IN THIS ISSUE...
* Focus Group: Call Ups
* MN League Structure
* 2019 Program Changes
* Jan. GRiT Update
* Feedback and Suggestions
* Leaders' Summit Dates
* Hashtags for 2019

Get ready people, 2019 is here - are you ready to help get #morekidsonbikes! Together, we as a community, will continue to ensure middle and high school students have the opportunity to build strong minds, bodies and characters through cycling.

PHOTOS: In the next few months, as we prepare for the coming season, in our Singletrack Times emails, we will be using photos from the 2018 season. Enjoy and order a few if you would like!

MN LEAGUE STRUCTURE

The Core Staff of the MN League are the men and women that make the MN League programs happen. They all come from various backgrounds, geographic locations and represent all stakeholder groups. They are the eyes and ears of the organization and strive to provide the best opportunity to get and keep kids on bikes.

Learn more about the MN League Structure.

2019 PROGRAM CHANGES

6th Grade Added to Middle School Racing
Our mission is to get #morekidsonbikes and since launching the middle school pilot program in 2013, we have been repeatedly asked by parents, coaches and student-athletes to include 6th graders in racing. To date, the MN League has not included 6th grade racing due to a lack of time in the race day, but we have provided the teams an option to allow 6th graders to practice at their own discretion.

It is important to remember that 6th grade – and the entire middle school program – is an option that teams may choose to participate in.

With the change in the race day structure (two-day racing), we now can expand middle school racing to include 6th graders.

Two-Day Racing Weekends
To bring back pre-ride and address a number of other suggestions (shorten the race day, include 6th grade racing, have middle school awards after their races, allow families to only need to be on-site for one day, etc.) we have launched two-day racing.

This does not replace the bye-week system but compliments it. The exact race-day schedule will be announced in late July 2019.

The following is a tentative schedule and is subject to change. Small timing adjustments may be made, but the principle of middle school racing on Saturdays and high school racing on Sundays will always apply. Both days will have a pre-ride.
Example:
Saturday
Pre-ride - 10:00AM - 1:00PM
Middle School Racing - 1:00PM – 4:30PM
Awards - 5:00PM
Sunday
Pre-ride - 7:30AM - 9:30AM
High School Racing - 9:30AM – 4:30PM
Awards - 5:00PM

Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival
In 2019, we are pleased to hold a Minnesota High School Cycling League race in conjunction with the historic Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival. Please note, the MN League will hold their own races, separate from the Short and Fat or Forty. For this race weekend only, middle school racing will be held later in the day to allow people to participate or cheer on the riders who wish to participate in the Short & Fat or Chequamegon Forty.

Updates to our website are coming soon regarding these program changes.

GRiT MN CORNER

JANUARY GRiT UPDATE/EVENTS

What is in store for GRiT in 2019?

GRiT is currently working on a number of potential events/activities for 2019.

Starting in December 2018, GRiT MN has been hosting monthly "Meet & Greets" for women interested in learning more about the GRiT Program, volunteering with events - both on and off bike events, event planning, execution and race day tent activities. In order for off-season events and a variety of race day activities to come to life, committed volunteers are needed. Your support, feedback and ideas are an integral part of GRiT MN, and we look forward to working with you!

As you have probably heard by now, our race weekend is expanding! With an extra race day each weekend, GRiT MN will need more volunteers with new ideas to be able to assist and ensure there is a GRiT booth at each race weekend for both days.

One of GRiT MN's hopes & goals for 2019 is to recruit volunteers specifically to plan a race day tent activity and run the tent on that day. We would love to see a mom or team supporter gather with their female athletes and other team supporters and team parents/guardians to own a Saturday or Sunday of a race weekend. In this way we can get more ideas, more teams, more individuals, and more female athlete involvement in the GRiT MN Community. Please think about this, discuss with your team supporters, female athletes, and then volunteer for a race day!

We have more exciting news! We are currently working with MN League sponsor Podiumwear on a jersey design specifically for GRiT MN! Like our social pages or check our GRiT webpage for more information.

Lastly, if your team has interest in having GRiT MN out in May - July to run a skills clinic for moms, guardians or other female team supporters that want get involved, as on-bike volunteers with the team, but are newer to mountain biking or just would like to learn some fundamental skills to increase their abilities and confidence on the trail, please contact GRiT MN at nicole@minnesotamtb.org to discuss setting that up!

Please make sure you are following us on Instagram (@NICAGRiTMN) and Facebook (NICA GRiT Minnesota). If you would like to be on a GRiT email list for volunteer opportunities, please email nicole@minnesotamtb.org.

Upcoming events for GRiT MN and Women’s Cycling Advocacy:

January 30th, 6:30-9pm: WöRCC (Women’s Offroad Cycling Congress): The Twin Cities Congress, will be taking place at QBP in Bloomington, MN. Please see the FB invite for details and to purchase a ticket. Thank you to our partners at QBP for bringing WöRCC to the Twin Cities.
Register here.

February 28th, 6-8pm : GRiT MN Meet & Greet. Save the date, more information coming soon for this event.

Starting in late April, look for GRiT MN Group Rides for female athletes and coaches, moms, and other team supporters on Thursdays.

We have a few other events/educational activities we are working on with community partners currently. We hope to bring them to the female student athletes for February - April timeframe. Check back for updates at our GRiT page online at minnesotamtb.org.

FEEDBACK AND SUGGESTIONS

We are always interested in hearing your feedback and suggestions. Over the years, we have acted on feedback and suggestions from parents, racers, coaches, volunteers, sponsors and community partners.

All suggestions are evaluated on the following criteria:

All suggestions are reviewed during the monthly core staff meetings held January through August.

Have feedback or a suggestion? Send it in!

Submit Feedback

HASHTAGS FOR #2019

#morekidsonbikes

#moregirlsonbikes

#morebikelessphone

#myNICAwhy

Keep an eye out for these hashtags this year...and please use them in your posts and photos this year! We are looking forward to 2019!