MUC OFF – Cross on the Rock 2025.  Season #19

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We hope everyone had some time today to recognize and reflect on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.  It is an important time for us all to learn about the impact and trauma that the residential school system had on Indigenous Peoples in Canada. 
Race Season has started note
TEAM COMPETITION 2025

We have tweaked the team competition this year based on feedback.  This was in the works BEFORE the first race but we have not had time to re-program the calculator.  Roland will get this done in the next few days.  In the meantime recruit team members and make sure your team name is correct for everyone from last weekend!

Team Standings Rules

• Teams must have at least 3 members
• Top 8 racers per team contribute points towards the team score
• Winning Open is worth 100 points, Intermediate/Masters 90 points, Launch 80 points
• Other placings get a percentage on winners points based on placing

Points are LOCKED in at a certain point after each race.  This is to avoid a points “surge” at the end of the season which disrupts the points and makes it less fun for everyone.
 LOCK in Schedule:The points for race 1&2 are locked in the day before race #3.The points for race #3  are locked in the day before race #4.The points for race 4&5 locked in a week after race #5 and a week before the series final. Be sure to have your team name correct for the series final registration! It is a good idea to elect one person to check and edit team names for your team members after each race to make sure they are constant and the points are correct.
Repeat notes:

• UPDATE on Licenses for 2025.
  License Requirements for 2025 for Cross on the Rock. The most simple of all time.  No license required!  Race as much as you want or as little as you want.  No difference as you still don’t need a license.
• We do have a change for our number package.  Each racer (other than the 2 kids categories) will have a one time charge of $10 set up for their race number for the season.  This is just once unless you lose or destroy your race number.  This charge will offset our change in insurance providers and overall make it much easier and accessible for people to race our events.
• The Photo Contest is BACK!!  It has been a few years.  Time for photo our photo contest again!  Each photographer can enter their top 3 after race number 5.  We will have a panel of judges to determine the winner for the season.  Prizes will be given!

1. Coal Cross Review.
COAL CROSS RESULTS
RACER SERIES POINTS after Race #1

Some Photo links:
Terry McKall got some shots of the Masters and Super Masters before his battery died.  LINK

Thanks to everyone for their help on Sunday, and for making the race so great. Brett Whitehead, Scott McGregor, Dan Lehton, and Tim Roberts did so much work to get the course ready and make it the awesome lap it was. Tim cut a whole new run-up for us, but then we couldn’t use it after the downpour on Saturday. We’ll save it for next year. Thanks to those who volunteered and helped out: Jim Meldrum, Alex and Elyas Smith, Gavin McPhail, Annabelle and Suzanna, Jeff Warmerdam, Beth Pechter, Lisa Ludwig, Tyler Walker, Andrew Sauter, Erica, Luca, Nico and Sonja Schum, Gillian Clayton, Natalie Wright, and the different permutations and combinations of Pechters and Rachers. Thanks to all those who helped take down the course after the race too.  Huge thanks to our local sponsors: Jeff at Trail Bicycles, Emilie at BiblioTaco, and Jackson at Blue Toque. Thank these guys with your business the next time you’re in Cumberland.  It felt great getting heckled by Gray and Nolan during my race, and pushed hard by fellow racers from start to finish.  Hope you all had a great time at Village Park this year!
Norm’s Notes (So many for this event!!):

• A record BROKEN at Coal Cross.  Race #1 of the season already broke the record for the least number of DNFs.  For the very first time we had less than 1% not finish at 0.7%.  Only 2 races did not make it to the finish line.  Coal cross now occupies 3 of the top 10 “tamest” races with 1st, 2nd and 10th.  It also is #6 (2006) and #8 (2007) for hardest races!
• Some “Spirit” awards for the race:  Kimberly Chen for her pass during the OPEN race by taking the jump.  Zachary Rebitt for a wicked inside pass through a puddle.  Have not seen corners like that since Jeff Beaston owner of Trail Bikes was racing!
• Also some mentions of: 
  • Daiya Schlossburger doing her first OPEN women’s race at 15 and having to race her mom!
  • The “love fest” race between Canadian Champ Bob Welbourne and USA Champ Justin Morgan.  They had a great battle going and Bob even waited for Justin when he had his initial mechanical.  Unfortunately Justin had a late flat which shut that battle down and Bob was free to fly.
  • Mical Dyck coming back to COTR for the first time since 2019 and taking the win for fastest mom AND Open women.  Also extending her lead for the most wins EVER at COTR.
  • Eleanor Winchell racing on her birthday and matching her best placing for OPEN Women with another 2nd.  That first win has to be coming…..
  • Canadian Paris Olympic athlete Fiona Majendie making her cyclocross debut!
  • Andrew McCartney ALMOST had his jersey done up for the full OPEN men’s race……another record?
  • 12 Single speeders in Masters Men 40-54.  That has to be a record!

