothing, water, tools, a snack, and a fastened helmet. 

We also expect all members to be drug and alcohol free. Read more about being RAD. 

If anyone connected with the team isn’t abiding by our RAD Code of Conduct, you risk being suspended from races or removed from the team and forfeiting all fees paid.

Coaches will typically follow a “three strikes you’re out” policy where we will talk with you about a first offense. 

If it happens again, we get parents involved and suspend a race. A third offense will mean removal from the team. We take our RAD Status very seriously, and expect you to also!

This year the high school team has three required practices each week on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Each practice has a specific purpose and supports our training plan.

We will be taking attendance at each practice. Mondays will typically be focused on building strength both on and off the bike. 

Tuesdays will be focused on improving skills, and Thursdays will help us build endurance while we do some adventure rides. 

Attending all three practices will help you to be a better rider! Watch Slack for each week’s plan including locations and start times.