Junior Racing Information

Oregon XC Series and the OBRA XC Series info

Racing: It's Easy to Get Started!

By default, the regular Juniors age 10 – 18 are run on the shorter Cat 3 beginner-friendly course at each event. This encourages juniors to try mountain bike racing, and most riders finish between 60 – 90 minutes. New junior racers are encouraged to seek a local race in their area and introduce themselves to the other riders at the start line. Get connected, get involved, and have fun racing bikes! These "Beginner Friendly" routes still require some experiance of riding in the woods or being able to navigate effectively in the rain or heat of the day. We highly suggest all juniors to seek out your local National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) which races in the fall. Oregon has a great organization with coaching and resources to take your game to the next level. Also your local bike shop for skills clinics and ways to get involved.

The Oregon XC Series has 5-8 events with junior categories; within that, we have identified all races as part "OBRA Junior Mountain Bike Series" to make it easy for teams, parents, and riders to select the best events for their young racers.

The best 5 events will count in the Oregon XC Series with custom series awards and a custom Pactimo Jersey ,and the OBRA Junior MTB Series with custom leader jerseys from OBRA given out after each event and custom awards at the Series finals.

In the future, OBRA plans to possibly split out a subset of races for the OBRA Junior MTB series.

2020 Junior Mountain Bike Series

Introduction

The Junior MTB Series is a points-based competition made up of best 5 races for those with a racing age of 10 to 18. New for 2020 OBRA and USA Cycling have reciprocity for those annual USA Cycling members that hold a license and want to score points at OBRA events. If this is you please show your USA Cycling license card and register for any event and place this info when registering. Cat 3, Cat 2 and Cat 1

Rules are OBRA Rules at obra.org

1. Age & Category Definitions

OBRA and the Junior MTB, and will use the "Race Age" as defined by OBRA. This is your age in the current calendar year as of December 31st. For example, if your birthday is November 1st, and let's say in January of the race year you are 15, your race age will be 16 for that entire year since you will be 16 on December 31st that year.

All events in the Oregon XC Series and OBRA Junior MTB Series will have the following Junior categories:

Cat 3 (Novice) Junior Men 10-13 (Short Course)

Cat 3 (Novice) Junior Men 14-18 (Short Course)

Cat 3 (Novice) Junior Women 10-13 (Short Course)

Cat 3 (Novice) Junior Women 14-18 (Short Course)

Junior Cat 2 Women 14-18 (Cat 2 Course and starting with the 19-39 Women)*

Junior Cat 2 Men 14-18 (Cat 2andurse and beginning with the 19-39 Men)*

Requires to upgrade* See form this page to move from Cat 3 to Cat 2

Cat 1 Junior Men and Cat 1 Junior Women (Updated March 2020)

Requires to upgrade* See form this page to move from Cat 2 to Cat 1

2. OJMS Rules

2-1. OJMS Individual Competition –

The OBRA Junior MTB series and Oregon XC Series with the best 5 results are counting.

There are no Double Point races in the series. Each race counts the same with lowest points winning and the finals deciding any ties.

Individual age/gender category racers will accumulate points over the best 5 of 8 JMS race series (each racer can throw out their two lowest race scores).

Specific points will be earned and recorded through the JMS finish placing.

For individuals, we will use the following points schedule from first through twenty-fourth placing: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, etc

The top rider in each JMS age category will earn a series champion jersey courtesy of Castelli-US presented at each event to the new Series Leader. Castelli is a sponsor of OBRA, and thanks for the support!

Only racers finishing 5 events will be tallied in the final results

Points will be awarded by your JMS individual age category finish position.

Please note that if you own a jersey already, you will not be given a new OBRA jersey. Oregon XC Series jerseys are mailed after we tabulate the final results and take 6-7 weeks.

3. Rider Membership & Eligibility

All racers must be members of the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association (OBRA). Annual licenses are $10 for juniors or $2.00 one day license. Apply online for your annual at obra.org If you want your team name represented on obra.org's website you must be a OBRA team. For the XC Series anyone listing a team name will be placed at Mudslinger Events.

