Hot Cross Bunnies – Nov 24th

Our dream remains the same every year.  Finish the season STRONG.  With that MIVA and the Council of Cross PERSONALLY invite EVERYONE that has raced this season, would like to race this season AND those that are interested in cyclocross to come out THIS SUNDAY to race, cheer and be a part of this community!  The ski hill has not opened yet.  Hiking is getting ugly.  Honestly a maybe-muddy Cyclocross race IS YOUR BEST SUNDAY option!!  The racing will be great.  The people are AMAZING.  We hope to see you with your number pinned on……which brings us to….

What side to pin your number on for Sunday!  We don’t know which side numbers are just yet but we will try to post on Saturday night so you can pre-pin!  We currently THINK it will be on the RIGHT.

Read this first.  The construction that has been going on for the last 2 years in Beban park is winding down BUT it is not finished yet.  The SOUTH ENTRANCE at this time is CLOSED.  You will have to most likely enter the park from the North or East entrances.  The good thing from the construction is that the park is still a bit of a mess…..so we can ride a lot more places than we normally are able to!!

Parking:  (Consult Map) Beban park is HUGE.  But on any given weekend there is a LOT going on.  The best place to park for the race is south of the race course in the gravel lot by the Steve Smith Jump park.  This is accessed off the main road through the park by the golf course.  This is the BEST parking spot for our event. PLEASE DO NOT PARK at the soccer club house parking which is the closest to the start.  There is always soccer going on the weekends and they love their close parking lot.  The lot by the BMX track is normally available BUT they are currently building the BIGGEST BMX track in Canada there so the space is VERY LIMITED..  The paved parking by the Pool and arena is also a good option.  Parking on the roadways or grass is strictly forbidden and will get you towed and we will not like you.  There is limited parking as well south of the course by the golf course.  You will find a spot without parking like a…..you know…..starts with an “a”.

Team Tents:  Will be in the same spot as the last couple of years by the sand riding ring, close to reg. food trucks and the pits.  The Weather forecast calls for sun, maybe a touch of precipitation and gentle winds but still make sure your tent is staked and secured. It is drop and go (NO PARKING AT TEAM TENTS AREA) until we close and lock the gates around 9:30am.  After that point you will have to carry your gear in.  On the flip side the gate will be LOCKED until after the OPEN races so it will be carry out until that point.  There will be no team vehicles inside the gate or we will run out of space for the team tents.  This will be a GREAT spot to watch and central to all the action!

Registration: As it has been all season pre-registration only.  This will close like normal at 6:00pm the night before the race. The call up sheets are literally done by 6:10pm the night before the race. So if you FORGET or put it off you are unlikely to get your earned call up spot.

THE LINK TO REGISTER AGAIN IS HERE

For racers that have not raced this year race day number pick up and race central will be located in the Agriplex.  Consult the map.

Washrooms:  There will be porta johns located at the end of the opening straight away or somewhere in the general area.  There are LOTS of other (Flush) washrooms located in Beban park.  You can also locate washrooms in almost all buildings in the park.  Both arenas.  Down by the artificial turf field.  In the Pool.   NO DIRTY BIKE SHOES OR DIRTY PEOPLE INSIDE THE BUILDINGS OR WASHROOMS.  Clean yourself up BEFORE going into a public area.  We want to be able to use this venue again. MORE IMPORTANTLY if you are going IN a building LOCK YOUR BIKE (Bikes have been stolen at this event when left unattended.  Don’t lose your bike)!!!

Awards: Awards location will be in the Agriplex.  We will have the RACE awards for Hot Crossed bunnies with our regular categories.  AS WELL we have all our SERIES awards for our expanded categories and our SERIES draw prizes! We would LOVE to start the awards as SOON as possible after the OPEN races so the MORE PEOPLE HELPING clean up the course, rake out the sand/mulch, bag course tape and pack the trailer the better.  We can’t do it after the awards as it will be DARK!  Many hands make it a LOT easier for everyone!

Race Course: The construction this year has meant a continued shake up of our course design.  We’ll still have the classic elements that make this course great. MUD, SAND, WOOD CHIPS, PAVEMENT, GRAVEL.  It will be be awesome.

Food Truck: Sip and Sliders and Harbour City Doughnuts (Same as Muc Off Cup),  will be on-site and ready to serve up lunch or snacks.  These are the GOLD and BRONZE food trucks for Nanaimo according to the News Bulletin’s Best of the city!

One last reminder…..Post race:  Again we will want to get the awards going as soon as possible on Sunday.  With that in mind please help us both tear down as well as RAKE out the course.  With construction we won’t have to worry as much about the top section by the Arenas, but the hill by the BMX and the riding rings always need some work post race.  Please bring a rake and work gloves.  Many hands make light work and get the work done FAST.  We will make an announcement when we are starting the awards….and…..well…..there will be no one left on course so you will notice that the awards have started!  Ideally we would like to start as close to 4:00 as possible.