Is this an official high school sport part of St. Louis Park High School?
  • Yes - the Minnesota Cycling Association sponsors a race season that is part of interscholastic sports in the state of Minnesota. Most school cycling programs are clubs and not official high school teams.
  • No - the St. Louis Park Mountain Bike Team is a club and not officially connected to SLP High School as defined by the Minnesota High School Cycling League (the state governing and guiding body for high school cyclist).
Is there a governing body or organization that oversees the club?
  • Yes - the SLP MTB Team is an official member of the Minnesota Cycling Association.
  • All practices, events, and races will be in compliance with rules and guidelines set by the Minnesota Cycling Association.
Is mountain biking safe?
  • Mountain biking, like all sports, has inherent risks and is an activity where accidents happen. Safety is a core value of every SLP MTB event.
What do practices and races look like?
  • Practices are fun! We always start with a bike safety check, warm up ride, skill instruction, ride to practice the learned skill, free ride, and end with a team huddle.
  • Races are fun! Riders do not have to race but it is highly encouraged. Riders can do all 5 races or 1 - it’s up to the rider. Middle school races are on Saturday and high school races are on Sunday. Races are around the Twin Cities and the entire state with most races less than 90 minutes away. On race day or before, there is a window of time where athletes may do a pre-ride of the course to gain familiarity with it. Middle school students race one lap, freshman two laps, and 10-12th grade complete two, three, or four laps depending on the category they are in.
How much does it cost?
  • Required Equipment
    • The main cost is a bike. A safe functioning mountain bike for race type purposes starts around $800 - make sure the student is fitted properly by a local bike professional. If you are unsure if your bike is suitable or would like support in selecting a new bike, contact the head coach. Also, many local bike shops and manufacturers provide discounts for athletes registered with MCA.
    • Athletes need to have their own mountain bike and are required to wear helmets and closed-toe shoes when riding. Gloves and sunglasses/eye protection are strongly recommended. Riders must carry their own spare tube, mini-pump, water, and clothing at all practices and races. Each rider is responsible for maintaining their own mountain bike. We suggest that every rider establishes a relationship with a local bike shop for bike tune ups, equipment maintenance and questions. As noted, many local shops offer discounts to team members for equipment and repairs.
  • Fees
    • Team Registration: $125
    • League Fees: Annual Individual $100 to join Minnesota Cycling Association - provides required insurance
    • Required Uniform for races: $95
      • Race Fees
        • Two Options
          • $50 per individual race
          • $150 for all 5 races
        • Race Schedule:
          • Middle School Riders on Saturday
          • High School Riders on Sunday
        • Understanding the Fees:
          • Minnesota Cycling Association is the governing body and provide the rider insurance for races and teams, renting out and staffing the race venues, medical care etc… there are over 2,000 riders in the league with about 1,700 riders at each race
          • SLP MTB fees are used to reimburse coaches for background checks, mountain bike skill training, team fees, emergency bike bags and equipment to use as team
  • ​