YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
ZEP Racing Programs 2023
ZEP Racing is proud to support and encourage youth racing and riders, providing a safe and fun learning environment for all interested in developing as part of a team. This handbook aims to set riders and parents up for success in the upcoming season.
Program Options:
ZEP Racing has four program options available, each designed to accommodate different riders needs for the upcoming race season:
ZEP Racing Team:
The ZEP Racing Team is for junior riders aged 13 to 19 years looking to pursue their racing further as they begin to focus on improved performance while still developing themselves as humans, riders and competitors. Support will be provided at the 3 race Dunbar Series, 2 other traveling BC Cups, and local races at the Whistler BC Cup, Crankworx and Phat Wednesdays. Around these race events, coaching sessions twice per week are included from May to September.
ZEP Grom Race Team:
The Grom Race Team is designed as an introduction to provincial DH racing. For this group 3 traveling races will be included in the program (Silverstar, Sun Peaks and Mt Washington), along with local race coverage at Whistler BC Cup, Crankworx and Phat Wednesdays. This team will also have the opportunity to train alongside the ZEP Racing Team during the season, when possible.
ZEP Enduro Race Team:
The Enduro Race Team is designed as an introduction to provincial ENDURO racing. For this group 3 traveling races will be included in the program (TBC), along with local race coverage at Whistler BC Cup, Crankworx and Phat Wednesdays. This program also includes 8 half-day coaching sessions throughout the season.
Race Prep & Support:
Designed for riders and families who cannot commit to season long sessions in Whistler, but still wish to have coach support at races through the summer. Riders would be offered the same support at provincial races and the Dunbar series, with 2 spring training camps instead of weekly training sessions.
All ZEP Race Teams will also be invited to join the weekend ZEP Spring Training Camps, cost tbc.
ZEP Racing Team | Grom Race Team | Enduro Race Team | Race Prep & Support | Winter Training Program | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ages | 13 & up | 13 & up | 16 & up | 13 & up |
4 Skills & Air Awareness Sessions @ AirRec Nutrition Program & 2 Info Sessions Strength & Conditioning 16 week program Sports Psychology Performance Sessions x2 ZEP Water Bottle, Stickers & Goal Setting Support through the winter |
Spring Sessions | 12 after school | 12 after school | 2 x 2-day camps | 2 x 2-day camps | |
Full Day Coaching Sessions | 10 | 13 | 8 (half day) | N/A | |
Dunbar Race Support | Yes | No | No | Yes | |
Travel Race Support (BC Cups or BC Enduro) |
2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Local Race Support | Phat Wednesdays, Whistler BC Cup, Crankworx | Phat Wednesdays, Whistler BC Cup, Crankworx | Phat Wednesdays, Whistler BC Cup, Crankworx | N/A |
About The Coaching:
For all options within ZEP Racing, we’re proud to have some of the industry’s most experienced coaches working with these programs.
With both the Prov Race and Prov Race Dev programs, our coaches will design and implement long term development plans. Built around a mix of the rider’s current ability, season, and longer-term goals; these plans will help achieve a season long progression and performance growth for all.
Riders in the Race Prep and Support program will have a different style of presentation. Our coaches will implement two 2-day coaching camps, designed to work on a mix of skill based, physical and tactical aspects of riding and racing. It is our aim after the four days to provide each rider qualities to focus on before meeting back up at the races. This program will suit self-motivated riders, excited to take away what they learn and practice before heading out to events.
Once at the races, all programs will have the support of our coaches. From track walk discussions, practice advice and feedback, to race run warm up and starts we’ll be there to support the riders needs. With this race support, we’ll also provide a pit space to help with any mechanical issues that may arise and provide a spot to rest between sessions.
Event Details:
Prior to the races themselves, there is some admin to be done:
For BC Cups, Dunbar Series or Canadian Open DH riders will need a UCI license. These are registered through BC Cycling:
We do ask that riders in the race programs register as team members when filling out the application, team name ‘ZEP Racing’. This helps our staff search event entries for plate numbers, start times etc. during a race weekend to ensure all team members’ details are correct.
