Rocky Trail Academy

What a day at Nerang! 🌲🔥

Such an awesome lineup of 320 starters from over 50 schools across South East Queensland shredding the Nerang trails! There’s nothing quite like the buzz of the event village, the quiet focus at the start line, and the pure stoke of crossing that final timing mat after a day out in the bush with your mates. We love it!

📸 THE PHOTOS ARE LIVE!
The gallery is now up - click on your NAME in the results for all the galleries! Relive those dusty corners, the finish-line high-fives, and the podium glory. Check the link in our bio to find your shots and don't forget to tag us!
🔗 https://rockytrailacademy.com/results/gold-coast-schools-comp-results-2026/

🙌 HUGE THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
An event of this scale doesn't happen without an incredible team behind us. A massive shoutout to our sponsors and supporters who help us nurture the next generation of riders:

Sendy MTB Gear – For the epic podium vouchers and keeping the groms looking sharp!
Shimano Bike – For powering the Shimano Track!
Marzocchi – Legendary suspension support to hit every berm with thanks to Ridefox Australia
Tyres – For keeping the rubber side down on those loose Nerang corners thanks to Imports
Race Face Performance Products – For providing the performance products that keep these bikes trail-ready.
Rocky Trail Entertainment – For taking school sports into the wild!
Rocky Trail Academy events are endorse by AusCycling

To every teacher, parent, and volunteer who helped these 320 riders get to the start line—you are the heartbeat of the Academy. See you at the next one!



📸 Media

We return to the Djuwang Baring Trails in Creswick with the Central Victorian Schools Comp! Is this the most awesome school day ever? We’re going with a resounding YES. 🤘

This isn't just a race; it’s about nurturing the grassroots of mountain biking and giving the next generation of shredders a platform to shine. We believe the best way to grow the sport is by having an absolute blast in the bush with your mates.

🏁 What’s the vibe?
Riders will be put to the test across three unique tracks designed to push their endurance and technical skills. But don't worry—there’s always that one legendary, flowy race track that everyone finishes with a massive grin!

🏆 More than just a Podium
We’re looking for the top shredders, but it’s about more than just the medals. They get to experience the buzz of thriving for a personal best with riders representing a school or starting independently. Winners take home medals and Sendy MTB Gear vouchers and our podium interviews aren't just for show—they're a chance for riders to build confidence and find their voice in the MTB community.

Swipe 👉 for Creswick pics and what else is coming up and we’ll see you at there!

There is a specific kind of freedom you only find on the trails. It’s that drive to get out into nature, the connection with your bike, and the simple joy of the ride that keeps us all coming back. 🚲✨

Today, we’re sharing a story from deep within our Rocky Trail community. James Granger was one of our Rocky Trail Academy Junior Racers - young, stoic racer who loved the dirt and the adventure of mountain biking with his mates. Sadly, James passed away at just 16 after a incredibly brave journey with illness.

To honour his spirit and his love for the outdoors, his family has started “Join In for James”, a charity ride to raise funds for 'Challenge - supporting kids with cancer'. Their team became a vital part of James' world during his long hospital stay. They visited him almost daily, providing not only practical support but also friendship and emotional care.

On March 22nd, James' family is organising a bike ride on the Warburton Rail Trail. It’s a day to breathe in the gum trees, pedal through the fern gullies, and ride for a purpose bigger than ourselves. 🌿

How you can support:
🚲 Ride with them: Choose a 30km or 15km route through the Yarra Valley. It’s accessible for all ages and ends with a BBQ and skills session at Lillydale Lake.
🌱Donate: Please consider a donation to the Challenge Charity. Every bit helps them support other kids and families navigating their own cancer journeys.

James found his freedom on two wheels and we're so glad that we could play a small part in his riding World with our Rocky Trail Academy events in VIC.

🔗 Link to Info or search "Ride for James Warburton"
https://www.mycause.com.au/events/joininforjames

Photos: KI PhotoMedia, Shannon Gernyi

BOOK IT: One of the best Fridays of the school year is here! 📚➡️🚲

🚀 Imagine a day out on rocky trails, the 2026 Rocky Trail Academy season is officially KICKING OFF! 👉 SWIPE RIGHT to check the full 2026 Academy calendar. Find your nearest race! First, we are heading to the awesome trails at Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne on Friday, 20 February.

This is the perfect way to start the year—sessioning amazing dirt with your mates. It’s also day one of the huge Red Hill Rumble weekend, so you get first tracks before the Fox Superflow® racers take over on Saturday and Sunday!

Grab your school team or sign up individually. Five runs per stage, no start orders, just good times on the bike.