2. FUNHOUSE X coming this weekend. Preview.
REGISTRATION LINK IS OPEN

PORT ALBERNI IS BACK!! Location: Port Alberni Fair Grounds- 3737 Roger St, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 8J4 Fair grounds located at the end of Vimy St                            –  2.5 hour drive from Victoria                           – 1 hour drive from Nanaimo                           – 1.5 hour drive from Duncan

                          – 1 hour drive from Cumberland

Parking: (SEE THE MAP (Note they did not give us a Map)) There is a HUGE parking area. As you enter the grounds you will turn right, there is a giant gravel parking area. Look for the signs. Do NOT park near your team tent. The gates to team tents will be closed after 10am!! Get here early to set up tents.

Registration: If you need to pick up your race number,  make some change or switch your category it will be located right out front of the Kinsmen building as you enter the grounds. Washrooms will be near the Kinsmen building.Team Tents: All team tents will go up against the horse corral. See the attached map. Head into the grounds. Drop your tent and go park!  No room for vehicles. The gates to team tents will be closed after 10am!!

The pits will be located close to team tentsCourse: Grass, singletrack, sand, MUD, tractor pull, sawdust, and a big run up! It is a flat course, but flowy and still has that true Port Alberni flavour.Did we mention there is a live DJ AND a fire truck coming to fill our mud pit!?!?

This is THE race of the season, you won’t want to miss it!! 

Camping: There is camping available at the fairgrounds if needed. Please reach out info@jumpingslug.com and we will connect the dots.Course Hazards:  While we have use of the grounds, there may be people unaware. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP.

The course will have some special features… if you have not hit these features in practice, do not fly the SUPER HERO cape in the race!

Food Truck: Jacks Grilled Cheese and Surta foods will be providing the good eats this year!

Beer gardens: Twin City Brewing from Port Alberni will be back! Serving up their delicious beer! Make sure to have a cold one while cheering on the race.

Prizing:  Prizing will be provided by The Jumping Slug Bike Shop, Eleven Speed Coffee, V.I. Soaring center, Trek, Twin City Brewing, Godfather Garage, Hotel Zed, and our title sponsor Muc Off!!

Huge draw prize for one lucky racer at the end of the day!

(Must be there to win the prize)Race Day Schedule
Race day schedule unless otherwise posted:

Registration Open	9:15 am
Beginner Clinic-Pre Ride	10:00 am
Launch Men(Including Youth U13 and U15)	10:45 am
Launch Women ((Including Youth U13 and U15)	10:46 am
Younglings (Bigger Kids). Full lap or almost a full lap	11:40
Intermediate Men (Including U17)	12:10 pm
Intermediate Women (Including U17 and Masters Women)	12:11 pm
Lil Nutcase Kids Race	12:15 pm
Masters Men (40-54)	1:15 pm
Super Master Men (55+)	1:16 pm
Open Men	2:30 pm
Open Women	2:31 pm

3. Cross Club Victoria
Have you heard about Cross Club? 

http://www.crossclubvictoria.com/
This year’s Wednesday night training are presented by Pro City Racing and are scheduled between September 10th and October 29th. These events are sanctioned through Cycling BC as a Grassroots 100 event and all participants must hold a current Cycling BC membership, or UCI License. Our events are weather-dependent; please check our Facebook page or email for updates on the day. If you have questions, please email the lead contact for the event, Kelly Guest.  Locations for each practice ride will be emailed to all registered participants on the Monday before each practice.   

Hey Clubs, Teams and Groups.

