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 Chris at chris@utahmtb.org
Please scroll past team lists for complete details about the Junior Development program.
DO NOT USE THE CONTACT INFORMATION BELOW FOR SOLICITATION PURPOSES. THIS INFORMATION IS SOLELY FOR PROSPECTIVE RIDERS TO CONTACT THEIR SCHOOL'S TEAM
2025 regions
"+" indicates a High School team that allows 7-8th graders
Composite Teams (COMP) are area-based teams
Region 1
Race Director: Ginger Hall
region 2
Race Director: Michelle Lyman
LAYTON
Head Coach: James Phelps
Facebook, Instagram, Website
MORGAN JR DEVO+
Head Coaches: Bethy and Jake Bell
NORTHRIDGE+
Head Coach: James Phelps
Facebook, Instagram, Website
SALT LAKE CENTER FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION+
Head Coach: Bryan Patnode
SKYLINE+
Head Coach: Erik Johnson
SYRACUSE+
Head Coach: James Phelps
Facebook, Instagram, Website
region 3
Race Director: Tera Frank
DRAPER PARK JR DEVO
Head Coach: Joshua Bunting
Website, Facebook, Instagram
Corner Canyon Jr., Draper Park Jr.
JORDAN+
Head Coach: Jesse Hennefer
Website
Eastmont MS, Mount Jordan MS, Midvale MS
JUAN DIEGO+
Head Coach: Lindsey Bellomy
Website
*St John the Baptist, Blessed Sacrament, St. Andrew
*for students planning to attend Juan Diego for High School
MURRAY/TAYLORSVILLE COMP+
Head Coach: Justin Bath
OLYMPUS+
Head Coach: Rosie Gillespie
Facebook
RIVERTON JR DEVO+
Head Coach: Jeremiah Ducourant
Website
SALT LAKE CITY JR DEVO COMP+
Head Coach: Nate Grossman
SLARTS, Hillside, Rowland Hall, Highland Park, Clayton, Madeline Choir
WEST GRANITE COMPOSITE+
Head Coach: Rochelle Bartschi
Bennion, Brockbank, Eisenhower, Hunter, Jefferson, John F. Kennedy, Kearns, Mattheson, Valley, West Lake JH
Website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
region 4
Race Director: Kristine Peterson
REGION 5
Race Director: Brooke Howard
region 6
Race Director: Cortney Thurgood
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
Season Fee of $300. This covers the entire season and includes the 3 Jr Devo races (which are the first 3 races for each region).
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.