2022: Week 2 Updates
July is skills month! Riders will continue practice and progress with fundamental MTB skills before hitting the trails in August.
Hello Driftless Families & Riders!
Our first week of the 2022 season is complete and we are looking forward to week two! We appreciate your patience as we are continuing to grow in numbers and tweak our systems, procedures, and practices. A few things that are new this year include different practice locations, skills practices that are split by team, longer early-season practices (to teach skills faster so we can begin riding trails earlier) and also our new coaching volunteers. We are all learning together, so we appreciate your attention to our communications, and your patience as we navigate any tests of our new “systems” etc. Please read on for our Week 2 updates. Several are time-sensitive.
One reminder for new and returning riders/families alike: our first few weeks of practice each year are focused on building the fundamentals of safe, strong MTB riding. We will begin riding trails in August! For new riders, these early-season skills will build your confidence for your first trail rides. For our veteran riders, remember that it is ALWAYS important to practice fundamentals and improve on your techniques - you don’t just learn once how to dribble a basketball or take a free-throw - you practice again and again! Even world-cup level MTB athletes work on the basics. We encourage you to push yourself to progress during each and every skill session.
Kit orders are due on July 20 (THIS WEDNESDAY!)
As noted in our last team news communication, team kit (uniform) orders are due THIS Wednesday - NO exceptions. There will not be another opportunity to order kits later this year.
A FEW REMINDERS & HELPFUL HINTS:
FAQs for ordering team kits are here. Please read carefully before you place your order.
You MUST check the sizing on garments before you order. Please, please measure and double check your athlete’s proper sizes; items cannot be returned or exchanged. There is sizing information on Pactimo’s team store website. Be mindful that there are adult, youth, and women’s sizes. Be sure you are referring to the correct information.
If you have already placed an order, it isn’t a bad idea to go back and double check the sizes, quantities, and team info (last year, a few folks accidentally ordered the wrong team kit, bought a youth size instead of an adult size, etc.) - if you notice an error in your order, you can have it corrected BEFORE July 20. After July 20, you are not able to change any orders or cancel your orders.
Click here to learn more and order your team kit now. Again - the team store is only open until July 20, and there is NOT another chance to order kits during the remainder of the season. Review our kit info and FAQs page and order carefully!
PARENT MEETINGS
We ask that all families make an effort to join your team’s head coaches/directors for one parent meeting so we can go over important info for the beginning of our season. Please see the email from your team director to choose a time that works best for you (either IN PERSON or VIRTUALLY on July 25 at 7:30). We will be asking for some volunteers to assist with a few team efforts (i.e. coordinating camping at our race weekends, helping with team building efforts, etc.!) Thanks for your role in helping our teams be successful!
CAM-ROCK ADventure Ride
The Wisconsing Interscholastic Cycling League is hosting a one-of-a-kind adventure ride at Cam-Rock trails this weekend! Interested athletes must register in PitZone and via Eventbrite with the Wisconsin League. We will have coaches at this event, and we will help coordinate groups for those who register! We are excited to explore these local trails in a new, fun way.
As per the WI League, the ride “will challenge pods to navigate routes by finding waypoints on a map. Both routes include about 10 miles of cross-country trail, moderate climbs, rocks, roots and technical turns. The route includes session-able features that can be re-ridden at the option of the ride leaders.”
Riders should register in Pitzone first, then follow the instructions to finish registering via Eventbrite.
Friday Night GRiT Rides
We are excited to announce that we are teaming up with Madison West MTB to run a series of three GRiT (Girls Riding Together) events at the Trek Trails in Waterloo, WI this season! Female athletes and coaches are invited to join us to ride the private trails system at Trek Bikes’ Waterloo headquarters with other awesome women on bikes!
This is a special opportunity for girls girls/women who ride in our area build community and connection throught the season. Trek has graciously opened their entire private trail system to our two groups of teams, and we are stoked to ride together! These trails aren’t open to the public so this is a really cool opportunity for our riders. Trails range from easy/mellow to intermediate/advanced. We will have groups for every ability level/pace!
Rides will take place on Fridays, from 6 - 9 p.m. on the dates listed below. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED and the August ride is open for sign-ups! Join for one or all of the rides!
September 16 - registration coming soon
October 14 - registration coming soon
Female coaches who are interested in attending these rides are invited to attend a pre-ride event on July 22 (THIS Friday) in Waterloo. Contact Em Meier with any questions!
Wisconsin Race Season registration is open!
Finally, a reminder that registration for our race season is OPEN! Please visit the Wisconsin Interscholastic Cycling site for info about races this season, or visit our RACING FAQs page if you’re interested in finding out more, We will share more about races in our updates later this season! Remember that confidential scholarships are available for those who wish to apply.
For those who are signed up/plan to sign up for races, please be sure to begin your search for lodging if you haven’t done so already.