Time for us to update our Teams and Clubs page  If you have a team, club, or group that is cyclocross focused or does it on the side please let us know and we will get it up on our page.

Let’s get muddy, race hard, and have some fun this fall! 💪

#Cyclocross #CrossIsComing #RockCityCycles #RideWithUs #CrossOnTheRock

Parting Shot
If you mess up and miss the registration cut off don’t come empty handed!  We won’t turn you away but the right “bribe” always makes it a bit easier!!  (Also Jasper Blake I think you still owe us some root beer!!)

MUC OFF – Cross on the Rock 2025.  Season #19

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Almost Race Season Notes:

• UPDATE on Licenses for 2025.
  License Requirements for 2025 for Cross on the Rock. The most simple of all time.  No license required!  Race as much as you want or as little as you want.  No difference as you still don’t need a license.
• We do have a change for our number package.  Each racer (other than the 2 kids categories) will have a one time charge of $10 set up for their race number for the season.  This is just once unless you lose or destroy your race number.  This charge will offset our change in insurance providers and overall make it much easier and accessible for people to race our events.
• Team Competition.  We have some changes to our team competition including points distribution and time cut off for sorting out your team names.  Keep an eye on the web page for updates on this.
• Photo Contest!!  It has been a few years.  Time for photo our photo contest again!  Each photographer can enter their top 3 after race number 5.  We will have a panel of judges to determine the winner for the season.  Prizes will be given!

1. Coal Cross Preview.
RACE #1. September 28th.  Coal Cross.  Village Park.  Cumberland. 
Registration is finally open for this event.  Sorry for the delay.

REGISTER HERE
It has taken a while to strip away a lot of what we no longer needed and add what we did need to our registration page.  We think we have it all sorted out but if you notice anything weird please let us know.

Since we are SO LATE we would also appreciate as much share-love that you can give us!!

Registration CLOSES at 6:00pm the night before each race.  Don’t be late.  Don’t forget.  Register right now!

Race Day Schedule
Race day schedule unless otherwise posted:

Registration Open	9:15 am
Beginner Clinic-Pre Ride	10:00 am
Launch Men(Including Youth U13 and U15)	10:45 am
Launch Women ((Including Youth U13 and U15)	10:46 am
Younglings (Bigger Kids). Full lap or almost a full lap	11:40
Intermediate Men (Including U17)	12:10 pm
Intermediate Women (Including U17 and Masters Women)	12:11 pm
Lil Nutcase Kids Race	12:15 pm
Masters Men (40-54)	1:15 pm
Super Master Men (55+)	1:16 pm
Open Men	2:30 pm
Open Women	2:31 pm

Race Day Awards follow a quick clean up.

2. Looking Ahead to race #2
Year number two for the Jumping Slug COTR race and already a new name!!
We hope to have registration open by this weekend since we have hopefully dialed in the processes on CCN a bit better.  Keep an eye on our web page and socials.  In the meantime enjoy the event poster.

3. Repeat: Cross on the Rock 2025 – Season #19 – Series Schedule

RACE #1. September 28th.  Coal Cross.  Village Park.  Cumberland.  Trail Bikes Bike Club are hosting the series opener for 2025.  One of the best courses for spectating in one of the best towns for biking. Be sure to pop into and check out the new Frontrunners location on Dunsmuir Street and head to Bibliotaco while you are in town!

Race #2.  October 5th.  Twin City X.  The Fair Grounds.  Port Alberni.  It was great to have Port Alberni back on the schedule in 2024 with a rowdy time at the fair grounds.  There is no better reason to go over the hump than to race bikes with the Slug Crew.  Many racers said this was their favorite race of 2024.

Race #3. October 13th.  The Muc Off Cup.  Bowen Park.  Nanaimo.  We don’t like to just throw out the word “Classic” but in this case it is justified.  Bowen park Cross on the Rock is a CLASSIC.  Our 2nd most visited venue.  A race that has held many records including BIGGEST ever COTR race (2019), Biggest Category with Masters Men 88 racers (2017, Hardest Race with 14.5% DNFs ((2014) AND 2 of the “tamest” races of the top 10 in 2016 and 2019 with less than 1.6 and1.3% DNF.  The absolute BEST way to spend Thanksgiving Monday!!

