“Let’s go to Minooka!” This popular phrase is heard often from riders in Southeastern Wisconsin, as it is a go-to place to ride!

The start hill at Minooka is famous for it’s roaring, costumed crowds encouraging athletes to ‘keep pedaling’ to make it to the top. Different from Telemark, the roots, rocks and sometimes narrow tree openings use the technical skills student athletes have been practicing. Quick jaunts through the trees allow spectators to see their athletes often. Let’s get ready for the fun!

Thank you to MetroMTB and Waukesha County Parks for care and use of this fun trail system!

Important details are below but please also check with your Team Director or Head Coach or drop us a note if you have any questions.

Renee Griswold, League Director
Angela Brooks, Program Manager/Race Director

We are paperless so this is the source for all things racing! Registration, race plates, course map, schedule for the weekend and more. Please take the time to read it so you know the scoop and download what you need for race weekend.

REMINDER: Online race registration is made in Pitzone and closes at 11:59pm the Tuesday before each race.

On-site registration is available but has a late fee and athletes lose their staging position if they are not registered by the Tuesday night deadline.

IMPORTANT: Staging and race times will be changing by a few minutes to create more space between athletes out on course. Please check for the most current schedule on Thursday. Thank you.

Minooka is a County Park and requires an entry fee which must be paid in advance. Please take this step now! Annual passes are available as well as 1-5 day passes.

Minooka camping reservations are made through Waukesha County, not your Team Camping Planner. This is the only race of the season like this. Minooka staff will be onsite to manage camping. Reservations can be made here. Trash continues to be carry-in/carry-out so please plan accordingly.

The Team Pitzone is located near the race start and is ideal for race day operations. Athletes can gather at your Pitzone tent on Sunday to warm-up, get tune-ups and prepare for staging before they race. Trash is again carry-in/carry-out. Please plan accordingly.

Day-of-parking will be in the large fields at the bottom and top of the hill, near the start/finish/Pitzone areas.

There will be a drop-off/pick-up area and some accessible parking spots available near the start/finish for those who need these accommodations on race day.

Calling all parents, caregivers, grandparents, extended family and friends! We need a couple hours of your time on race weekend!

We only have 35% of the volunteers needed to make the Minooka race possible! Please signup to help create a great event! Jobs are fun and don’t require any previous experience or, in most cases, even riding a bike. Anyone can help! Teens can help too, but they must do a job where their own parent/guardian can be working in the same area.

You don’t need experience and you don’t need to miss your athlete’s race as a volunteer. From helping people figure out where to park to watching the races on the course or riding your bike during the race helping athletes during their races there are opportunities for you. These are some of the volunteer needs.

NEW: Teams who rack up the highest percentage of volunteer hours based on their team size at each race will receive PRIORITY PITZONE PLACEMENT for their next race!! WOOT!! (Yes, Trek hours will transfer to the 2023 season).

Which volunteer position is right for you?
Consider your athlete’s race schedule. Consider how much time you are willing to give to your athlete’s race to make it successful and awesome. Look at the volunteer registration form and find the times that coordinate with those factors. Find jobs that you would enjoy based on the descriptions in the signups and remember, training is provided so give anything a try.

Questions? Please contact the League’s fantastic Volunteer Coordinator, Allison Carmody.

A new Warm-Up Area has been created for our student athletes at Minooka. Look for the entry along the field next to Pitzone. Athletes should take a few laps around this area and no longer warm-up on the park roads or trails we are not using for the race. Coaches, please be sure to pass this information along to your athletes!

Several food trucks will be onsite on Sunday featuring burgers, tacos, Italian beef, ice cream and more!

NICA races are so exciting! Watching athletes work so hard and accomplish new goals is a rush! Sometimes the excitement can get in the away though of good spectator etiquette and this can cause hazards to athletes and race officials. Please keep the following in mind and realize the poor spectator behavior can result in a team penalty.

Always be aware of your surroundings, even behind you! Walking a trail to get to good spot? Check over your shoulder often for athletes on the course and always move well out of their way.

Be a good sport. Be a good role model to your child and all student athletes by remaining calm and positive.

Keep the course clear. Only cross the active course if absolutely necessary. You might think it is clear but athletes are fast and they need a clear path ahead.

Listen to Race Officials. They have a job to do to keep the race going safely. Please cooperate and follow their instructions with a smile.

Bike Patrol ALWAYS has right of way. They are just like an ambulance on the road, on a bike or when driving their UTV. Clear the way immediately when you hear their the horn or voices so they can get to the person in need as quickly and safety as possible….it could be your child they are trying to help some day.

Keep small children (and dogs) close and help them learn to be good spectators too.

Only help athletes with their bikes on course if they ask. Many athletes can fix their own bikes and there are time penalties for getting outside assistance so please don’t jump in unless they ask.

All these rules, and more, are found in the NICA HANDBOOK and all coaches, parents, spectators and athletes are expected to know and follow the rules. Many of the spectator-specific rules are in Section 3.

Thank you for helping all athletes have a safe and fast race!

Don’t be caught no-handed! Coming through the finish is awesome but we need safety first! Showboating at the end of a race can be penalized. Keep your hands on your grips, not the center of your bars, within reach of your brake levers during and after the race. See rule 4.2.D for more details.

Many racers had bike issues at Telemark. There were flat tires, broken chains, and even a lost crank arm. Some of this is an easy fix on the trail! Finishing a race is always better than a DNF (did not finish). If your bike breaks during a race, you have 3 options…

Can’t fix it, run your bike the rest of the race. Get the points for finishing.

Wait for a Rover, spectator, or coach to give you a tool and or help you repair it. Outside Assistance is a 5 minute penalty, but you still get points for finishing.

BEST OPTION: Have your own tools and know how to fix the issue. A rover, coach, or spectator can TALK you through the fix without a penalty.

Get the points? Yes!

What supplies should you carry in your pack?

Here are our recommendations for supplies. Check with your local bike shops to see what they have in stock.

▪ Multi-tool with a chain breaker and tire levers
▪ A pump or CO2 cartridge & valve
▪ Tube for your wheel size with the correct valve &/or tire plugs
▪ Quick links for your chain size – 10 speed, 11 speed, or 12 speed

Also have plenty of water and fuel for your race. Getting water or food of any kind, outside of the FeedZone will also qualify for a penalty.

It is worth taking the penalty to have someone help you fix your bike and finish the race versus taking a DNF. Remember if you take outside assistance you must report it to a rover or marshal.

Having all these tools in your pack AND knowing how to use them will help you have a successful race.

Come to the Bike Maintenance Clinic at the Neutral Support tent

Think ahead about getting involved in upcoming races too….let’s keep the stoke going all season!

How about that for a fun way to start the season!! Congratulations to all the staff, volunteers, athletes, coaches, parents/guardians and NICA fans for a super awesome start to the 2022 NICA season in Wisconsin!

Telemark is a great venue and will only keep getting better as more trails are built and logistics are tweaked. Having CAMBA on site along with our own Adventure, TTC and GRiT programming rounded out a great weekend of racing. Camping on the historic grounds was made even a bigger treat with viewing of the Northern Lights.

Race Results are posted and here is a small sampling of photos with many, many more to come from League photographers Dave Reich and Anthony James.

Keep up the great work this season and see you at your next race!