Race Day Schedule
The race day itself can be pretty confusing, there is a LOT going on! Especially if it is your first NICA race, you should review the Typical Race Weekend page. It provides a really good overview of the day.
For each racer, keep in mind that you should order your day primarily around your own race. Keeping your race time in focus will really simplify your day.
If you're not busy prepping for your race, one of the most important things you should try to do is cheer on your teammates, especially at the finish line!
For each racer, keep in mind that you should order your day primarily around your own race. Keeping your race time in focus will really simplify your day.
If you're not busy prepping for your race, one of the most important things you should try to do is cheer on your teammates, especially at the finish line!
Ideally, Stay All Day
Ideally, you come for the entire day. Half the fun of the day is hanging out with teammates, swapping stories, and spectating other races. An important part of being on the team is helping out other racers, cheering them on, and being there when they finish. Staying for podium is also encouraged because even though you might not be on the podium individually, your subteam might be and it's always fun to go up for that. Also, you will have friends on the podium, it's virtually guaranteed. Everyone likes having their friends there for their podium, just like you'd want your friends there if you got on the podium.
If you're in for the whole day, try to arrive by 8:30 (unless you're volunteering for setup or pre-riding, then it's more like 7:00) so you can cheer on your teammates in the Freshman boys race! Also, plan to stay through Podiums which start at 5:30 or so.
If you're in for the whole day, try to arrive by 8:30 (unless you're volunteering for setup or pre-riding, then it's more like 7:00) so you can cheer on your teammates in the Freshman boys race! Also, plan to stay through Podiums which start at 5:30 or so.
Minimally, Stay -2 and +3
The race schedule is extra long this year, so we know that not everyone will be able to stay the entire day. At a minimum, you will need to arrive 2 hours before your race starts, and you'll want to stay 3 hours after. Why the +3? That way you can hang with friends and tell your stories, spectate at least one race, eat some food, and help out a bit. If you can arrive 3 hours before (instead of 2), you can watch a race then do your own race prep. If everyone does this, we'll have good spectator and parent volunteer coverage at every race.
