Trail Talks with Florida NICA

Adventure Town Hall

This Town Hall discussion about Adventure Day, scheduled for April 25th at San Felasco in the Gainesville area. Jackie, Ralph, and Joe presented the event details, including the schedule, venue requirements, and adventure activities that teams can participate in to earn points. They explained the process for forming teams, earning points through riding trails and completing challenges, and returning to the pit zone by 2:30 PM for end-of-season awards and celebration including Teen Trail Corps, Adventure Championship, GRIT, and overall team awards, with specific criteria for scoring and tiebreakers. Adventure Day is a Challenge by Choice day, please ride within your abilities. They also discussed fundraising efforts through "CAKE the Crew" where donors can pie crew members, and emphasized the importance of accurate rosters for safety during the adventure activities.

Town Hall for Jurassic Shred in Tallahassee

This episode focused on preparing for the upcoming Jurassic Shred race in Tallahassee on April 10-11, 2026 with Joe presenting detailed information about the event logistics, course details, and race procedures. The discussion covered race timing, volunteer requirements, safety protocols, and specific guidelines for staging and equipment checks. Joe explained that the course lap would be approximately 4 miles for middle school and 5th grade loops and approximately 5 miles per lap for the high school categories with significant climbing sections that riders should prepare for. The meeting also addressed the need for senior athlete photos by Friday for banners at the finish line, discussed potential course changes including a new trail section, and covered emergency action plans including evacuation procedures.

Town Hall: Trailbusters in Lakeland

Joe and Jackie provided detailed information about an upcoming FL NICA Who you Gonna Call? Trailbusters (Ghostbuster themed) mountain biking event, covering logistics, schedules, and guidelines. Key points included venue rules (no open flames, smoking, or alcohol), parking instructions, and specific timing for volunteer shifts, registration, and racing activities. The event will feature food trucks, various activities in the Adventure Tent, and a new "Power Up Week" fundraising initiative where student athletes who raise $250 during March 29-April 4 will receive special prizes. Jackie also announced that the top fundraising student athletes as of the meeting were Katie L. from Treasure Coast, Bryson B. from Gainesville, and Kai S. from Space Coast Composite, with recognition and prize details to be shared at the event.

Town Hall #3 Shred Wars at Dyer Park

Shred Wars Episode 7 Planning A return of the force…and the fun. The force is strong with this one. Join us for Shred Wars: Episode 7 – The Flow Awakens where Jedi riders and Sith shredders battle it out on the trails. Bring your lightsabers, your best Star Wars gear, and prepare for a ride that’s out of this galaxy. ✨ #LightsCameraPedal #ShredWars #TheFlowAwakensJackie opened the town hall meeting providing important logistical information about the venue, including parking directions and volunteer roles. She announced several highlights including an Adventure app update with new bronze, silver, and gold level recognition, a Rad Relay Race scheduled for 12:30, and a Connect 4 bike-style fun. The meeting also covered upcoming events including an OTB 101 class for coaches on Saturday and potential trail maintenance opportunities through Teen Trail Corps, with GRiT being hosted by the Winter Park and Gainesville Composite Teams.Jackie and Joe provided detailed information about an upcoming race event at Dyer Park, a reclaimed landfill venue in Palm Beach County. Key points included venue logistics, bringing ample water due to limited shade and water sources, and strict rules against open flames and drones. The schedule was outlined for both Friday setup and Saturday's activities, including volunteer shifts, registration, and pre-ride procedures. Joe detailed the specific race courses for different grade levels and gender categories, emphasizing the importance of proper coaching during pre-ride sessions and asking spectators to avoid running along the course to ensure safety.Race Event Instructions and ProtocolsJoe provided detailed instructions for an upcoming race event, covering course specifics, safety protocols, and staging procedures. He emphasized the technical nature of the course, advising athletes to practice cornering, braking, and passing skills, particularly highlighting the difficulty of overtaking on this route. Key safety reminders included strict rules about not running alongside riders, proper helmet and bike equipment checks, and protocols for the feed zone where coaches need designated passes to assist their athletes. The event will follow standard staging waves with one coach per team at the starting area, and Joe noted that course conditions might lead to adjustments in the number of laps based on racing speeds.Upcoming Events and Volunteer NeedsJoe announced several upcoming events including the Rad Relay Race, skills activities, and Finn's birthday celebration to support the local animal shelter. He highlighted the need for more volunteers, noting that only 20% of positions had been filled, and requested coaches to encourage their teams to sign up by Thursday morning to earn team points. Joe also announced that Farrah's daughter Katie is currently in first place in the TREK Fundraising points standings, and reminded teams that the fundraiser helps support the league and teams with 100% of donations returning to first-year teams and 50% to other teams.Joe thanked West Palm Beach for their participation and praised Mark Audette for his hard work in setting up the 7-mile course at Santos, meeting NICA safety standards. Jackie advised against printing event flyers until Wednesday before the race due to potential changes, and recommended using the live link for accurate information distribution.

