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Gators Race Series FAQ
Many of your questions can be answered on the Race webpage or in this FAQ. If you still have questions, please email GatorsRaceSeries@thetrailgators.org
REGISTRATION
No. If you attempt to register for a race in which your child is ineligible (ex. a 7-year-old in a 9+ advanced race), you will get an error. This is intentional and our way of preventing a child from getting in over their head. We understand there are some talented young riders out there, but for their safety and the consideration of the staff, “riding up” is not permitted. Check out COMBO races where younger riders are welcome to ride advanced courses.
RIDER SAFETY
A race “wave” (aka “heat”) is a small group of racers that will start the race together. We use waves to keep the riders SAFE. Less congestion at the starting line = fewer collisions!
Click here for details on how “waves” work.
No. If you attempt to register for a race in which your child is ineligible (ex. a 7-year-old in a 9+ advanced race), you will get an error. This is intentional and our way of preventing a child from getting in over their head. We understand there are some talented young riders out there, but for their safety and the consideration of the staff, “riding up” is not permitted. Check out COMBO races where younger riders are welcome to ride advanced courses.
We have trained medical personnel on site (see venue maps for location) and they are capable of attending to injured riders on the course, if needed. The medical team is in contact with the race staff and coaches via walkie talkie.
We don’t think that will happen and here’s why. We use race tape, not just in the congested starting and finishing areas, but even back in the woods, to help our riders navigate the course. The race directors have taken special care to identify any tricky areas where signage and/or a coach will be positioned to help direct traffic. We send each wave with a “rabbit” (the coach who leads the way) and a “sweep” (the coach that rides behind the last racer) to make sure everyone finishes. We also have coaches spotting any tricky sections of the course. You’ll find that these are all key differences between racing with Gators instead of registering your child for adult mountain bike races.
Check out our race previews on each race page for additional insight.
Our primary consideration is the safety of racers, race support staff, race visitors, and potential damage to the race course and surrounding areas.
Any decisions regarding cancelling, postponing, or altering race start times, lap length, number of laps, etc. will be made by the Gators Race Series directors in consultation with the trail manager. Often this decision cannot be made until the day of the race due to the unpredictable and emergent nature of wet or stormy weather or other environmental conditions. That said, we will do our best to make the weather related changes as early as possible, preceding race day.
Gators Race Series will make every attempt to notify the racing population via E-mail and website updates as soon as possible.
Race Delays and Course Modifications
- Races are held on their scheduled dates unless the race course on the day of the race is deemed un-rideable and dangerous.
- Gators Race Series will have the option to delay the start of a race from the published times if the weather has created dangerous conditions.
- Courses and/or lap lengths may be altered or shortened because of weather conditions. Last minute changes will be broadcast to racers and parents at the start of each wave via the PA and starting line announcer. If conditions require a change in number of laps during a race, a person will be stationed at the lap line advising riders of the change.
- All racing will stop immediately in the presence of lightning as signified by the race directors. Racing may continue once the league directors and timers have conferred.
- Re-starting a race that has been stopped due to lightning;
- depending on schedule and amount of racing completed, the race may be declared over
- if time permits, racers will be able to resume racing beginning from the starting line
- Communication of delays, changes in start time, courses, and so on will be made by the Race Directors as follows:
- via email prior to the race day, if possible.
- on the public address system on the race day.
Sorry, no training wheels are allowed. This is true for races and all bike team events.
At Gators, we take pride in teaching kids to ride. We love the speed and ease at which kids advance to pedal bikes when they start on a balance bike.
For riders who first learn the key principles of balance and steering, pedaling is an easy next step. 90% of our balance bikers graduate to pedal bikes after just one season, many even before then.
No balance bike? Sorry, training wheels are still off limits.
We have found that training wheels can be both counter-productive and hazardous for our young dirt riders. Training wheels are not safe when riding over obstacles, they tend to get tangled up with other bikes, and they encourage bag habits. They simply don’t jive with our two-wheelin’ vibe!
Check out this video on how to convert a pedal bike into a balance bike!
RELAY RACE FORMAT
in our final race of the series, pedal riders ages 5+ will take part in the RELAY portion of race day. (All riders under age 5 will be racing in the regular sprint format.)
Why the relay format? Comradery! Many members of the coaching staff have fond memories of competing in 6-hour and 24-hour events. The downtime between laps fosters a festive environment where friendships are built! Our goal is to re-create that vibe and give riders a bit more seat time, as compared to our traditional sprint format.
Registration is individual just like any other event but there is an option to request a friend. Friend requests are not necessary or guaranteed, and you may only request ONE other rider.
Race Directors will pair each rider with 2-3 additional riders to form their Relay Team, creating as evenly matched teams as possible for race day. We are lucky to have gotten to know all of our Gator riders through practices, along with prior race data, which will help create some fun groups.
