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7-8th Graders

If you are interested in joining a 7th-8th grade team, please see the teams list below and contact your region director. If there is not a team in your area, please contact Jason at jason@utahmtb.org.

Do not use the contact information below for solicitation purposes. This information is solely for prospective riders to contact their school’s team.

Region 1

Becky Alhborn
becky@utahmtb.org

Region 2

Michelle Lyman
michelle@utahmtb.org

Region 3

Tera Frank
tera@utahmtb.org

Region 4

Kristine Peterson
kristine@utahmtb.org

Region 5

Brooke Howard
brooke@utahmtb.org

Region 6

Cortney Thurgood
cortney@utahmtb.org

Junior Development Program information

VISION

The Junior Development program is designed to introduce 7th and 8th graders to the sport of mountain biking focused heavily on fun, fun, fun, skills, fitness, and NICA’s “Spirit of Howdy” with a small taste of the competitive aspects they will find when in high school.

Practice Guidelines
  • 1 -3 practices a week is recommended
  • The main goal is to have fun and develop skills
  • Their physiology is not ready for endurance training at this age – hence race time and training are shorter than HS
RACE DISTANCE

Beginners and Intermediates will race one lap (4-6 miles) and Advanced will race 1-1.5 laps (6-8 miles) when available.

RULES

All rules not related specifically to scoring and divisions in the Rulebook still apply

FEES – $325 in Total

This covers the entire season and includes the following:

  • NICA Membership Fee: $55 – required for all junior development and high school riders
  • NICA Technology Fee: $5 – required for all junior development and high school riders
  • Junior Development (7-8th grade): $265*

* The 2026 fee is a single, one-time-payment that covers all practices, regional races, and any other Utah High School Cycling League events during the 2026 season. The State Championship is a qualifying race and does not incur an additional fee.

CATEGORIES & SCORING
  • Race categories are skill-level based and separated into male/female. Coaches select categories for students.
    • “Advanced” – students who are competent in skills and endurance to race for 2 laps. Students must race Advanced if:
  • Finished in the top 30% of Intermediate category in prior year of racing.
  • Race CAT 1 or 2 in USAC
    • “Intermediate” – students who are not yet advanced, but have fitness and skills to race 1.5 laps. Boys fields will be split into 7th and 8th graders and scored separately.
    • “Beginner” – students who are new to mountain biking, still learning basic skills and endurance; and for whom racing 1 lap is appropriate. Boys fields will be split into 7th and 8th graders and scored separately.
  • NO overall scoring.
  • NO TEAM SCORING.
  • Race day medals will be given to the top five finishers in all categories.

Team Types

High School Team

A High School Team that accepts 7-8th graders and oversees all management, coaching, practices, etc.

High School jr devo Team

A team that is associated with the High School team, but has dedicated coaches and practices.

Jr devo Composite team

Includes students from more than one middle school and is independent from a high school team.

High School teams accept 7th & 8th grade riders at their discretion – they are not required to accept middle school riders or necessarily support a middle school program. Any Jr Devo team can be integrated with the high school team or create their own independent team.