Key Points:
- Safety is our highest priority.
- We will do everything within our power to host both a mountain bike and run racing event during race weekend, but understand that our desire to do so will not supersede the health risks to participants, staff and volunteers.
- If a race is cancelled, it will not be rescheduled to a later date due to permitting factors, travel implications for participants, and scheduling conflicts with other events.
- If the mountain bike race is cancelled, the run race the next day is not automatically cancelled. A decision on each day’s race will not be made final until the morning of that specific race.
- We will continue to monitor the situation pre-event, the morning of each day’s race, and throughout race day.
- We will make our decisions based on safety and available metrics. The below written guidelines are meant to provide a clear and concise plan for when and how to make the necessary go/no-go decisions. Through this plan, we will take out as much guesswork as possible. Certain factors, such as air quality metrics, are easily measurable inarguable indicators that will tell event organizers when to put this plan into place. Other events that may trigger event delays and/or cancellations, such as trail conditions due to rain, are more subjective, in which case we will rely on our partners at the City of Steamboat Springs and Event Medical staff to help determine when holding our race as planned would be deemed unsafe or too impactful on the trail network.
- This information is meant to give participants a clear understanding before the event of what will take place if the below mentioned metrics are reached.
Race Day Procedures and Safety Protocols
Scheduled Races and Potential Changes
- Races proceed on scheduled dates unless the racecourse is deemed unsafe.
- The Emerald Mountain Epic (EME) may alter race start times due to weather, air quality, or other dangerous conditions.
Communication of Changes
EME will communicate delays, start time changes, and course alterations through:
- Event website (prior to race day, if possible)
- Social media
- Newsletter
- Public address system on race day
Course Modifications and Race Stoppage
- Courses may be altered or shortened due to weather conditions.
- Last-minute changes will be announced at the start of each wave.
- Racing will stop immediately if dangerous circumstances arise, as determined by the race director and/or EMS staff.
- Racing may resume once proper precautions are taken.
Lightning Protocol
- If lightning occurs within a 5-mile radius before the race: Start time will be delayed until the area is clear.
- If lightning occurs during the race: Athletes should proceed to the next aid station and await instruction about race delay or stoppage.
Air Quality and Race Cancellation
- The race will be delayed or canceled if the AQI exceeds 180. We will use THIS resource to determine air quality.
Race Restart or Cancellation
- A stopped race may be declared over, depending on the schedule and duration of the stoppage.