Race #4.  October 26th.  Crosstoberfest.  Transfer Beach.  Ladysmith.  We are heading back to Ladysmith!!  The Cycle Therapy Cycling Club is swapping up their race venue for this season to bring back CROSSTOBERFEST.  If you were at Crosstoberfest the last time we raced there in 2019 you will remember the tide coming in through the day to the point during the Open race that there was not much beach left for the races! 

Race #5. November 2nd.  Hot Crossed Bunnies.  Beban Park.  Nanaimo.  The ICON.  Home of the first ever Canadian National Championship held on Vancouver Island of any cycling type.  Home of the first ever sanctioned cyclocross race on Vancouver Island.  The birthplace of COTR.  Our most frequently used venue!  In 19 COTR seasons we have raced here 18 years PLUS 3 more times!

Race #6.  November 16. Broad Street Cycles GP.  Jordie Lunn Bike Park. (Greater) Victoria. (Langford).  Finishing the 19th COTR season with Victoria races for the first time since 2018 and the Day of Thunder.  We will be racing for double points and to beat our friends on the challenging course at the Jordie Lunn Bike Park.  Finishing the season with awards, celebrations and smiles after yet another amazing fall!

Hey Clubs, Teams and Groups.

Time for us to update our Teams and Clubs page  If you have a team, club, or group that is cyclocross focused or does it on the side please let us know and we will get it up on our page.

Let’s get muddy, race hard, and have some fun this fall! 💪

#Cyclocross #CrossIsComing #RockCityCycles #RideWithUs #CrossOnTheRock

Parting Shot (Looking to race #3 before Race #1!)

MUC OFF – Cross on the Rock 2025.  Season #19

Newsletter #2 -Schedule Adjustment –
Race Bikes.  Make Friends.  Have Fun.

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It is the Tuesday night 5 days before what was supposed to be our first race of Season #19 for Cross on the Rock at Layritz Park.  We have made the decision this afternoon to not go a head with that events as our season opener.  We can get into all the reasons for it but basically it was getting to the point that we were just pushing and pushing to make it happen.  We were bending time, space and resources and we did not think it would have been a great race.  The available terrain after factoring in all the other events happening in the park on Sunday was in the opinion of our crew “Great for a Wednesday nighter but not great for a COTR event”.

In 19 seasons we have only cancelled a race one other time and that was for a black out snow storm.  We are not happy about it.  We did not take the decision lightly but we know it is the right thing to do.

The search continues for another more available and viable venue in Victoria!!

In the meantime we are continuing our preparations for Race #1 for 2025 and we will see you at Coal Cross!

Pre-Season Notes:

• UPDATE on Licenses for 2025.  We still do not have this worked out.  We are exploring a few options for the season.  One includes Cycling BC.  One does not.  If you don’t have your license yet…..just hold off for now.  IF you plan on racing Provincial Championships you WILL need a license.  IF you only plan on racing Cross on the Rock this year you might not need a license.  We will sort it out with lots of time before race #1.
• Mountain Bike World Championships on this week!  COTR Alumni Jenn Jackson taking her first ever International short track podium WHEN IT COUNTED with a 3rd at the world championships!  Keep an eye on all the action!!

1. UPDATED Cross on the Rock 2025 – Season #19 – Series Preview

RACE #1. September 28th.  Coal Cross.  Village Park.  Cumberland.  Trail Bikes Bike Club are hosting the series opener for 2025.  One of the best courses for spectating in one of the best towns for biking. Be sure to pop into and check out the new Frontrunners location on Dunsmuir Street and head to Bibliotaco while you are in town!

Race #2.  October 5th.  Twin City X.  The Fair Grounds.  Port Alberni.  It was great to have Port Alberni back on the schedule in 2024 with a rowdy time at the fair grounds.  There is no better reason to go over the hump than to race bikes with the Slug Crew.  Many racers said this was their favorite race of 2024.

Race #3. October 13th.  The Muc Off Cup.  Bowen Park.  Nanaimo.  We don’t like to just throw out the word “Classic” but in this case it is justified.  Bowen park Cross on the Rock is a CLASSIC.  Our 2nd most visited venue.  A race that has held many records including BIGGEST ever COTR race (2019), Biggest Category with Masters Men 88 racers (2017, Hardest Race with 14.5% DNFs ((2014) AND 2 of the “tamest” races of the top 10 in 2016 and 2019 with less than 1.6 and1.3% DNF.  The absolute BEST way to spend Thanksgiving Monday!!

