*New for 2023 – SMR Race Division*

SMR Coaches Jeff and Kirsty Wright will be running a SMR Youth Race program designed to support participants who have an interest in cross-country mountain bike racing. The program will focus on improving mountain bike skills, fitness, race tactics, and basic nutrition strategies for cross-country mountain bike racing. There will be no additional cost. The group will be capped at a maximum of ten participants and filled on a first come firstserve basis.

SMR Youth members aged 10 to 16 who have an interest in participating in cross-
country mountain bike racing. Participants do not need to have race experience, but must
have a healthy competitive spirit and be self-motivated to push themselves to improve both
their technical riding abilities and their cycling fitness. Note: Participants age 13 and older
will be required to have a functional heart rate monitor with a head unit that mounts to their
handlebar or stem so that they can see their heart rate in real time.

The Race Division Program will run from April 12, 2023 to July 19 th , 2023 on
Wednesdays (6:30 pm to 7:45 pm) and Sundays (1:30 pm to 3:30 pm). Starting on May 3rd
the program will run alongside the SMR Youth program (same time and locations).

Sessions will run within the City of Red Deer with the possibility of a couple
Sunday sessions in Bragg Creek or Canmore (Participants will need to arrange their own
transportation). A schedule with locations listed will be provided prior to program start date.
Note that the locations for the Wednesday rides will sync with the SMR Youth rides as of
May 3 rd .

Because racing bikes is a blast and it is even better when you do with a group of friends.
Additionally, there will be a number of opportunities in 2023 for youth to mountain bike race
in Alberta:

• This year Savy Mountain Riders hopes to send some of our athletes to the 2023
  Alberta Summer Games in Okotoks/Diamond Valley, July 20-23. Our Zone can send 4 female and 4 male athletes to the games.  Athletes must be born between January 1, 2008- July 20, 2012 to qualify for the games.

• SMR will host the Red Deer Trail Blazers Race on May 28 that will serve as the qualifier
  for the ​Alberta Summer Games. Trail Blazer Races are for any child who wants to race. The youngest category is U7 and oldest category is U17.

• Please note: you do not need a racing license to enter a Trail Blazer Race. U17 general non-racing membership is all that is needed. A racing membership is needed if the athlete plans
  to race in Alberta Cup races in categories above novice.

• The Alberta Bicycle Association’s event calendar is filling up with additional Trailblazer races in Sundre, Calgary, Lethbridge, Edmonton and Cochrane.