Racers will be assigned a team name and race time in webscorer when details are finalized.
Relay Teams race to complete as many laps as possible within 1 hour. Only one racer per Team will be on the course at a time.
When a racer completes a lap, they will dismount their bikes in the *Exchange Zone,* their lap will be recorded, and the next rider on the Team will take off. We estimate that experienced riders might complete 3-4 laps each; 1-3 laps for younger and/or less experienced riders.
Finisher medals will be awarded to all racers; the top 3 Relay Teams per hour-long race session get a spot on the podium.
RACE DAY PREP
Closed-toe shoes, helmet, race jersey (if they have one), sunscreen, and bug spray.
Water, water, and more water! Snacks, and probably more snacks. Lawn chairs, blankets, and pop-up tents. Sunscreen and bug spray. Noisemakers. More cowbell.
Yes, but please refer to the Venue Maps for designated areas where tents can be set up without interfering with the race.
It differs by race. We will post an estimated schedule of start times based on groups of riders (sometimes age-specific, sometime course-specific) to each race page on this website. These times are estimates – please arrive at least 30 minutes before! And remember, there are multiple waves in each group.
There will also be a Webscorer “start list” with categories and wave assignments for each rider. This will not be available until the day before the race and will not have estimated start times. However, you can see how many racers (and waves) are in your child’s category.
Race Day
A race “wave” (aka “heat”) is a small group of racers that will start the race together. We use waves to keep the riders SAFE. Less congestion at the starting line = fewer collisions!
This can be a tough concept for kids. A racer who wins their wave may not win the overall category and therefore might not end up on the podium. For instance, your child may fall into a category of 50 riders; those 50 will be broken into smaller waves (usually 8-10 riders). As each wave finishes the race, their finish times are recorded but their finish place is not final until all racers from the category have finished. A rider in an early wave within their category might be in second place after their race but end up in 7th overall after all times are recorded. Check out the Webscorer “start list” to see how many riders (and waves) are in your child’s category.
Though we celebrate all finishers, the top three places in each category make the podium. Please educate and set expectations with your child on the concept of waves prior to race day.
Yes! We depend on the check-in process to ensure all racers are identified in our timing system, know their wave assignment, and have a race plate. Your child’s wave number will be written on their hand.
Listen for wave numbers to be announced over the PA system. Waves start in numerical order. Please have your child to the staging area several waves ahead of theirs. In some races, like Chestnut Ridge, multiple waves may be released one after another so you can’t always count on the previous wave completing before the next starts. When in doubt, check the “now racing” sign, or ask a coach!
Listen to the PA system for who’s racing, who’s up next, and who’s at the podium. We hope to be able to provide signage with “now racing” and “now staging” wave numbers as well.
We do not track riders’ locations, just their starting wave and finish times. We’ve heard there are some cool GPS trackers out there that you are welcome to use!
RACE RESULTS
We use a system called Webscorer for all racing data. We won’t bore you with the details but registrants get placed into categories based on age, gender, and sometimes a choice made during registration. The categories are then broken down into small waves of riders who will start at the same time but will be ranked based on their finish time within their category.
Live results are available on Webscorer. A link is generated at the start of the first race and will be shared on the Band App and social media.
Beware ~ LIVE results can be confusing if you forget about the concept of waves. As each wave finishes the race, their finish times are recorded but their finish place is not final until all racers from the category have finished. A racer who wins their wave may not win the overall category and therefore might not end up on the podium. Though we celebrate all finishers, the top three places in each category make the podium. Check out the Webscorer “start list” for each race to see how many riders (and waves) are in your child’s category.
Live results are available on Webscorer. A link is generated at the start of the first race and will be shared on the Band App and social media. Beware ~ LIVE results can be confusing if you forget about the concept of waves. As each wave finishes the race, their finish times are recorded but their finish place is not final until all racers from the category have finished. A racer who wins their wave may not win the overall category and therefore might not end up on the podium. Though we celebrate all finishers, the top three places in each category make the podium. Check out the Webscorer “start list” for each race to see how many riders (and waves) are in your child’s category.
Live results will be available on Webscorer. A link is generated at the start of the first race and will be shared on the Band App and social media. We will also post the link to this website after race day. Race results for the entire Gators Race Series will be archived on the Race Series Results page.
You betcha! Thought it does vary from race to race.
At ALL races, you can expect medals for riders who place 1st, 2nd or 3rd overall in their category.
At our first race, the Swamp Dash, all finishers get a medal too.
Beyond that, we like to keep things fresh so finisher prizes will vary. Stickers, swag bags, bike supplies, pop rocks, and popcicles have all made an appearance over the past several years.
And don’t forget about the GRIT award! There are bound to be a few riders who deserve some recognition for their perserverance through adversity on race day, whatever that may look like!