GENERAL INFORMATION

Date

Tuesday 10th to Thursday 12th September 2024 (Friday 13th September – contingency day)

Venue

Summerhill Mountain Bike Park, 319 Reid Road, Papamoa

Costs

Cross Country Mountain Biking $80.00 per rider (NZ$)
Enduro Mountain Biking $80.00 per rider (NZ$)

Riders may compete in both the Cross Country and Enduro events, but must enter both events when registering.

Entries Open

Friday 15th March 2024 at 9.00am – Online registrations open

Entries Close

Wednesday 5th June 2024 at 7.59pm – Online registrations close

CONTACT

Email: info@nzaimsgames.co.nz

PLANNING INFORMATION

Costs

• Schools are required to pay the entry fee of $80.00 per competitor (NZ$) per event (Cross Country or Enduro).

• Riders may compete in both the Cross Country and Enduro events, but must enter both events when registering.

• Strictly non-refundable.

• Payment MUST be made within seven days of receipt of invoice.

• Invoices will be sent to the school accounts manager after the entry closing date, Wednesday 5th June 2024.

Entries Close

• Wednesday 5th June 2024 at 7.59pm.

• Entries to the 2024 Zespri AIMS Games will be made and only accepted online, via the online registration system. 

• Registrations will only be accepted from the school's designated Zespri AIMS Games coordinator.

• Schools are allocated a unique Zespri AIMS Games registration log in code to complete their entries.

Competitor's Age

Competitors must be over 10 years of age and under 13 years of age, as at 31st December the year before the tournament year. Competitor’s birthdates will be required on school registration documentation. For the 2024 Zespri AIMS Games, this means the accepted birth years are: 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Divisions

• Year 7 Girls Cross Country Mountain Biking

• Year 7 Boys Cross Country Mountain Biking

• Year 8 Girls Cross Country Mountain Biking

• Year 8 Boys Cross Country Mountain Biking

• Year 7 Girls Enduro Mountain Biking

• Year 7 Boys Enduro Mountain Biking

• Year 8 Girls Enduro Mountain Biking

• Year 8 Boys Enduro Mountain Biking

• If registration for an activity is oversubscribed, then the opportunity to participate will be at the discretion of the executive committee and no further correspondence will be entered into (if unsuccessful registration fee will be refunded).

• Individual registration forms must also be completed online by Wednesday 5th June (competitors’ names, date of birth, mountain bike club and manager’s name and contact details are required).

Multiple Sporting Codes

• Students may compete in more than one sporting code, provided they are in line with the permitted code crossovers. 

• Timetable allowances will not be made for any competitors, and it is the sole responsibility of the school to check for programming conflicts. 

PROGRAMMe

RULES

General​​​​​​​

• There is no limit on how many riders a school can enter per category.

• Riders cannot ride for other divisions.

• All team managers are required to wear their manager I.D. tags throughout the event.

• Team managers are responsible for riders, their parents, and other supporters. Please ensure that the safety and enjoyment of all competitors is of utmost importance.

• Riders cannot change their or helmet once the event has started without the check of approval from the Event Director or Bike Check Team first. If a rider fails to do so it will result in their individual race being DSQ (we take safety very seriously).

• Course Access - Official sweepers and riders only are permitted to ride the course during competition.

• Enclosed shoes must be worn throughout the event.

• The Zespri AIMS Games meeting will be conducted under the technical rules set out by Mountainbike Tauranga and the Event Director.

• The Event Director reserves the right to determine the number of officials.

• All bikes and helmets being used in the event MUST be inspected and passed by a scrutineer official during the registration process.

• Bikes and helmets must display an official and current Zespri AIMS Games safety sticker that is valid for the discipline to be eligible for usage in the event.

• It is the responsibility of the competitor to have their bike in a safe working order. The bike/helmet check team and Event Director reserve the right to refuse the use of a bike and/or helmet they judge to be not fit for purpose or not displaying a valid Zespri AIMS Games safety sticker.

• Electronic timing will be used for all races. It is riders’ responsibility to make sure their transponder is operating, and their number plate is visible. This means race plates shouldn’t, be bent, cut or scrunched and should be mounted vertically.

• Rider registration packs, including Zespri AIMS Games Number Plates, are to be collected from the registration within the designated registration times as per the event programme. (Please note that schools competing in both events will have two registration packs).

• No rider or spectators are permitted to ride on Reid Road and must cross the road at the designated crossing throughout the duration of Zespri AIMS Games.

