Girls and boys in 6th thru 12th grades are eligible to join. You do not need experience in mountain biking and there are no tryouts.

No, however the student should know how to ride a bike without assistance. We are not an extreme sport; we do not conduct downhill races or do stunts on bikes. We teach basic fundamentals necessary to ride a mountain bike safely on cross country trails.

Mountain biking is for everyone! As long as you are in 6-12th grade you can join.

Yes! Mountain biking is new to a lot of kids so we offer a no commitment "Try It Out” for fun practice session to allow kids to experience it first without officially joining the team. This typically runs about an hour and can go as long as 3 hours. The time you spend with us is flexible and is completely up to the student. Each student is allowed one "Try It Out" practice session per season. Visit our TIO page on our website or contact us for more information.

Yes! As long as you are in 6-12th grade at the beginning of the Fall season.

If the other sport's practice schedule conflicts with our practice schedule, then we don't recommend it. Attending practice in any sport is key to becoming proficient and our practices are progressive with each being dependent on the previous. Please keep in mind that if your child plans on joining another sport that conflicts with our practice schedule this will only make it more difficult for your athlete to acquire the skills necessary to ride the trails safely with team.

Registration starts in September. Practices begin in October and continue through December (weather permitting). We resume practices in February and end in June. Race Events are held April thru June. We end our season in June.

Catskill Claws registration fee for the 2023-2024 season is yet to be determined. Your seasonal registration for 2023-2024 includes a team jersey. Additional registration fees for NICA and the New York League are also required: NICA / New York League combined $140.00 (updated 09/16/2022) League race fees are $30 per race, per athlete. Participation in race events is optional for all student athletes. There are 5 tentatively scheduled race events per season. (Weather and other factors permitting). (All registration fees are nonrefundable. All fees and costs may change without prior notice. Please contact us for updated information)

Practices are held October thru December and again in February thru June. Practices are usually held on Saturday mornings at Walnut Mountain in Liberty NY. Weather and trail conditions are a big factor on when and where we have practices; occasionally practices are postponed till Sunday. Practices are occasionally held at Lippman Park in Warwarsing, NY or other local accommodating locations. (Schedule subject to change due to weather and other factors).

Practices usually consist of fundamental bike skill instructions, warm up drills, group rides on trails and are progressive in nature as we get closer to the race season. We practice as a team, and often break into smaller groups by ability. We are not an “extreme” sport; we do not perform stunts on bikes or conduct downhill races. Attending practice in any sport is key to becoming proficient and our practices are progressive with each being dependent on the previous. Thus we recommend attending as many practices as possible. Please keep in mind that if your child plans on joining another sport that conflicts with our practice schedule this will only make it more difficult for you athlete to acquire the skills necessary to ride the trails safely with team.

Below is a brief list of items every student athlete will need to participate at practices. (This list is not an all-inclusive list, please check with us for any changes to this list) 1) Mountain Bike - A functioning and properly maintained mountain bike with at least 5 gears. 2) Bike Helmet- A helmet for biking that meets bicycle helmet safety standards and is in good condition. 3) Eye Protection- Clear or amber color safety glasses. 4) Proper Clothing – No loose shorts, pants or other clothing allowed as it can get caught in or on bike parts and may cause injury to the rider. Padded bike shorts and padded riding gloves are optional but highly recommended. 5) Back Pack, Hydration Pack or Hip Pack - To store liquids, snacks, tools and clothing in. 6) Liquids & Snacks- Each rider must have a minimum of 2 liters of water or hydration drink and 2 snack items (e.g. power bars, bananas, granola bars, etc.) with them. 7) Footwear – Riders must wear appropriate footwear (e.g. cycling shoes, light hiking shoes, sneakers). Open toe shoes, sandals, loafers are not permitted. This list is not intended to be all-inclusive. Safety for our students and coaches are paramount. Please check with us for a current up to date list.

Registration opens in September with a limited number of slots available. Contact us and we will email you a Registration Form. It can take up to 15 days to become fully registered so it’s best to register as early as possible. Registration opens up in September and practices start in October.

Yes, racing is optional for all student athletes. However, we try to encourage every student athlete to participate in at least one race event just for the fun of it. We race against other teams in the New York Interscholastic Cycling League. There are approximately 22 teams in the league from all over New York state. Each team consists of boy and girl athletes in 6-12th grades. Generally, student athletes compete against other athletes in the same grade level.

A typical race weekend starts with an optional pre-ride on Saturday afternoon followed by races on Sunday morning. A typical race day (Sunday) starts at 7:30am and continues with an awards ceremony that ends around 4pm. We do not provide transportation to race events. Parents/guardians are responsible for transporting their athlete(s) to and from practices and race events. There are usually 5 races per season and are held in April, May and June. Racing is optional for all student athletes.

The cost to pre-register for a race is $30 per race per athlete. There are usually 5 races per season (weather and other factors permitting). Student athletes receive one electronic chip race plate which they will use throughout the season. Replacement race plates cost $10-$25 and there is a late fee for athletes that do not pre-register for races (if applicable). Racing is optional for all students. However, we try to encourage every student athlete to participate in race events just for the fun of it. (Race fees may change without prior notice. Please email us for up to date race information)

We do not provide transportation to race events. Parents/guardians are responsible for transporting their athlete to and from race events.

Donations can be made through PayPal or Facebook. If you prefer to mail us a check please make checks payable to Catskill Claws Inc. and mail to: Catskill Claws PO Box 24 Rock Hill, NY 12775 Catskill Claws is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and relies on donations to support our team and athletes. Your contribution may be tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Becoming a sponsor is easy. We offer different sponsorship levels to fit everyone's budget. Catskill Claws is a non-profit 501(c)(3)organization and relies on sponsors like you to support our team and athletes. Please contact us for a current season sponsorship form.