NICA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RACES AT BOGUS BASIN
On Friday, October 4th, we were prepared to host 1,100+ student racers and their families for the 10th annual National Interscholastic Cycling Association State Championship (NICA) in Idaho. Unfortunately, due to safety concerns caused by the growing Valley Fire in the Boise foothills, the difficult decision was made to cancel the weekend’s NICA State Championship race and evacuate the mountain that Friday afternoon. Considering the anticipated number of guests on the mountain over the weekend, the mountain’s remote location, and limited access routes, the U.S. Forest Service suggested that the mountain be evacuated for everyone’s safety.
A week later, the risk of the Valley Fire subsided, so we were excited to reschedule the NICA State Championship for the following weekend, October 11th and 12th, 2024.
Bogus Basin Proudly hosted Racers and Their Families
A New Generation
The Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League (IICL) is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The IICL is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Project League of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) and supports teams for 6th to 12th grade students. The IICL has 26 participating teams from Idaho, including two teams in western Wyoming. The teams race all over Idaho during the season, finishing with the State Championship Races at Bogus Basin. Competitive programs hosted by NICA and the IICL are vital in shaping the next generation of mountain bikers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. We’re thankful to NICA and the IICL for building strong, vibrant communities of young riders!
To enable every Idaho teen to develop a strong mind, a strong body, and strong character through lifelong participation in mountain biking.
-Idaho ICL Mission Statement
This year was Bogus Basin’s fourth year hosting the NICA State Championship races. Recognizing the profound impact mountain bike racing and outdoor recreation have on young people, we wanted to ensure that these students had the chance to enjoy their season championship mountain bike race at our mountain once the fire threat had passed. We’re dedicated to supporting these programs because they help fuel the continuation and advancement of this now multi-generational sport.
RACE RESCHEDULED
Despite the unforeseen delay, we were pleased to host the NICA racers and their families on October 10th and 11th. We allowed on-mountain camping in Lot #1 (Main Parking Lot), Lot #3 (The Frontier Point Parking Lot), and the Buttercup Parking lot. The Food and Beverage team served grab-and-go meals from the Double R Ranch BBQ Smokehouse both days from 11 am to 7 pm. Racers and their families enjoyed options from the full summer menu all weekend, including breakfast in the J.R. Simplot Lodge on Saturday.
Some of Bogus Basin’s most popular summer activities, The Glade Runner Mountain Coaster and The Mineshaft Challenge Course, were open for racers and their families to enjoy over the weekend.
Teams set up their camp hubs with pop-up tents on the base area lawn, equipped with snacks, repair kits, and training stations for the racers.
The Course
Nearly 750 participants started and finished the State Championship race at the “Pit Zone” in front of the J.R. Simplot Lodge. They climbed up the Bogus Creek Trail to the Sunshine XC Trail switchbacks. Riders then enjoyed a quick descent on Berm Baby Berm Section 2 before ascending to the top of the Morning Star Chairlift via the Pioneer Road and Sunshine Cat Track.
From there, they headed to the downhill section of the course towards the finish line on Student Rider in The Basin Gravity Park.
Weekend Schedule
Friday
9:00 AM | Volunteer shifts begin
12:00 PM | Pit Zone access opens
12:00 PM | Check-in opens
1:00 PM | Pre-ride open to all riders
4:00 PM | Course closes for GRiT pre-ride
4:15 PM | GRiT pre-ride begins (Theme: Pink Out for Breast Cancer Awareness)
5:00 PM | Course re-opens for all riders
6:30 PM | Pre-ride closes
6:30 PM | Check-in closes
Saturday
7:00 AM | Check-in opens
7:30 AM | Pre-ride opens
8:00 AM | Team Director / Head Coach meeting
8:30 AM | Pre-ride closes
9:00 AM | Racing begins (See detailed start schedule for category start times)
1:15 PM | Check-in closes
5:15 PM | Racing concludes after the last Varsity riders finish
5:30 PM | Awards ceremony begins after the Varsity race is complete
Your not-for-profit community mountain remains dedicated to fulfilling our mission: to provide year-round accessible outdoor recreation and education to the Treasure Valley community. Hosting the NICA State Championship for students across Idaho reflects this commitment, as events like these are important educational opportunities that help students develop new skills, confidence, and passion for outdoor recreation and to advance mountain biking as a lifelong sport. Local students can keep up the competitive momentum next summer by participating in Bogus Basin’s Summer Community Race Series, which includes cross-country and downhill mountain bike races!
About Bogus Basin Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area is a 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to engaging the community to provide accessible, affordable, and fun year-round mountain recreation and education. Opened in 1942, Bogus Basin offers 2,600 acres of daytime skiable terrain and 200 acres for night skiing, seven chairlifts and three people-mover carpets, and an 800-foot tubing hill. The Nordic Center offers 37 kilometers of groomed trails for skiing and snowshoeing. Environmental education and community outreach programs, primarily youth, serve over 20,000 individuals annually. Summer activities include The Glade Runner Mountain Coaster, The Mine Shaft Challenge Course, mountain biking, events, hiking and chairlift service for hike and bike transport. Bogus Basin is located 16.5 miles north of Boise, Idaho, and operates under a special use permit with the Boise National Forest. www.bogusbasin.org
