A composite team is a team comprised of student-athletes from multiple different schools, as opposed to school-sponsored teams where all participants are from the same school. Riders on GCYMBA attend different schools in Coastal Alabama and Northwest Florida.

Unlike downhill or enduro racing, cross-country mountain bike racing is a mass start event where riders complete laps of a course.. This is perfect for spectators because they get to see the riders multiple times. A typical cross-country mountain bike race course will usually consist of some climbing, descending and flatter singletrack sections. Lap length will vary from race to race, but 4-5 km per lap is fairly common. Each race will have a set number of laps and first across wins! The number of laps you complete will depend on age and experience.

Any 6th – 12th grade student who lives or goes to school in Coastal Alabama or Northwest Florida can join the Dirt Sharks.

Any K-6th grader can join the Dirt Sharkies.

Yes! Group fun rides throughout the year are a great way to check out the team and mountain biking. You may also attend one pre-season ride. Contact us if you are interested, or follow us on Facebook to find out more.

Absolutely! Our coaches will teach you what you need to know.

Any parent interested in riding is welcome to “try it out” for one ride. Joining any subsequent team rides will require registration as a Level 1 Coach (general volunteer and ride supporter).

All student athletes and coaches are required to have:

• A safe, well-functioning mountain bike with 26- to 29-inch wheels
• An undamaged and properly fitted bike helmet
• Clothing appropriate for the ride
• Water or electrolyte sports drink in a water bottle or hydration pack
• Spare tire tube that fits their tires

In addition, the following items are recommended:

• Sunscreen and/or insect repellant
• Eyewear (safety glass, sunglasses, etc.)
• cycling gloves
• mini-pump or CO2 pump
• tire levers
• multi-tool for working on bike on the trails
• tire tube patch kit

Pensacola athletes practice on Tuesday & Thursday evenings 6-8 PM at the UWF-Pate Road trails. Bike lights are required!

Baldwin County athletes practice on Monday & Thursday evenings 5:30-7:30 PM at the Daphne Sports Complex.

All teams practice together on Saturdays at 10 am. The location varies between UWF-Pate Road Trails and Blakeley State Park.

No, but we do highly recommend that if you cannot attend practice, then you ride on your own. We realize that night-time practices in the dark on the trails are not possible for everyone.

Saturday team practices are a great opportunity for team building, skill building, and endurance building. Please make every effort to attend Saturday practices.

No, pre-season rides begin in December. Official practices begin in January and last through the final race of the season. See schedule page for more specific information.

No. The Alabama Cycling Association supports both competition goals (racers) and adventure goals (people who just like to mountain bike). Our activities often lean toward the racing side, but anyone is welcome and we always have student-athletes who are not racing.

There are three “levels” of licensed coaches. All coaches have annual training in risk management, coaching philosophy, concussion protocols, and submit to an annual background check. All coaches also receive biennial training on athlete abuse awareness.

In addition to the above, Level 2 Coaches also have first aid and CPR certifications, On-The-Bike Skills training, required field work, and continuing education requirements.

You can learn more about Coach Licensing Requirements on the ACA website.
For additional information, please refer to the hyperlinks provided or the summaries below for the required coaching courses: Protecting Students from Abuse and Concussion in Sports.

More about Protecting Students from Abuse: Abusive behaviors and misconduct do not belong within athletic and activity programs. To assist in creating an enjoyable and safe environment for students, the U.S. Center for SafeSport, in collaboration with the NFHS, has developed “Protecting Students from Abuse.” The course presents definitions of several types of abusive behaviors and misconduct, the signs and symptoms of abuse, and the ways in which someone can report these behaviors. The course also includes some DOs and DON’Ts for making a report.

More about Concussion in Sports: The NFHS has teamed up with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to educate coaches, officials, parents and students on the importance of proper concussion recognition and management in high school sports. This course highlights the impact of sports-related concussion on athletes, teaches how to recognize a suspected concussion, and provides protocols to manage a suspected concussion with steps to help players return to play safely after a concussion.

Note: fees vary each year, these are estimates based on 2026 costs
Other than your equipment bike, helmet etc.), there are 2 fees & a jersey to purchase.

1. League fee- this fee covers insurance and is required for all riders that participate in official team practices, approx. $175 (due before starting practice in December)
2. Race fee- this fee covers all 6 race events and is only required if you want to compete, approx. $150 (due in Jan/Feb)
3. Team Jersey- if you plan to race, then you must have a Dirt Sharks jersey, approx. $70 (offered for purchase in January)

Yes. Our racing season is in the spring on the weekend, so certain sports will definitely conflict with this time of year. Therefore, you would have to make a choice on which sports/activities you pursue competitively. This does not mean you cannot ride with us the remainder of the year. There is no team penalty for missing practices for other activities. As with any sport, success is determined by practice and training, but if a rider is getting a cardio workout from another sport, then the impact is lessened.

While mountain biking is an inherently risky sport, and certain dangers or conditions are an integral part of off-road biking, safety is our number one priority and we do everything in our power to keep our student-athletes and coaches safe. Scratches and scrapes are common, and riders can expect to have the occasional cut or bruise, but more serious injuries such as sprains, concussions, and broken bones are rare.

Racers are placed at the starting line based on their call-up number. The ACA determines each rider’s call-up number based on last year’s race results. New riders with no race history will be placed at the back of the start corral. Call up numbers are published each race week. As an athlete’s finishing place changes each week, their call up number will be adjusted throughout the season.

Points are awarded based on race placements. Individuals amass points throughout the season for an overall ranking at the season’s end. Keep in mind, if an athlete misses a race they will get “no points” for that race and it will also effect their callup number. Further, first through fifth place individually are recognized for each race. Teams are ranked by cumulative scores in each division and team awards given at each event and the end of the season.