Registration opens April 1st, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.!

MISSION
Developing lifelong cyclists while building self-confidence, having fun, and playing outdoors.

GOALS
Demonstrate improved bike handling and safe trail riding skills while gaining self-confidence
Practice proper trail etiquette and stewardship
Develop a love of physical fitness through the lifelong activity of cycling
Value a connection to nature by exploring outdoors
Create riding comradery, friendships and fond memories while having FUN!

ELIGIBILITY
Open to youth ages 8 - 16 years old who are proficient in basic road/sidewalk bicycle riding skills. (Must be turning 8 in 2023.) Previous mountain biking experience is NOT required.

REGISTRATION
Registration opens April 1 and will remain open until 80 riders have registered, or until April 15, whichever comes first.

LESSON DATES
• June 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 & 29
• July 11 & 18
• Lessons are from 6:15-7:30pm and start at the Bike Shack beside the Skyview Middle School Hockey Rink.

FEES

$100.00 per biker for all 10 lessons. Additionally, each biker must be covered under a Tsalteshi Trails membership, either individually as a student ($20) or as part of a family membership ($120). Start or renew a TTA membership here. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. If you are interested, please contact tsalteshisprockets@gmail.com.

(The fee covers TTA liability insurance, trail maintenance, safety equipment, lesson equipment, use of basic bike repair equipment, use of the Bike Shack, Port-A-Potty rental fees, a bear bell, helmet medical info carrier and fun Sprockets socks.)

ATTENDANCE
Though occasional absences might be unavoidable, please do not register for this program if you know your rider will miss more than two lessons. Groups progress quickly and it will be difficult for a rider to keep up (and have fun in their group!) if they miss several lessons. Sprockets does not offer refunds for missed lessons.

MANDATORY PARENT MEETING

An informational parent meeting will be help over Zoom at 6:30 p.m. June 1. Please be prepared to attend! This is your chance to ask questions and find out vital information about the program.

MORE PROGRAM INFORMATION AVAILABLE HERE

Register on Ultrasignup, here: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=101971

Only 50 runner slots available!

The Tsalteshi Backyard Ultra is the first sanctioned Backyard Ultra in Alaska. Competitors run a 4.167-mile loop an hour, every hour around the clock, for as many laps as they can complete. The last person to complete the loop in an hour is the winner.

The winner of the Tsalteshi Backyard Ultra receives a Bronze Ticket, which entitles them entry to the regional Tartarus Backyard Ultra in Spokane, WA, on Aug. 19. The winner of that race gets a Silver Ticket and proceeds to a national race.

More information on Backyard Ultras: https://backyardultra.com

Entry:

$100, which includes a T-shirt. 

Rules:

• Participants must start the loop at the top of the hour (no late starts)
  
• Except for restrooms, competitors may not leave the course until each loop is completed.
  
• Whatever time is left in the hour after completing a loop may be used for rest, eating and drinking, etc. 
• No non-competitors on the course.
• No personal aid on the course.
• No artificial aids (including trekking poles).
  

Course, tents, parking, etc.:

• The course loop begins and ends at the Wolverine Trailhead on Kaliforsnky Beach Road. The same loop will be used day and night. The course is not lighted at night — welcome to the land of the midnight sun!
• Runners should provide their own aid; however, water and first aid stations will be provided at the trailhead.
  
• Support crews are allowed (but not required) at the trailhead. No support is allowed on the course.
  
• Outhouse facilities will be provided at the trailhead.
• Event parking is across K-Beach Road at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. There will be a drop-off lane at the trailhead but all participants and spectators must park across the street.
• Each participant may set up a tent (up to 10x10) at the trailhead.
  
• There is no electricity at the trailhead. Bring a gas grill or stove if you wish to cook.
• There is no water at the trailhead. Cups of water will be provided for runners at the trailhead but plan to bring your own water for cooking, refilling bottles, etc.
  

The Soldotna Cycle Series is back for 2023!

Join us every Thursday night at 6:15 p.m. from July 6 through Aug. 10 for MTB racing at Tsalteshi. The Soldotna Cycle Series is a MTB race series that is open to riders of all ability levels. There will be a 6k and 12k race distance every week. The series progresses in difficulty from easiest to hardest. Racers should be able to finish their event distance within an hour. Come ride bikes with the friendliest, most welcoming bike community around!

Single race registration is available in person at the beginning of each race. Registration begins at 5:45 p.m. and racing starts at 6:15 p.m.

The Gauntlet is an 8+ checkpoint race where riders decide their own route. Starting at 2 p.m. sharp, the goal of the race is for riders to complete as many laps as possible within the 3-hour time limit. All laps or partial final laps must be finished by 5 p.m. Riders returning after the time limit will default to their last completed lap. 

At the start of the race, the map of checkpoints (all on Tsalteshi property) is revealed and riders are given a handheld copy of the course. Riders must navigate to each of the checkpoints listed, collect a page from a book posted at each checkpoint, and return to the start/finish area to begin a new lap. Riders are responsible for choosing their route between each checkpoint, for finding each checkpoint and for riding within the safety rules of the event.
5 out of 5 participants say its their favorite race of the year.

Check in opens at 1:30 p.m. There is a mandatory riders meeting at 1:45 p.m. Race starts at 2 p.m. SHARP.

The rules of Tsalteshi Gauntlet 2023*
1. The Bear/Dragonfly singletrack is downhill only. All other singletrack is bi-directional. Practice good trail etiquette and yield to uphill riders.
2. Goat, Bear, Rabbit and the steep downhill on Raven are only to be ridden in the correct direction. As in, steep hills are only to be ridden as they would be skied.
3. Any singletrack entered must be ridden for the duration of that section. That means, after reaching the checkpoint, riders must continue in the same direction until they exit that segment of singletrack. No turning around on the trail, creating your own trail or using social trails.
4. To complete a lap and start a new one, riders must acquire pages from all checkpoints and return to the finish area. For their final lap, riders may complete a partial lap, gathering pages from as many checkpoints as possible and returning to the finish area before 5 p.m. Any riders not in queue to turn in pages by 4:59:59 p.m. will not have their last lap count.
5. Anyone who runs into another trail user will be disqualified. It's an endurance race, not a sprint. Take the time to avoid other users and racers.

6. No bringing bikes into the start/finish queue. Please lay them outside and stand in line.

*Rules of the race are subject to change at any time during or before the race, per the race director's discretion.

Chainwreck 2023!

Cyclocross is a type of racing, typically held in the fall and early winter, where riders complete multiple laps around a short, technical circuit to time. Races are typically 30-35 minutes long for all racers. Chainwreck runs every Thursday night from Sept. 7 to Oct. 5.

Come ride bikes with the friendliest, most welcoming bike community around!