Ontario Cycling Announces 2024 Victoria MTB Camp

Ontario Cycling will be hosting a training camp for targeted MTB athletes in Victoria, BC. The camp is being produced by 94Froward, a legacy of the 1994 Commonwealth Games and being supported by funding through the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario.

The West Coast provides highly technical trail systems with large features reflective of international level race courses. Athletes will work on body positioning, descending/cornering skills, and determining optimal riding lines.  Programming will also include endurance work and interval training to develop aerobic capacity and learn to maximize energy usage through improving riding efficiency.

Off-bike workshops and training will be scheduled in-conjunction with local facilities and expertise including Canadian Sport Institute Pacific. The camp will create an immersive high performance training environment where athletes are expected to bring a professional approach to on and off-bike training sessions.

Project Objectives

• To provide athletes with repeated training using on-trail technical features under the direction and coaching of technical experts
• To introduce and refine key MTB skills with emphasis on jumplines, drops, pumping, and bike balance/positioning
• To build athlete aerobic base through on-trail endurance training
• To expose athletes to domestic high performance training environments
• To provide athletes with off-bike training and sport science education
• To provide athlete leadership education and training in representing Ontario and themselves 

Athlete Profile [10-14 athletes will be selected]

• 15 – 22 years old in 2024
• Strong performance/experience at Canada Cup/National Championships
• Demonstrated commitment to Team Ontario programming
• Positive contributor and respectful of athletes, coaches and support staff

Application and Selection Criteria

All interested athletes are asked to complete the online APPLICATION by December 31, 2023.

Selections will be reviewed by the Ontario Cycling High Performance Committee.  Athletes will be notified by January 13, 2024 (unless otherwise updated) 

Selection Criteria

1. Athletes selected to represent Canada at the 2023 U19/U23 MTB World Championships

2. Athletes selected to the OHPSI Targeted Athlete Pool [Provincial Performance Pool- MTB]

3. Athletes selected to the OHPSI Targeted Athlete Pool [National Transition Pool-MTB]

4. Athletes selected to the OHPSI Targeted Athlete Pool [Provincial Development Pool-MTB]

5. Athletes placing in the top 10 at 2023 Canada Cup or 2023 National Championships in U17/U19 categories*

*Number of participants in each category will be taken into consideration should a category have less than 8 athletes

            Tiebreaking based on:

• Gender balance
• U19 prioritized over U23 prioritized over
• Higher placing at 2023 national championship if in same category
• Committee selection based on:
  • Athlete performances at all UCI, National, Provincial sanctioned events
  • Athlete involvement with Team Ontario/HP programming

6. Athletes placing in the top 3 U15**/U17 2023 Ontario Provincial Championships 

**Must have been a 2nd year U15s in 2023

      Tiebreaking based on:

• Gender balance
• U17 prioritized over U15
• Higher placing at 2023 national championship if in same category
• Committee selection based on:
  • Athlete performances at all UCI, National, Provincial sanctioned events
  • Athlete involvement with Team Ontario/HP programming
   

   7.  Athletes outside the above criteria as selected by Committee/Coach recommendation. Considerations towards performances across 2023 UCI events, preference for higher achieving U17 and 2nd year U15s including performances at 2023 Ontario Provincial Championships. Additional considerations towards gender balance and athlete demonstrated commitment to training/sport (competition experience, coach in place, training plan in place).