Back and better than ever for 2026 - now powered by Slay!

Join us in the heart of Virginia’s mountain biking scene for a one-of-a-kind camp designed to elevate your racing skills and performance. In 2026, Cutaway Race Camp returns to the Roanoke Valley with a new level of depth, structure, and performance focus powered by Slay. Hosted at Roanoke College, and training daily on the official courses of the USA Cycling MTB National Championships, this camp gives riders the perfect combination of on-bike skill development, data-driven race prep, and high-performance learning. It’s the perfect opportunity to preview, practice, and master the trails before race day.

Interscholastic racing around the country is booming and Nationals fields are getting more competitive every year. Cutaway Race Camp powered by Slay ensures your riders show up confident, informed, and ready to perform at the highest level—whether it’s their first Nationals or their tenth.

What is Slay?

Slay is the first integrated, data-driven athlete-education system in cycling. Their mission is to engineer complete athletes through a multi-pillar educational pathway. To win on the courses they race, against the rivals they face, and to equip them for lifelong success.

Created by national-level coaches, engineers, and sport scientists, Slay combines data, teaching, and race-specific preparation into a single integrated pathway that helps young athletes grow into confident, capable, high-performing riders.

Slay brings tools normally reserved for Olympic programs and Formula 1—rival analysis, digital-twin course modeling, race-craft simulations, and a structured five-pillar education system—and adapts them for youth and junior athletes in a way that’s clear, fun, and developmentally appropriate.

At Race Camp powered by Slay, riders get:

• Course & Rival Analysis - Understand the Nationals courses and who you're racing

• Nationals-Ready Routines - Warmups, rituals, race-week systems used by elite athletes

• Performance Education - Nightly programming that builds complete, confident racers

• A Pathway for Growth - A roadmap from beginner to elite, with steps any rider can follow

Whether your goal is your first Nationals start or a podium finish, Slay gives riders the tools, knowledge, and confidence to take the next step in their development.

Why Do Race Camp?

Kickstart the final Readiness Block
This camp is perfectly timed to launch the final month of Nationals prep - dialing in daily routines, sharpening execution, and reinforcing confidence.

Course & Rival Intelligence
Slay decodes the Nationals courses and breaks down rival tendencies, helping riders identify where they hold advantages and how to build race strategy around them.

Holistic Preparation Across Slay's Educational Pillars
Nightly workshops teach athletes across Performance, Preparation, Execution, Human Development, and Technical Systems. By the end of camp, every rider knows exactly how to prep and execute their race week.

• Ages: 12–18

• Duration: 5 days / 4 nights

• Disciplines: XC, XCC, Marathon

• Base: Roanoke College

• Ride Locations: Official USA Cycling Nationals venues

• Who: Girls & boys (separate dorms)

Pre-Camp (Online Briefing)

• A live virtual session for riders + parents covering expectations, routines, gear, safety, and the race-week systems taught at camp

DAY 1 — Arrival, Bike Build, Orientation

• Check-in and dorm assignments at Roanoke College

• Bike builds & mechanical baseline checks

• Skills and group riding assessments

• Introduction to the Slay pillars

• Evening workshop: Goal setting & professionalism

DAY 2 — Course Inspection & Tactical Practice

• Guided inspection laps on the Nationals XC/XCC venues

• Line identification, pacing zones, feature breakdown

• Afternoon block: Racecraft fundamentals by category

• Evening seminar: Pacing, data, and personal race strategy

DAY 3 — Nationals Race Simulation

• Full-routine race simulation (warmup → call-up → start → race block)

• Tactical execution and start-grid development

• Afternoon small-group intensity & skills focus

• Evening debrief: video review, mindset training, race analysis

DAY 4 — Repetition, Skills Consolidation & Professionalism

• Feature-specific skills blocks (A-lines, rock gardens, corners)

• Midday recovery & nutrition workshop

• Afternoon controlled laps to reinforce execution

• Evening seminar: “Turning preparation into performance”

DAY 5 — Integration & Departure

• Final venue session with rider-chosen focus areas

• Wrap-up lunch at Roanoke College

• Personal Nationals prep checklist & take-home playbook

• Use of Roanoke College dormitories and dining hall

• 3 healthy and balanced meals each day

• Healthy snacks and ride food

• Daily, fully-supported course preview rides

• Race-specific skills lessons led by area professionals

• Daily race-specific seminars

• Bike mechanic

• Custom Cutaway Clothing cycling jersey

• Custom Camp t-shirt

Slay’s five-pillar framework shapes the entire week—each day, riders learn how these pieces work together to produce race-ready performance.

PERFORMANCE

Building the physical engine required for success at Nationals.

• Race-specific power demands

• Pacing intelligence

• Tapering and recovery management

PREPARATION

Everything riders do before race day to set up success.

• Course analysis

• Warmup systems

• Nutrition, fueling, hydration

• Pre-race routines

EXECUTION

Applying skills and decisions under pressure.

• Tactical decision-making

• Starts, passing, defending lines

• Technical throughput and line choice

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Developing confident, resilient young athletes.

• Emotional regulation & composure

• Mindset training

• Leadership, communication, professionalism

• Showing up like a pro

TECHNICAL SYSTEMS

Mastering the bike as a performance machine.

• Suspension setup

• Tire/tread/pressure optimization

• Mechanical literacy & problem solving

• Pre-race mechanical checks

All documents are included in the pre-camp information packet sent two weeks before arrival.

• Permission-To-Treat Form

• CBC Release Form

• Food Allergy Form

• Will be posted after Camp

• Andy Guptill, andy@cutawaybikecamp.com