Weekend break in here for the Tripleshot Cross Fondo!

Race #4.  October 26th.  Crosstoberfest.  Transfer Beach.  Ladysmith.  We are heading back to Ladysmith!!  The Cycle Therapy Cycling Club is swapping up their race venue for this season to bring back CROSSTOBERFEST.  If you were at Crosstoberfest the last time we raced there in 2019 you will remember the tide coming in through the day to the point during the Open race that there was not much beach left for the races! 

Race #5. November 2nd.  Hot Crossed Bunnies.  Beban Park.  Nanaimo.  The ICON.  Home of the first ever Canadian National Championship held on Vancouver Island of any cycling type.  Home of the first ever sanctioned cyclocross race on Vancouver Island.  The birthplace of COTR.  Our most frequently used venue!  In 19 COTR seasons we have raced here 18 years PLUS 3 more times!

A break in here for the Provincial Championships!

Race #6.  November 16. Broad Street Cycles GP.  Jordie Lunn Bike Park. (Greater) Victoria. (Langford).  Finishing the 19th COTR season with Victoria races for the first time since 2018 and the Day of Thunder.  We will be racing for double points and to beat our friends on the challenging course at the Jordie Lunn Bike Park.  Finishing the season with awards, celebrations and smiles after yet another amazing fall!

Registration will be OPEN for Cumberland in about a week so keep your eyes on our IG or FB pages and on our site as we update it for the upcoming season.

Hey Clubs, Teams and Groups.

Time for us to update our Teams and Clubs page  If you have a team, club, or group that is cyclocross focused or does it on the side please let us know and we will get it up on our page.

Let’s get muddy, race hard, and have some fun this fall! 💪

#Cyclocross #CrossIsComing #RockCityCycles #RideWithUs #CrossOnTheRock

Parting Shot
Slightly Delayed start to the season but we are looking forward to seeing everyone in Cumberland!!

MUC OFF – Cross on the Rock 2025.  Season #19

Newsletter #1 (The First Round) – Race Bikes.  Make Friends.  Have Fun.

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Summer takes us away and gives us adventure and SO much fun…..and then every year cyclocross season sneaks up on us.  September seems so far away and there seems like there is way more time than there is.  Then BOOM!  Labour day is here and you have not done a single interval!  Don’t worry.  Almost everyone is in the same situation.  The Cross on the Rock series is not the world championships.  If you are in shape.  Out of shape.  Want to get in shape……..it is about racing hard and having fun.  More than that it is a gathering of some of the best people in one place on 7 days of the fall.  It is a homecoming for our community!  It is coming FAST!  We can’t wait!

Pre-Season Notes:

• Licenses for 2025.  We don’t know what will be needed yet or how CBC has adjusted their policies yet.  Give us a week and it will be sorted out.  We will post it on the web page and our socials.  If you don’t have your license yet…..just hold off for now.
• It has been a BUSY summer for COTR Alumni!  From PB’s at Elite World Cup MTB races for Emilly Johnston.  LEADING the U23 world Cup for Ella Macphee.  Top 5’s for Marin Lose.   To the Canada Summer Games for Sidney Swierenga (Jr Women),  Eleanor Winchell (Team relay posdium),   Kimberly Chen ( Gold in the Women’s Criterium,) (Photo from CBC e-mail).  And way back Alumi Sarah Van Dam rode her first Tour de France Femmes,   So much to keep track of and I am sure we missed more than we found but it is amazing to see our friends competing in bigger races and off the island.

1. Cross on the Rock 2025 – Season #19 – Series Preview
RACE #1: September 14th.  Victoria Cyclocross Grand Prix. Layritz Park. (Greater) Victoria (Saanich). Triple Shot Cycling Club and Pro City Cycles-The Trek Shop will be joining forces once again to kick off the race season.  Layritz Park was the location of our first cyclocross race experience on a Wednesday nighter so it will be amazing to bring COTR back to one of its original VI Race venues.

