Race Series Info

Coastal Carolina Off-Road Series (CCORS) is an annual Cross-Country Mountain Bike Race Series in eastern North and South Carolina.

CCORS race venues consist of several unique trail systems throughout Eastern North Carolina and South Carolina.

CCORS offers a full suite of race Categories catered to suit ALL types of competitive off-road cyclists, no matter your fitness/experience level or age.

CCORS is a volunteer-run partnership of regional Cycling Clubs. All money raised from race entry fees goes directly back to the host club of each race venue. This model provisions each Host Club with the financial means to continue maintaining and improving their local trail systems and furthermore, enriching their respective cycling communities.

CCORS objectives are:

• Make quality mountain bike racing available to riders in Eastern North/South Carolina
• Enrich and promote locally managed trail systems and cycling communities within our region
• Provide exposure for bike-friendly businesses throughout the region to our patrons
  

CCORS  began with a small localized race series  based in Jacksonville, NC in 1999. In the years following, it has exploded  into a regional phenomenon  growing in parallel w/ Coastal Carolina’s ever-expanding off-road cycling community.

CCORS Host Clubs are:

Cape Fear SORBA Wilmington, NC	Down East Cyclists Jacksonville, NC	Myrtle Beach Area Mountain Biking Association Myrtle Beach, SC

Mileage is approximated can vary between race venues.

“OPEN” indicates an open age Category, i.e. no age restrictions.

Registration / Pre Reg Check-In Closes @ 12:30pm

All races start @ 1:00 pm

Online Pre-Registration is available.

Day-of registration is open 11 am-12:30 pm on race day at the race venue

Cash or check made to host club only please

Small bills or exact change appreciated

NO CREDIT CARDS PLEASE

See Race Category Options for full race entry fee schedule

Awards

• CAT1, CAT 2, CAT 3 and YOUTH qualifiers will receive GIFT CERTIFICATES, see PAYOUT SCHEDULE below
• GIFT CERTIFICATES can be redeemed at any participating bicycle shop or retail vendor.
• Participating vendors will be listed on the GIFT CERTIFICATES.
• GIFT CERTIFICATES EXPIRE. Expiration Date will be printed on Certificate
• FIRST TIMER MEN and FIRST TIMER WOMEN receive MEDALS
• There is NO overall series competition for FIRST TIMER Categories
• Maximum of 3 awards for each FIRST TIMER Category per race

PAYOUT SCHEDULE: 

The number of prizes for each CAT 1, CAT 2, CAT 3 & YOUTH Category will be determined by the following PAYOUT SCHEDULE:

• 1 Starting Rider: No award 
• 2 Starting Riders: 1 award (1st place)
• 3-4 Starting Riders: 2 awards (1st and 2nd place)
• 5-15 Starting Riders: 3 awards (1st, 2nd and 3rd Place)
• > 15 Starting Riders: 4 awards (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place)

General Series Information

• GIFT CERTIFICATES for CAT 1, CAT 2, CAT 3 & Youth Individual Races and Overall Series championship
• The number of awards for each Category will be determined by the following Payout Schedule:
  • < 3 riders: 1 award
  • 3-4 riders: 2 awards
  • 5-15: 3 awards
  • > 15 riders: 4 awards

• Top three (3) FIRST TIMER MEN and FIRST TIMER WOMEN podium finishers get Medals.
  • More than one 1st place finish in a FIRST TIMER category results in automatic upgrade for next race to at least CAT 3 category. See CCORS Mandatory Upgrade Policy
  • Maximum of  3 awards for each FIRST TIMER Category per race
• No Racing License Required
• NO MOTORIZED or ELECTRIC-ASSIST  BICYCLES 
  

Mandatory Upgrade Policy

CCORS enforces a results-based Mandatory Upgrade Policy (MUP) that applies to some but not all race Categories.