Town Hall: Santos - Raiders of Lost Trail

This Town Hall focused on the upcoming Santos race event, where Jackie and Joe provided detailed information about the race schedule, venue and new rules. They discussed the mass start format, pre-ride procedures, and emphasized the importance of proper equipment checks and communication during the race. The Florida Horse Park venue was highlighted for its camping opportunities and strict rules regarding horse trails and safety. Jackie and Joe also covered the rules for passing and pre-rides, emphasizing the need for clear communication and proper conduct. They announced various activities for the weekend, including a rad relay race, sunset ride, and movie night. The conversation ended with reminders about volunteer opportunities & the need to complete economic surveys.Summary:Florida Horse Park Event Planning:Jackie announced that this year's event will be held at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, featuring camping for the first time. She outlined various activities including a mass start race, food trucks, and a sunset ride requiring lights. Jackie emphasized the importance of completing and submitting waivers to head coaches before registration, and explained the distribution of pit zone passes for team equipment drop-off. Race Weekend Schedule Overview:Jackie outlined the schedule for the upcoming race weekend, detailing arrival times, pre-rides, and race events. She emphasized that all race information is available in the race flyer on the website. Joe discussed the mass start format, explaining that the first five from the time trial will lead the first row, with subsequent rows following the same pattern.Race Safety & Logistics PlanningJoe and Jackie discussed race logistics and safety measures. They asked parents and coaches to avoid caffeine & ensure student-athletes have their number plates. They outlined the pre-ride schedule, including a 1/2-hour session at 2pm for 5th & 6th graders with a fast lap at 4.30 PM for advanced riders. Jackie emphasized these times are reserved for new riders and fast riders to practice at their own pace.Coach-Rider Ratio & Race RulesRatios must be maintained between coaches and student-athletes during rides, emphasizing that coaches must be within eyesight of their riders when not leading the group. She explained that the pre-ride time and passing time are common sources of conflicts in mass start races, and highlighted the need for coaches and student-athletes to review the handbook, which outlines rules & consequences for infractions.Race Safety & Passing ProtocolsJackie discussed two key issues: coaches not being present during pre-rides, which will result in a 5-minute race penalty, and the importance of proper passing procedures in mass-start races. She emphasized that riders must communicate their intention to pass & wait for acknowledgment from the rider in front, highlighting that this is particularly important for newer riders. Jackie also stressed the need for riders to acknowledge passing requests & move over when possible, while allowing for brief delays in tight situations. Programing Plans & DeadlinesJackie announced plans for two rad relay races this weekend at 12 and 1 o'clock, with the adventure area and coaches' ride scheduled. She invited everyone to attend the sunset ride, check-in at the Adventure Tent, and watch a movie at 6:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbu9W2hbwM0&list=PLXHvMVnLEeT1bXrFwYXjF8QiIzhpsdNEz&index=1&t=390s]. The Ocala Gallops will host the GRiT Tent for a clean bike is a fast bike workshop, while Teen Trail Corps hours won't be available at this event. Jackie reminded everyone to submit TTC & adventure hours by next Wednesday for recognition at awards, and encouraged volunteers to sign up through the website for the upcoming event.Fundraising:Jackie announced the current standings for TREK Fundraising team awards, with Treasure Coast Raptors in first place, followed by Gainesville and Tarpon. She highlighted top athletes, including William and Katie L. from Treasure Coast, and Bryson from Gainesville.