RACE #2. September 28th.  Coal Cross.  Village Park.  Cumberland.  Trail Bikes Bike Club are hosting the second stop for this years series.  One of the best courses for spectating in one of the best towns for biking. Be sure to pop into and check out the new Frontrunners location on Dunsmuir Street and head to Bibliotaco while you are in town!

Race #3.  October 5th.  Twin City X.  The Fair Grounds.  Port Alberni.  It was great to have Port Alberni back on the schedule in 2024 with a rowdy time at the fair grounds.  There is no better reason to go over the hump than to race bikes with the Slug Crew.  Many racers said this was their favorite race of 2024.

Race #4. October 13th.  The Muc Off Cup.  Bowen Park.  Nanaimo.  We don’t like to just throw out the word “Classic” but in this case it is justified.  Bowen park Cross on the Rock is a CLASSIC.  Our 2nd most visited venue.  A race that has held many records including BIGGEST ever COTR race (2019), Biggest Category with Masters Men 88 racers (2017, Hardest Race with 14.5% DNFs ((2014) AND 2 of the “tamest” races of the top 10 in 2016 and 2019 with less than 1.6 and1.3% DNF.  The absolute BEST way to spend Thanksgiving Monday!!

Weekend break in here for the Tripleshot Cross Fondo!

Race #5.  October 26th.  Crosstoberfest.  Transfer Beach.  Ladysmith.  We are heading back to Ladysmith!!  The Cycle Therapy Cycling Club is swapping up their race venue for this season to bring back CROSSTOBERFEST.  If you were at Crosstoberfest the last time we raced there in 2019 you will remember the tide coming in through the day to the point during the Open race that there was not much beach left for the races! 

Race #6. November 2nd.  Hot Crossed Bunnies.  Beban Park.  Nanaimo.  The ICON.  Home of the first ever Canadian National Championship held on Vancouver Island of any cycling type.  Home of the first ever sanctioned cyclocross race on Vancouver Island.  The birthplace of COTR.  Our most frequently used venue!  In 19 COTR seasons we have raced here 18 years PLUS 3 more times!

Race #7.  November 16. Broad Street Cycles GP.  Jordie Lunn Bike Park. (Greater) Victoria. (Langford).  Bookending the 19th COTR season with Victoria races for the first time since 2018 and the Day of Thunder.  We will be racing for double points and to beat our friends on the challenging course at the Jordie Lunn Bike Park.  Finishing the season with awards, celebrations and smiles after yet another amazing fall!

Registration will be OPEN for race #1 in about a week so keep your eyes on our IG or FB pages and on our site as we update it for the upcoming season.

2. Clinics.  Camps.  Adventures.
If you are interested in some specific training and clinics for this upcoming season or just to improve your riding here are a few things to consider.  Some of these are THIS WEEKEND so there is still time!!

  At Jordie for the weekend, with a morning skills session there in the mornings and group rides in the afternoons. Here’s the link to register: https://ccnbikes.com/#!/events/breakaway-cycling-club-cyclocross-camp-2025

Also on Sept 6th I’m holding another Scrabblethon, School House Rock Edition! It’s great prep for COTR! It’s a short gravel loop, 5-10 min laps, and each time around you collect a Scrabble piece. You’ve got 1hr to ride as many laps as you want/can, and then whoever has the best word at the end wins! Super fun, but peeps can rip around as fast as they want, or keep it more chill and have fun with friends.

Hey Clubs, Teams and Groups.

Time for us to update our Teams and Clubs page  If you have a team, club, or group that is cyclocross focused or does it on the side please let us know and we will get it up on our page.

For example Rock City Cycles is putting together their team for the season.  Check their IG post:

We’re putting together this year’s Rock City Cycles Cyclocross Team and it’s time to build the new list. If you want to be part of the team for the upcoming season, we’d love to have you!

👉 The old email list is out of date, so we’re starting fresh. If you’re interested in riding with us this year, please send us an email at info@rockcitycycles.ca to get on the roster.

Let’s get muddy, race hard, and have some fun this fall! 💪

#Cyclocross #CrossIsComing #RockCityCycles #RideWithUs #CrossOnTheRock

Parting Shot
Bring the kids out for the Riverway Dental Hot Lap!  A great way to get kids involved and the perfect progression into the Launch category!!