The CCORS Mandatory Upgrade policy, or MUP, is not unilateral and may vary between categories. The goal of implementing a MUP is to encourage fair competition amongst all competitors. An “upgrade”, simply put, is when a racer transitions from one Category to a more challenging Category.

If a racer meets MUP criteria, their upgrade will be enacted at the beginning of the following CCORS Race Season (next year) and will be enforced the entire duration of that season.

There are special circumstances that nullify a mandatory upgrade instance. CCORS reserves discretionary rights to overrule, amend or redact any existing upgrade policy stipulation if and when the situation calls for such an action.

There may be circumstances where a mandatory upgrade is not in the best interest of a rider. Please contact us if you would like to be considered for an exemption to an impending mandatory upgrade.

First Timers, All Categories

• First Timers Men and First Timers Women MUP criteria:
  • More than one 1st place finish in any FIRST TIMER category race results in a mandatory upgrade to CAT 3 or higher for the remainder of the season.

CAT 3- ALL *

• CAT 3 MUP Criteria
  • Racer won the overall Series Championship in a CAT 3 Category
  • Racer placed 1st in THREE (3) (or more) CAT 3 races MUST upgrade the following year
• Examples of a CAT 3 upgrade
  • Moving to a category that races a longer distance
    •  i.e. CAT 3 40-49 move to CAT 2 40-49
  • Moving to a younger CAT 3 Category
    • i.e. CAT 3 40-49 move to CAT 3 30-39
• *Exemptions and exceptions:
  • CAT 3 exempt from mandatory upgrade are
    • CAT 3 50+
    • CAT 3 Women OPEN
  • If a racer is aged 50 or above they are exempt from the CAT 3 Mandatory Policy
  • If a racer competed in CAT 2 the previous year as a result of a mandatory upgrade from CAT 3 and did not podium for any individual race in CAT 2, you are allowed to downgrade back to CAT 3 the following year.

CAT 2- ALL

• CAT 3 Mandatory Upgrade Policy DOES NOT apply to Cat 2
• Upgrade from CAT 2 to CAT 1 is left to the discretion of the racer and in special cases, CCORS Race Organization.
• Retroactive; racers who would have been required to upgrade from CAT 2 to CAT 1 based on previous results will NO LONGER BE REQUIRED TO DO SO.

*CAT 2 Upgrade policy is subject to the discretion of CCORS Race Organization. Race Organizers reserve the right to require a race participant to upgrade from any given CAT 2 Category to a more challenging/competitive Category.

 The following  are NOT subject to MUPs:

• CAT 1
• Youth
• Racer Age 50+
• Cat 3 Women

Points System
All Categories

* To get a DNF in a particular race (Did Not Finish), a rider must START a race

Series podiums

• Series points tally and placement are compiled using the the best x of y races. There is always at least one “throwaway” race, sometimes more.
  e.g. in a FIVE-race series, the best FOUR races are counted towards an individuals points tally. In a SIX-race series, the best FIVE races are counted. In a SEVEN-race series, the best FIVE races are counted.
• In order to be considered for series podium, racers must start in a minimum number of races. That minimum number of race starts is the same number of races that are counted in the best x of y . x is the number of race starts needed.
  e.g in a FIVE-race series, a racer must at least start in FOUR races. In a SIX-race series, FIVE race starts are needed (you do not need to finish the minimum number of races, one could possibly DNF and still place).
• Overall ties will be resolved based on next best place in the “Throwaway” race(s), then (as necessary) by head-to-head race placing. If a tie breaker cannot be reached, awards will be split evenly between the tied racers.
• Any Category that does not have a minimum of THREE riders competing in the minimum number of races needed for series consideration, may be determined ineligible for overall series prizes.

Race Age

“Race Age” is defined as the racer’s age on the date of the last race of the current season.

“Race Age” is used for placement age-based Categories.

Racers are allowed to race in Categories where the race age is lower than their actual race age.
e.g.  a 50-year-old racer is allowed to enter a 30-39 category

“OPEN” indicates an open age Category, i.e. no age restrictions.