With a race license, race entries are possible. Our staff will notify team members once entries are open for applicable events to ensure spots are obtained before selling out (rare but could happen). As with licenses, when registering we ask that ‘ZEP Racing’ is added in any team/sponsor opportunities.
Once entries are processed, each event will have a ‘race booklet’. While our coaches will manage details around the event, we do require parents to read through these to understand the event as well. Most important to check are the protective gear requirements (U15s often require elbow pads while other age groups do not, as an example). We understand these rules also vary between events, so ensure the coaches have the relevant information as well.
Event Costs:
Below are the average costs for race requirements from last season’s travel races. These prices do vary between resorts, but should be used as a rough estimate for the upcoming season:
BC Cups/Dunbar Series:
- Lift Tickets: Average $146 per event
- Entry Fees: Average $72 per event
- Race License: $130 for the season
- Fuel and accommodation vary between events. Last season the Dunbar series was 11 nights of accommodation and 2000km of driving (14 nights and more kms expected in 2023 as it will be 4 events).
- Mt Washington and Coast Gravity Park will require the ferry. It is strongly recommended to book these in advance.
Typical Event Format/Schedule:
While specific event schedules will vary, below is an outline of how the events typically run:
BC Cups and Dunbar Series Races:
Friday
- 10 am – 3:30 pm: Free riding/open practice. At most events the racetrack is taped and open to the public. We leave this as an open session for team members to ride for fun and get a feel for the resort, be it the racetrack or other trails.
- 3:30 pm – 4 pm: Bike check time. Saving the rush in the morning, we’ll use this time to go over bikes.
- 4 pm – 5:30 pm: Track walk. The beginning of the weekends coaching, the team will meet at the ZEP Racing Tent to head up and assess the weekends course.
- 5 pm – 7 pm: Plate Collection. While track walk is in progress, we ask that parents head to the registration area to collect plates. It is at this time race licenses need to be shown (I save a screenshot of mine in my favourite photos for the summer).
Saturday
- 9:15 am: Rider meeting. We expect riders to have bike checked and be ready to line up at this time. As such, coaches will always be setting up 30 minutes before the meet time to deal with any issues prior to practice.
- 10 am – 12:30 pm: Open Practice, all categories
- 12:30 – 1 pm: UCI category practice
- 1:15 – 2:30 pm: Non-UCI category practice
- 2:30pm: UCI category Practice followed by seeding
Sunday
- 9 am: Rider meeting. We expect riders to have bike checked and be ready to line up at this time. As such, coaches will always be setting up 30 minutes before the meet time to deal with any issues prior to practice.
- 10 am – 11:30 pm: Open Practice, all categories
- 11:30 – 12 pm: UCI category practice
- 12:15 pm: Racing begins, category order may vary between events
During the Dunbar series, midweek events will follow the same 3 day layout as above. Depending on the event, the racetrack may not be open for riding before track walk.
Crankworx:
Event structure varies more during Crankworx, but typically each event has the same layout year to year. Pumptrack and Dual Slalom tend to be full day events, with practice followed by racing brackets. Air DH and Garbanzo DH are expected to also follow this schedule, as Air DH did in 2022. Canadian Open is typically spread over 3 days, with early practice sessions Friday, Saturday and Sunday followed immediately by amateur category races Sunday lunchtime.
Race Provisions:
As race support, in addition to coaching we provide a pit setup for events attended by the team. Our aim is to ensure that even if a mechanical happens during practice, we can assist in fixing the bike and keep a rider’s weekend going.
What to prepare/bring:
While we aim to provide the tools and space to fix any mechanical issues that may arise, we do ask for bikes to be checked pre-trip, and recommend spares be brought along.
Pre-Trip
- All trips
- Bike check
- Bolt check
- Spokes
- Brake pad wear
- Tire condition
- Suspension
- Headset
- Drivetrain/gears
- Dunbar Series (additional to above, recommended)
- Suspension Service
- Brake Bleed
Spares/Tools
- Spokes
- Brake Pads (double for Dunbar)
- Tires (double for Dunbar)
- Derailleur Hanger
- Bleed kit (we bring Shimano and Sram bleed kits, other brands may need specific tooling)