MUC OFF – Cross on the Rock 2024.  Season #18 is over.  It takes a while to recover!!

Newsletter #8 (The last round) – We are looking forward to Season #19 already!

Amazing venue financial support from Coastal Community Credit Union.  THANK you CCCU!

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LOTS of end of season notes:

• OK.  Lets be honest.  We could keep this newsletter in the draft file and keep adding and adding to it for a LONG time.  We love cyclocross.  We love COTR and we love the community.  But sooner or later this needs to come OFF the to do list so we can move on.  Today is the day!
• One COTR racer represented us at Masters CX World Champs in Hamburg.  Natalie Wright bended up 9th in Masters 50-54.  COTR Masters Road Trip?
• Now it is YOUR TURN.  Send us some of your feedback.  We have seen some “unofficial” feedback on your socials.  Fire us some official stuff.  What you liked.  What you did not like.  What you would like to see.  How to get more people racing.  What your favorite course was this year.  Who you loved battling with……FEEDBACK.  The council of cross loves it!  Send it to: normon@crossontherock.com
• If you are one of these people: Stasia Ferbey (2nd Launch Women), Justine Kaseman (3rd Launch Women), Scarlett McFarland (3rd U13), Fred Clark (3rd Mega Masters), Owain Ralston (1st Launch Men) we have your TROPHY and Muc OFF prizes from the series overall.  We won’t chase you around but if you want to make arrangements on how to get it let us know!

Many People to thank.

7 events make up this series.  Each event has a group of people that make the action happen.  On top of that we have an amazing army of help from all of you at the end of each race to pitch in and help pack up.  We thank everyone that helped out through the year.  Some people are ALWAYS there (We SEE YOU).  Always pitching in.  If you are not one of those people……Season #19 is a great opportunity to get involved!  It just makes the series better and better!

We also have amazing Sponsors!

Title and MAIN PRIZING SPONSOR as well as the Muc Off Cup title sponsor withPrizing and bike wash support is Peter Creighton from HLC Bike.

Coastal Community Credit Union gave us a cash grant this year to help with rising venue expenses!

Hotel ZED and Accent Inns for great draw prizes and our grand prizes.

Super Masters Men’s Category Sponsors Jill and Simon from Cycles West in Victoria.

Frontrunners who let me race and organize and without knowing it pay for all the fuel for the series.  They also cover our bill for flagging tape and donate some draw prizes.  That shop is GREAT and soon opening in Cumberland!

Wade Luksay from Riverway Dental sponsoring the kids prizes and Wendy Simms that searches for deals for prizes for the kids.

Kyle Denny from 11 Speed Coffee covering the Last Not Lapped (AKA most in need of coffee) and some series draw prizes

Event Bike shop sponsors Pro City Cycles, Broad Street Cycles, Rock City Cycles, Cycle Therapy, Jumping Slug Cyclery, Trail Bikes.

Our race directors this year: Scott Mitchell, Nik and Lee, Brett and Tom, Corey and Sean, Roland, Matt, Patrick, Christine and Shep.

Supporting Clubs: , Tripleshot Cycling, Trail Bikes Club, Rock City Cycles Team, Broad Street Cycles, Cycle Therapy, Jumping Slug Community and MIVA

Awards
Paul Brend, Paul Brend’s Brother in law,  Roland and Victoria Waterjet.

Our stats, results and timing crew:
Patrick Burnham and Roland Rabien

Website
Brett Whitehead

And our ARMY of pre and post race help at each of the events!!

1.  Another loss for our community.Sammy Long has started a Go Fund Me for our long time sponsor Kyle Denny and his family.  Kyle is the founder of Eleven Speed Coffee and a long time supporter of Cross on the Rock and in particular the sponsor of the coveted LAST NOT LAPPED Prize!

Consider donating.
On Nov. 14th 2024 Heather Clark passed away peacefully at home after a hard battle with cancer. We are raising funds for her two sons and husband, Kyle Denny, with the aim of alleviating the financial burden and giving them time to grieve and recover from this loss. Kyle is a treasured member of the cycling community. He is endlessly generous with his business – Eleven Speed Coffee – in sponsoring events and keeping many (if not most) of us caffeinated, and is always there to support others. My hope is that this GoFundMe can support him during this difficult time and show him, and his family, the love he shows to us on a regular basis. Any amount makes an impact- not just in easing the financial burden, but also to show that we are here and have their backs. Thank you, all!Sammy
2. Hot Crossed Bunnies – Series FINAL.  Review!!

