The mountain bike championship is a team's only event for 2024. Find out more about the event and how students can enter.

Who can participate

To ride in the event, students (riders) must be

• enrolled at an affiliated school
• be in years 5 to 12

Where and when

Sturt Gorge Recreational Park, end of Craigburn Road, Craigburn Farm

• Thursday 9 May 2024 for years 7 to 12 teams.
• Friday 10 May 2024 for years 5 and 6 students.

Results

View live results. Full results report will be available after the event.

View the 2024 mountain bike championships results reports (PDF 537 KB)

Schedules

Event format

• Teams aim to complete as many laps as they can within time limit.
• The final lap must by completed within the time limit to be counted towards the teams result.
• Teams should aim to spread the amount of riding evenly across team members. Team managers or supervisors must monitor this.
• Lower year levels will ride shorter laps, for shorter duration than the older year levels.

Race times

Proposed race times are

• year 5 and 6 teams ride for 2 hours
• year 7 and 8 teams ride for 2 hours
• year 9 and 10 teams ride for 2.5 hours
• year 11 and 12 teams ride for 2.5 hours

Team categories

Boys

• Years 5 and 6
• Years 7 and 8
• Years 9 and 10
• Year 11 and 12

Girls

• Year 5 and 6
• Year 7 and 8
• Year 9 and 10
• Year 11 and 12

Mixed

• Year 5 and 6
• Year 7 and 8
• Year 9 and 10
• Year 11 and 12

Categories with less than 3 teams entered will be combined with other age groups.

Team size

Teams can be made up of either

• 2 riders.
• 3 riders.
• 4 riders.

As a guide team sizes can be based on

• 4 person team: for less experienced or less competitive riders.
• 3 person team: for riders with good fitness levels and skills.
• 2 person team: for club level riders with high levels of experience, skills and fitness

The course

Courses are subject to change at any time.

• Years 5 and 6 course map (PDF 256 KB) - Updated the 30/04
• Years 7 and 8 course map (PDF 625 KB)
• Year 9 and 10 and year 11 and 12 course map (PDF 640 KB)

Rider safety and equipment requirements

• Riders must wear an approved and correctly fitted bike helmet during the race.
• Riders must wear suitable covered shoes.
• Safety gear is recommended and encouraged (eg. gloves, glasses. Knee/shin/elbow guards are optional).
• Handle bar ends must be plugged for safety. Swing-down style bike stands should be removed.
• A fully functional mountain bike with front and rear brakes, and gears is required for the event.
• Riders must wear a school shirt such as PE uniform or sports shirt. No singlets.
• For safety reasons riders must have suitable off-road bike handling skills.
• Bikes can be shared between team members with 1 race plate issued.
• E-bikes are not allowed on the course at any stage during the event unless ridden by a race official.

Outside assistance and Lap rules

We encourage all riders to be self-sufficient on course in case of a mechanical issue during their lap. eg. by carrying a hand pump, spare tube, tyre levers, multi tool, spare chain link, CO2, tubeless plugs etc.

For a lap to be officially counted one rider must complete the full lap.

Due to the inexperienced nature of riders in the event we will allow outside assistance on course for a rider with mechanical issues.

If a mechanical issue occurs on course and the rider returns to the pits via a shortcut, the lap is incomplete. The lap may be completed by another rider if they restart the lap from where they exited the course, and a marshal and/or race director are advised immediately by the team manager.

This also applies in case of an injury on course, and another team rider completes their lap. Please advise marshals and the race director immediately.

Riders can only travel in the same direction as the course lap.

Extreme weather conditions

If the weather forecast is for .

• extreme high or low temperatures
• lightning
• hail
• severe flooding
• fire danger

the event may be modified or cancelled. Schools will be notified as soon as possible.

Entry fee

$44 including GST per team nominated.

An additional $16.50 including GST will be charged for replacement of race plates or transponders if not returned at the end of the event.

No payment is required on the day. A tax invoice will be sent to schools after the event.

Facilities

• Catering facilities will be provided
• Parking locations will be advised.

How to enter

Schools submit the Mountain Bike championship nomination form by Thursday 11 April.

Volunteer marshals

Teachers and parents attending are encouraged to be roaming marshals who ride or walk the course during the race. Indicate on the nomination form parents who can help.

Presentations

• Presentations will be held after the race finishes.
• Medals will be presented for first, second and third in each category.

Overall schools' trophy

• One point is awarded for all riders that participate.
• The top 3 in each category will receive an additional
  • 10 points for first place
  • 7 points for second place
  • 5 points for third place
  • 3 points for fourth place
  • 2 points for fifth place

Aims of participating at the event

The mountain bike team's championship provides an

• opportunity to compete against other South Australian students in an unique context.
• enjoyable, life-long, movement-based learning experience in a natural setting

Opportunities for student officials

Students can receive recognition for taking on official's roles at this event.

Schools can contact us on the details below for certificates that list the learning outcomes from officiating at the event.

Previous results and history

• 2023 results report (PDF 419 KB)
• 2023 mountain bike championships results. (PDF 971 KB)
• Previous school winner history (PDF 115 KB)