The Island Cup Series is thanks to the hard effort of countless volunteers. Be sure to do your part and see if you can help out at the various events on Vancouver Island
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q. What license do I need to race?
A. To race in the Island Cup Series you will need to have a Grass Roots Mountain Bike Association (GRMBA) license. This can be purchased from one of the participating clubs before hand or on race day at registration. Licenses are approx $35 for the year and may vary slightly by club. You can also buy "Day Of" insurance for $10 so if you're planning on racing more than a couple of times in the season it just makes sense to buy your club membership!
- Q. I have a Cycling BC License. Can I race?
A. As GRMBA and Cycling BC are two separate licensing bodies, you will need to have a GRMBA license to race in the Island Cup Races. This license works also with numerous other races that are all part of the GRMBA race Calendar. Some of these events include the Test of Metal, Sorca Toonie races and many more. There are no rules however that deny you having both a Cycling BC license and a GRMBA license. Each have their own benefits.
- Q. How much does it cost to race?
A. We have tried to keep the costs for each race down to a minimum to help promote the grass roots aspects of the Island Cup Series. Most races are $10 and some DH races may also charge a shuttling fee to offset fuel and vehicle rental costs.
- Q. What bike and or equipment do I need to race?
A. All you really need is a bicycle and helmet to race. Everything else is your choice (armour, tools etc) Your bike should be in good working order and mechanically safe. Your helmet must meet standard national approvals, which all new helmets sold in Canada are. You will also need some sort of identification and if you're under the age of 18 you should have a parent to sign the waivers etc at registration.
- Q. What time are races?
A. Most races are set to start at approx 12 noon, but depending on the distance or time required may occur at different times. Check the information for each race for details on the events. For downhill and Super D races, there is a time for course inspection and practice runs in the beginning before racing starts.
- Q. What about awards?
A. Each race will vary, but typically awards and draw prizes are handed out fairly soon after the last racer arrives and results have been tallied. Some races may have concession available after the race so come hang out and enjoy the fun that is mountain bike racing.
- Q. Where can I learn to race?
A. There are some great resources for learning to race. Mostly friends and some of the expert riders can teach you the basics of racing. Arrowsmith Bikes has a great page on their site about learning to race and preparing for races which you can check out for more information. Come early on race day and there will be many people to help you learn the basics.