The best all-around or BAR points will be accrued by OBRA rules. Only individual scoring with an annual OBRA membership will contribute to the BAR.

All OBRA rules apply. Helmets required at all times on your bike before, during, and after the race. Visit http://obra.org for more information.

4. OBRA Junior Mountain Bike Series Schedule

The OBRA Junior Mountain Bike Series follows the Oregon XC Series designed to encourage junior riders and their teams to participate in several critical events over the course of the season.

The seven races for 2020 with your top 5 results counting are:

Mudslinger 4/4

Cascade Chainbreaker 5/9

Sisters Stampede 5/24

Coast Hills Classic 6/7

Alpine Epic 6/20

Alsea Falls 8/1

(Best 5 finishes for Individuals with the final race deciding any ties)

Junior Cat 2 or Cat 1 Upgrade Request

By default, juniors should race on the short course in their appropriate junior age category because mountain biking can be very challenging for young riders, and we want to ensure that their race experience is enjoyable.

Junior riders cannot "race up" into an older junior age-group, but they may request an upgrade into "Junior Cat 2" once they have met these requirements: This same upgrade policy is in effect for Cat 1 as well.

Please note new for 2020 faster Cat 2 juniors can move to Cat 1 junior and if interested (Not required unless they meet the upgrade requirements and field sizes) to score points for USA Cycling for Staging and call up's at Nationals. This is not mandatory, but will allow families and juniors in the PNW to save money on travel. With four independent promoters of the XC series, please confirm or look for the question referencing a USA Cycling number to be reported post event from each event to OBRA and downstream to USA Cycling post event prior to Thursday.

Previous to this we allowed the 5-8 fast juniors simply to race up with the Senior or 19+ Men and Women. We still have a few Juniors that will be racing Elite for OBRA, but scoring for USA Cycling as a Cat 1 Junior for call up's at Nationals.

Age to request is 14 – 18 by the end of the current year and:

Previous XC or Junior Mountain Bike Series Winner or

Three podiums in mountain bike races within the last 12 months.

Must consent to racing with adults on challenging courses with long distances and race times of over 2 hours.

Some very exceptional juniors may race Elite once they have received their USAC Cat 1 license and or once they have dominated the Cat 1's at OBRA.

We are not holding riders back from upgrading as needed, but we want to ensure riders progress through the appropriate category levels for their safety on course.

If you have met these requirements, please fill out this form at least 1 week before your event:

More info on Cat 2 and 1 Juniors

Faster, experienced juniors who desire a more significant challenge on a more prolonged course can apply for an upgrade into the "Cat 2 14-18" category.

These Junior Cat 2 and Cat 1 waves will usually be stagged with the adult Cat 2 19-39 men or women or Elite/Cat 1 wave for the top end of our sport. Check to stage for each event for confirmation. Race times will vary and may be over 2 hours at some events, so this is for advanced and prepared riders only. See the form below or click here to request your upgrade.

Please fill out this form if you want an upgrade to Junior Cat 2 or 1 Men or Women 14-18. This form will go to OBRA, Mike Ripley and OBRA member, the Series Director. Thank you, parents!

Scoring for XC Series

Best 5 results count towards series points out of 7 events

Series winners in each Junior Category will receive a beautiful jersey from Pactimo for the Oregon XC Series and a Castelli Jersey from OBRA for race leaders. Please note this jersey is one per season for series leaders.

Scoring details for 2020 Oregon XC Series

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 etc.

If you win the series, please upgrade the next season if you meet the upgrade policy

No point upgrades! You leave your points where you earned them for the Oregon XC Series

Extra event to participate in

The OBRA State championship will include 2 year age breakdowns for OBRA State Championships in August for XC and ST at Left Coast Cellars. This event thanks to OBRA is FREE for juniors for Saturday and also Sunday's CX race.

Check obra.org for this year's OBRA State Championship for the chance to earn the right to purchase an OBRA State Championship Jersey.

Thank you for your participation

Mike Ripley