About

Virginia High School Mountain Bike Series (VAHS MTB) is an interscholastic high school mountain bike race series that is coordinated by Miller School of Albemarle and sanctioned by USA Cycling. The 5-race series is open to ANY high school, middle school, or elementary school student in Virginia.

VAHS MTB Series' mission is to grow the sport of cycling while promoting active and healthy lifestyles for high school students.  We want students to enjoy the outdoors and and beautiful trails in Virginia.  At the same time, we hope to encourage more students to race bicycles. Considering Virginia has some of the best mountain biking in the country, if not the world, it makes sense to provide a series for students to compete while enjoying the outdoors and Virginia's landscape.  

The Virginia High School Mountain Bike Series is held under USA Cycling Permit and is open to any elementary, middle or high school student in the Commonwealth. Each event has a Elementary School, J.V. and Varsity race that combines girls and boys categories. Most races are on primarily single-track trails, and most races are multiple-lap events to provide a spectator-friendly experience. Racers do NOT need to be on a school team to participate nor do racers need to have any race experience. 

The VAHS MTB Series is a great way to learn about mountain bike racing in a supportive environment. If you like to mountain bike and are even considering racing, this is your chance. Sign up for a race! You will have a blast!

History

High school mountain biking in one of the fastest growing interscholastic sports in the country.  High school leagues have been successfully operating in California for a number of years, and new leagues have sprung up in other states. 

Virginia is home to some of the best mountain bike trails in the country and has a number of successful high school mountain bike programs.   In 2010, Miller School of Albemarle in Charlottesville, Virginia launched a world-class endurance athletics program (read more).  In addition to the high school program, the school hosts Junior Development Cycling Camps www.charlottesvillebikecamp.com run by America's top professional cyclists and sponsors a U-19 Junior Elite team.  Working together with Ruth Stornetta, Tony Brown (Blue Ridge School), Ken Bell, Shawn Tevendale, and the supportive Virginia cycling community, in 2011 MSA organized a 5-race series that offered junior racers a chance to race against students from high schools around the Commonwealth.

The 2012 season was a huge success.  Seventy racers from around the state competed in 6 races for individual and team honors.  On a few occasions, racers had the opportunity to ride with American mountain bike champion Jeremiah Bishop (Cannondale), veteran road cycling professional and mountain bike pro Andy Guptill (Jamis-Sutter Home), and Olympic long-team nominee Andrea Dvorak (Exergy-2016).  Each race venue offered racers a challenging multiple-lap event on incredible trails.  Cutaway Clothing and Starlight Apparel designed and produced custom leader's jerseys and race apparel.    


Check out Frequently Asked Questions page for more specific information.