• Bicycles used in competition must be capable of safely and efficiently completing the task and must, as a minimum, be mechanically sound, have two working brakes, one front and one rear, and all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure the safety of the rider and others. As part of the latter, bar plugs are compulsory.

• If, in the opinion of the Bike Check team or Event Director a bicycle fails to meet the above criteria the rider must take immediate steps to ensure the necessary steps are taken to remedy the shortcomings and ensure the Commissaires requests are met. Failure to do so will result in exclusion from the competition.

• Riders must complete the entire race on the SAME bicycle upon which they started the race/stage. Wheel changes not allowed.

• Riders may stop on the side of the course. In no case should a rider go backwards on the course.

• Riders may not cut the course. If they leave the course (outside of the event tape) then they need to re-enter the course from the point they exited.

• All riders that DNF must notify timing.

• All riders are required to wear school uniform when competing. If your school does not have specific cycling kit, PE kit or plain kit is acceptable.

• Any rider caught riding on the road (other than across the designated crossing in an orderly fashion) prior, during or post event will face consequences that may impact their result.

• Any rider seen or reported receiving outside assistance (unless a medical emergency) from a spectator may be penalised as deemed by the race director.

• ​​​​​​​Spectators should support in the spirit of fairness and the student’s enjoyment.

• Riders should compete in the spirit of fairness and enjoyment. Any actions taken by a rider which are deemed by the race Director to compromise the previous statement may result in a penalty or DSQ.

Cross Country

• All entering riders need to be able to ride grade 3 trails to participate. (The Zespri AIMS Games Cross Country course will have a mixture of grade 1,2 and 3 trails.)
• Year 7 riders will complete the same course than year 8 riders. All riders will complete two laps of the course.
• Cross Country Feed Zone – there is a feed zone for the 2024 Zespri AIMS Games Mountain Biking event, any assistance will need to take place in this zone. All assistance needs to comply with UCI XC rules.
• Riders must have an open face helmet to compete in the Cross Country event, which meets the NZ Safety Standard, with no signs of previous impact or go-pro mounts.
• Jump start may result in penalty.
• Unnecessary contact between riders will be investigated and may result in penalties.
• It is compulsory to wear a protective helmet when racing or training on the course and such helmet must comply with the required safety standards a determined by the safety check team and Event Director.

Enduro

• All entering riders need to be able to ride challenging grade 3 trails to participate. (The Zespri AIMS Games Enduro course will have a mixture of grade 1,2 and 3 trails.)
• Year 7 riders will complete the same course than year 8 riders. All riders will complete two laps of the course.
• Each rider takes an individual start, the start interval between the riders is the decision of the individual & marshal but must be between 20 seconds and 1 minute unless it’s a special circumstance.
• Riders competing in the Enduro event may have an open face helmet or full face helmet which meets the NZ Safety Standard, with no signs of previous impact or go-pro mounts.
• It is compulsory to wear a protective helmet when racing or training on the course and such helmet must comply with the required safety standards a determined by the safety check team and Event Director.
• Helmets must be worn and always fastened during warmup, racing, stage liaisons, warm down and at any other time that the bike is being ridden and is making forward or backwards progression.
• The helmet must be properly secured in both training and racing.
• Late return to the event village may result in time penalty.

Bike Requirements

• Bicycle must have 26”, 27.5” or 29” wheels, at least 10 gears, with no stand, lights and light mounts, bike locks, carriers, or GoPro’s or their mounts must not be attached to the bike or the rider’s helmet.

• Bike MUST be brought to the inspection clean; this includes a clean chain (Inspectors can deny scrutineering any bike if it is excessively dirty).

• Both axles should be tight.

• Hubs, bottom bracket, and headset must not have excessive play.

• Wheels run true (straight) without loose or broken spokes.

• Must have front and rear well working brakes with no rubbing on the rotor/rim.

• Brake pads must have enough life in them to last through the whole event.

• Gears must shift effectively.

• Chain has enough tension so there is no slack.

• Handlebars have end caps, or enclosed grips.

• Tyres must have sufficient tread and are inflated to at least 15psi.

• Chain must have no bent or damaged links.

• Bar plugs must be installed and secure.

• Riders will need a second bike check to be completed if they are competing in the Cross Country and the Enduro. It doesn’t matter if the rider is using the same or a different bike.

• ​​​​​​​Zespri AIMS Games scrutineering sticker, these stickers must remain intact for the duration of the Zespri AIMS Games. It is the responsibility of the competitor to have their bike in safe working order. The Event Director and Race Commissaire reserve the right to refuse the use of a bike or helmet judged “not fit for purpose”. Riders are reminded that they compete at their own risk.