Live and Still reminder of the action.
Ross Greenwood posted some photos from the Intermediate and Open races.  They are downloadable.
Terry McKall snapped some great shots of the Men’s Masters and Super Masters races…..until his hands got too cold.
If you did not catch Pelle from unexpectedleft’s  Edit from Hot Crossed Bunnies yet on IG it is also posted on Youtube.  Pretty sweet footage and some amazing stats for each of the featured riders.  Another one is coming…..might be done before we post this. (This was the one from the Broad Street GP as well)….GUESS WHAT.  We did not get this out super fast and now there is ANOTHER edit from Pelle for the Masters and Intermediate races at Hot Crossed Bunnies.  CHECK IT OUT!!

Notes from Christine the president of MIVAWhat an amazing day for the final race of the series. So much work goes into putting an event like this on, and we are so grateful for all those that made it happen. As always, we are thankful to the City of Nanaimo, the V.I.E.X. and Nanaimo Equestrians for allowing us the use of their grounds and equipment to set our course up. Jon Watkin and Roland came through big time with delivering barriers for the start/finish stretch after a mix up with the City.  With no water on site due to the cool temps, the legend Pete Creighton called in a favour and Dean from Bay Water Hauling came in with an 800 gallon tank to save the day.  If your bike went home clean on Sunday you owe those two a high five. Thanks to Jayson from MJR Trees for clearing the lower course by the BMX track. IF YOU NEED TREE WORK this is the crew you want! It was fantastic to have Sip and Sliders out for their second race of the series, together with Harbour City Donuts, keeping bellies warm and full. 
 Big shout out to Coal City Cycles and Rock City Cycles for sponsoring draw prizes, and Georgies’s Pies for the Podium pies.  And the volunteers: despite the rain, wind, and cold that just kept on coming, a very dedicated and determined group from MIVA and the Nanaimo cycling community set out this extensive course under Shep and Paul’s direction. Think about that favorite mud puddle or obstacle you just loved to hate: that was probably Shep’s idea! On race day a team of dedicated individuals, many on site from dawn to dusk, made sure everything ran smoothly, even to the farthest reaches of the course. Kudos go out to Shep, he was truly “the boss” and the day would not have been possible without him.   I’m always grateful for the way this club and community pulls together to make events like this happen.
3. Season #18 Review.

The Victoria Cyclocross GP at Topaz park seems a LONG time ago!!  The fall goes by so quickly when you have racing to look forward to.  These events are the fall highlight!

Looking back hopefully there will be some highlights for you to pull from.  Check your photos.  Watch and re-watch some of the little videos.  Start listening to the CX Hairs or CX Fever Podcasts.  Change your BB bearings……we are so lucky to have such a great community to get together with 6-7 times a fall.

One of the e-mails we received in the week after Hot Crossed Bunnies expressed how they were able to come to the races.  Race as hard as they wanted but everyone was respectful and had a great time.  There was no “bad-drama”.  All the drama was on the race course!!

Where are we as a series and a sport?  Well check out our famous stats page!!  We are in a great spot!  We came from HUMBLE beginnings!  in 2006 we AVERAGED 65 racers per EVENT.  We did not crack 100 until year 5.  We did not crack 200 until year 8.  Since then we have had UP years and slightly down years.  This year was bigger than last.  One of our main take aways is the QUALITY is VERY HIGH!!  If you look at the DNF rates for this year people are coming prepared and with experience!  They are making it to the finish.  We are a highly motivated bunch!  We love the events.  We love the competition.  We love the community!

That is it for the council of cross for 2024!  Keep an eye on our socials for any updates or news from now until August.  We will have to make one more Lost and Found post before that goes to good will so that is one thing to look out for. 

Thank for a great race season.

Feel free to e-mail or DM us any time!

The Council of Cross!

Parting Shot
We miss it already.  Already planning for Season #19 starting September 2025!