2025/2026 Race Season

18 Nov 2025
25 Nov 2025
02 Dec 2025
09 Dec 2025

Rankings

Points will be allocated from the series and age category winners will be acknowledged at a later prizegiving. The points will be used to determine the club champions for this season.

But wait, there’s more! Results from these events will also be used to decide who we (through Pringle Homes) financially support to enter the Continental Champs! Find out more about Pringle Homes here.

Introduction

These races cater for slow beginners through to elite fast riders. It’s about getting a good hit out and having fun. Try and choose the grade that is right for you. If you are fast but don’t want to do the more technical tracks, enter the Core 3 grade. If you can’t make it for the time scheduled for your grade, you may be able to do your race with another grade that is using the same course. We try and be accommodating.

TECHNICAL GRADES – Larger variety of tracks with B lines available on most, but not all, technical features.

Elite (4 laps)/A Grade (3 laps) – For the more skilled faster riders
B Grade (2 laps)- You get to ride the technical tracks but there is no pressure to ride fast.

EASIER GRADES – leaves out the more technical tracks.

Core 2 (C2) and Core 1 (C1) – Ride the easier loop and have a bit of fun! If parents want to ride alongside their kids that is absolutely fine. Adults in this grade would be “racing” for their own fitness rather than trying to win.
Core 3 (C3) – For those who are fitter and faster but don’t want to race on the more challenging tracks. For the sake of the volunteers time, we will be running this concurrently with the Core 2 and 1 race this season. Please don’t intimidate less confident riders. We want people to have a good experience so you need to be patient if you get held up behind a slower rider.

Check Facebook for updates especially if there is uncertainty around the weather. There may be changes to the courses indicated below.

Shout out to Mainland Foundation for funding for provision of first aid.

Schedule for November/December 2025 events

We aim for race lengths to be between 20 and 40 minutes (see past results for what other people did)

5:30 pm – Registration opens
5:55 pm – Core 3 (C3), Core 2 (C2) and Core 1 (C1)
6:25 pm – Elite (4)/A Grade (3)
7:05 pm – B Grade (2) 

Enter

It helps us enormously if you do two things
1) Register for the race series (just once) and 2) Join the club.

For Christchurch Singletrack Club (or Gravity Canterbury) members, entry is by donation.
For non-members, it’s $15 per race.
If you don’t want to/forget to bring cash to the race, you can transfer some money to the club account 38-9026-0298651-00. Include the code Crocodile Series so we know what it is for. Or by credit card (we’ll aim to have a QR code to scan at the race).

Race Day

Before the race

Providing we get your information before we print the week’s registration list (around midday race day), when you arrive at the registration desk, look for your name on the list and see what number has been allocated to you. Check your details are correct and update if you change grades.

If you don’t pre-register, someone will get your details and allocate you a number. If you come in subsequent weeks you DON’T need to fill in the on-the-day form again.

Find the number and attach it securely to the front of your bike so that the timekeeper will be able to read it. Your time will be taken each time you pass the orange cones by the timing tent.

After the race

At the end of the race leave your number and re-usable cable ties in the bin provided. If you don’t complete all your laps, let the timekeepers know so we can account for you. Then you are free to leave.

The Race Courses – these are subject to change if necessary

The Core Loop follows the C2 track from the Entrance Hub to the farm. From there riders traverse Crocodile to Poplars Hub and then return on Deviation and Lower Deviation back to the Entrance Hub. Some weeks the Core Loop race will also include Garden Path. The core loop map is here.

The technical courses are shown on the maps below.

Tuesday 18 November 2025 Course S map

Tuesday 25 November 2025 Course B map

Tuesday 02 December 2025 Course C map (NEW!)

Tuesday 09 December 2025 Course L map

1. What happens if it is raining? Firstly, we will be disappointed, especially if we have already put time in to setting up. If the rain is such that we would close the tracks, we will cancel the event. If the rain is light but likely to cause safety issues we will either modify the course or cancel the event. Most important, check the club Facebook page for updates because the weather at the Crocodile may be quite different to how it is in other parts of the city. Often we make decisions at the last moment because we really want to avoid cancelling if we don’t have to. We have the option of postponing a course to December.

3. Can I ride with my child? Absolutely! If you have a child who wishes to race and you want to ride with them you are very welcome to do so.

4. I’m late!  Can I still race? We try and be accommodating so if you miss the start of the race let us know and we will make a note of your start time. Depending on how late you are you can either do the whole event or you can join in doing a reduced number of laps.

5. I don’t have the latest bike/clothing/glasses… will I look out of place? Nope! Everyone is welcome (as long as your bike is safe and you agree to the other conditions).

6. What grade should I enter? If you are not competent on the technical tracks you should stick to the Core Loop races. Check out these results – to get an idea of how fast the different grades do the core loop – remember the times include the start/finish loop. If you are slow on the downhills please let faster riders get past by pulling over. You don’t have to stay in the same grade each week.

7. Can I do both races on an evening? Yes, but if you want to do this let us know and we will put a second timing sticker on your race number.

8. Why is it so cheap? We wanted to run races that were accessible for people on all budgets so have a pay-what-you-can arrangement. All of the team putting on these events are volunteers. If we have first aid, it is paid for by a funding grant. We generally don’t have prizes. We re-use the race numbers and twist-ties to keep our expenses low. We do not need to provide facilities such as a marquee and toilets. We also do not pay a fee to use the tracks as we use a track network that we build and maintain.

9. What tyre pressure should I run? It depends! There are so many factors to consider, but it does make a difference so it is worth doing some research to get the best result for you. Lower pressures have better grip and less rolling resistance when riding on rough tracks. Here are some articles to get you started – enduro-mtb.com | Bike Radar | Full Speed Ahead

Got another question? Send an email to the club (rebekah@ or craig@ or murray@ singletrack.org.nz), or send a message through Facebook, or you can phone Rebekah on 027 3134 908.