Big Butte Open Space

Butte, MT  59701

2024

September 28th, 9:00 AM

Course Description

Directions (CLICK HERE)
The race will be held at Big Butte Open Space trailhead just west of the Montana Tech Campus. For easy directions either click the link above, or head for the MT Tech HPER Complex and that will get you very close.

The race starts right at the Big Butte Open Space trailhead just west of the Montana Tech Campus. Riders will immediately have an opportunity to sort out position with a nice start climb before getting into the meat of the course which is primarily singletrack with a handful of two track sections thrown in for passing. Racers should be ready to communicate passing and cooperate with one another. The trail surface is made up of crushed granite, so be ready to either corner cautiously or do a bit of sliding if it is dry. Each lap is about 3.5 miles with 380 feet of climbing.  

Google MyMaps link 

Pre-Ride

The course will be open for pre-ride Friday afternoon (5:00-7:00 PM) and Saturday morning (8:00-8:45 AM). We strongly recommend that all racers pre-ride the course and bring a map, plenty of water, cell phone, and not ride alone. Please pass course workers with great care and stay off the course outside of the above times.  Only registered riders, coaches, and staff are allowed on the course. Everyone needs a race plate or a registered coach plate to be on course. No unregistered parents/siblings allowed on course. All racers must have a coach with them during pre-ride.

Volunteer at Our Races

Volunteers are the backbone of our League and make our events possible. Please consider volunteering at this race, we are confident you’ll love it, money-back guarantee!   We will need volunteers for Friday and Saturday. Sign up HERE! If you have any volunteering-related questions, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Cindy Schultz at volunteer@montanamtb.org.     

2024 Registration

For 2024 we are carrying on with the flat fee structure, race entries are included in your registration! There is no extra cost for attending races, but you must sign-up for the races you will attend so we can keep track of student-athletes and have appropriate call-ups. Please sign-up in Pit Zone by 11:59 PM on the Monday before the race to make sure we can get you added to the call-up list (by Monday, September 23rd). If student-athletes miss the registration deadline they are still welcome to show up on race day and join in, however they’ll miss out on their call-up and will line up at the back of their field - no exceptions.

Chip Timing

All racers will receive a permanent number plate with chip timing transponder on the backside. Racers will use this race plate for all five races, so please remove this number plate before mounting the bike on car to prevent loss. Replacement number plates will be available at the registration tent for $20.

Registration Information – Race Plate Pick-up

The registration tent will be open on Friday 4:00-7:00 PM and Saturday until 11:00 AM. Students who do not have a plate can check in with registration after speaking to their head coach. These chip timing number plates will be used for the entire season, please do not lose them. Reminder: double check that you are registered and Race Ready in the NICA Pit Zone!

Again, racers will be using their number plate for the entire season; replacement number plates are available at Registration for $20.

Don’t forget to sign-up for this race in Pit Zone by 11:59 pm on Monday, September 23rd to ensure your student athlete is added to the start list and receives a call-up. Racers who miss the deadline are still welcome to show up and race, however they will start at the back of their respective field, no exceptions.

In order to race you must meet Race Ready status!

Race Ready Checklist:

• Pit Zone profile completed
• Waivers electronically signed in the Pit Zone
• League registration fees paid and registered for the race!

Category

Staging Time

Start Time

Laps

~Miles

~Race Time

  WAVE 1

8th Grade Boys

9:10 AM

9:15 AM

1

3.5

<40 min

7th Grade Boys

9:20 AM

1

3.5

<40 min

6th Grade Boys

9:25 AM

1

3.5

<40 min

  WAVE 2

7th/8th Comp Girls

9:50 AM

10:00 AM

2

7

<60 min

8th Grade Girls

10:02 AM

1

3.5

<40 min

7th Grade Girls

10:04 AM

1

3.5

<40 min

6th Grade Girls

10:06 AM

1

3.5

<40 min

  WAVE 3

7th/8th Comp Boys

10:40 AM

10:50 AM

2

7

<60 min

JV3 Boys

10:55 AM

2

7

<60 min

  WAVE 4

Varsity Girls

11:35 AM

11:45 AM

4

14

<90 min

JV1 Girls

11:47 AM

3

10.5

<75 min

JV2 Girls

11:49 AM

2

7

<60 min

JV3 Girls

11:51 AM

2

7

<60 min

  WAVE 5

Varsity Boys

1:05 PM

1:15 PM

5

17.5

<90 min

JV1 Boys

1:17 PM

4

14

<75 min

JV2 Boys

1:19 PM

3

10.5

<60 min

• Pit Zone drop-off is open to teams only from 3:00-7:00 pm on Friday.
• All participants will be expected to help with course takedown and awards will not begin until after takedown is completed.
• Pit Zone will open to vehicles for loading after completion of awards.
• No smoking.
• No inappropriate language.
• Any conflicts and/or disputes with any race official or volunteer shall not be dealt with in the team pit area.
• All bikes must be walked in Pit Zone area.
• Helmets must be worn at all times while riding.
• Any violation of the above rules may result in a team penalty and/or expulsion from the team pit and infield area.
• No gasoline generators and no open fires inside the team pit areas (including no charcoal grills).
• Dogs must be kept on leash at all times at the race venue. Clean up after your dogs.

Contacts:

League Director

Sam Schultz

sam@montanamtb.org

Volunteer Coordinator

Cindy Schultz

volunteer@montanamtb.org

Chief of Registration

Molly Bowman

registration@montanamtb.org

Chief of Scoring

Simia Ranieri and Sarah Fricke

scorekeeper@montanamtb.org

• Please pack out what you pack in. No garbage receptacles will be provided.
• Potable water is Available at the HPER Building
• Review our Refund and Weather Policy HERE.
• All racing will be governed by the NICA Rulebook.
• We hope all racers and their families will stay after the race for the award ceremony!

Additional Butte Information

Overnight Camping Available at Copper Mountain Recreation Complex!

The Montana League encourages racers, coaches, and parents to camp out! We have gotten permission to use the 3 Legends Field/Copper Mountain Sports Complex for camping. This area is located about 3.7 miles and a 10 minute drive from the main venue. It is a large sports complex area with a big parking lot that has space for around 60-70 campers and nearly unlimited grassy space for tents. Trailers over 24 feet are not recommended for the sports complex. There are NO DOGS allowed at the camping area. We encourage dog owners and anyone looking for overflow camping to head up Delmoe Lake Road at the top of Homestake Pass for dispersed camping on BLM land. There are many sites up there, but please note that no services will be provided there. Please leave trailers at camp during race day as there is not sufficient parking at the race venue for campers.

• Some guidelines:
•  Parental supervision required, no exceptions. Coaches are responsible for their students during practices and pre-rides, the league is responsible for a safe and fun race experience, but neither can provide supervision outside of these times.
•  Campsites are first come-first served. No hookups available for RV's.
• Generators are allowed in camping area but must be turned off by 9 pm.
•  Pack in/pack out trash *no trash service provided.
• Additional dispersed sites can be found up Delmoe Lake Road
• No open fires allowed, charcoal grills included.
• Propane grills in camp area are OK.  
• Quiet time for all campers is 10 PM

Copper Kings Clash Course Map

*Click on map for an interactive view

The Montana Interscholastic Cycling League is a Project League of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit youth development organization, guided by the core values of fun, inclusivity, equity, respect and community. The league promotes interscholastic mountain bike racing, provides training and education to new teams and coaches, and offers a comprehensive infrastructure to grow youth cycling in a professional, safe and engaging manner.