Entries for Red Hill are open now. Tap the link in our bio to secure your spot or click below:
https://rockytrailacademy.com/event/melbourne-schools-comp-red-hill-vic/

Happy Holidays!
🎄
The timing mats are packed and the trophies are won, in 2025, we had all of the fun! Nine-thousand five-hundred riders took flight, Making our massive season feel so perfectly right.
✨
From Fox Superflow® lines where gravity rules, to the future stars in our Academy Schools. We launched Sea Otter Australia—a festival dream, While Marathon legends powered through on full steam.
🏁
With forty-four events and on course for fifty-five days, our East Coast crews are in a bit of a haze! Exhausted? You bet. But we’re grateful and proud, to have cheered for every rider amidst the trail crowd.
🤘
And a shout to our Destination team, who truly stood tall, Crafting Mogo Trails—to us, the grandest of all! With the Next Level MTB crew, 125k’s are now live, across sixty-plus trails where the riders will thrive. A masterpiece carved for the dirt-loving soul, and the Home of Sea Otter Australia—our ultimate goal!
🦦
So rest up those legs and find some Holiday Cheer, before we go bigger in the New Year. More Gravity, Marathons, Sea Otter and Flow, it’s the only way we know!
🎉
Grateful for you all and the community we’ve built, we’re riding this high at full-throttle and tilt. Headed for the New Year and Season #19 at full steam,
Merry Christmas from your Rocky Trail Team.

Congrats to the students from Coffs Harbour Christian Community School for taking home the School Championship title at the first Rocky Trail Academy ! Well done to the over 100 racers, teachers and parents too!

A huge thank you to the awesome local club for the mint trails and for being such amazing hosts - your stoke levels were off the charts as always and the love for mountain biking that you're spreading is just the best environment for our students to thrive!

Thank you to and our sponsors for the support:














📷

The news we hate to post - Nerang has already had a rough one - but destroying the trails further isn't going to help.

Due to the severe impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the Nerang Fox Superflow® and Rocky Trail Academy weekend until later this year, originally scheduled for March 21-23 at Nerang National Park.

Our team conducted a thorough course assessment today and found the trails significantly affected by over 600mm of rainfall and numerous fallen trees. While it might have been possible to restore the trails in time, we felt it was unreasonable to put pressure on the local club and community’s resources, given the broader recovery efforts underway in the region.

The new dates are:

Rocky Trail Academy Gold Coast new proposed date 20th June 2025
FOX Superflow® Nerang new proposed date 13th – 14th September 2025 (with the Rocky Trail Academy Graduation Cup on the Friday)

Full details on site
https://rockytrailacademy.com/nerang-race-postponed-due-to-tc-damage

South Coast Schools Comp – Narooma - 14th March, 2025

Narooma schools, grab the crew and let’s hit the trails for the Academy’s newest South Coast shredfest!

This race is for high school students, fostering a love for cycling in a fun and friendly environment. Experience the thrill of competition with 3 timed stages and 5 runs per track to find your fastest time per track.

The three distinct tracks catering to different abilities, riders can find their flow and challenge themselves at their own pace. With a focus on endurance, speed, and technical skills, there’s a track for everyone – the Academy is the perfect stepping stone into the world of mountain biking.

Riders compete for grade-based category podium positions for girls and boys – Year 7+8 (Junior), Year 9+10 (Intermediate) and Year 11+12 (Senior). Racers also earn points for their school, competing for the Champion School title. The flexible format, with no strict start orders, allows for a relaxed and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Held on Fridays, these events not only provide exciting racing experiences but also engage youth in healthy outdoor recreation. Rocky Trail ensures a smooth and enjoyable event for everyone, making it easy for schools to participate.

Full details here: https://rockytrailacademy.com/event/south-coast-schools-comp-narooma-2025/

Our 2025 Calendar is now on site! Check it out, save the dates and get pumped!

https://rockytrailacademy.com/upcoming-events/

Michael from has been taking his students to Rocky Trail Academy events since the very first one. He has his top tips on what to expect at these mountain bike races for school kids on the Flow Site now!

https://flowmountainbike.com/features/the-ultimate-got-to-rocky-trail-academy/

Wollongong Events Postponed due to Weather-caused Venue Closure

We are very sorry to announce that all Rocky Trail Events for Gong have been rescheduled for later in the year (5+6 Sept).

Recent rain events locally have severely damaged the Cringila trails over the last few months and the MTB Park has been closed. Unfortunately we were informed by the venue manager on Friday that the trails cannot be opened by the originally scheduled date. The new dates are:

Elementary: Thu, 5th Sept
High School Race: Fri, 6th Sept

All registrations are automatically transferred to the new date. Read on site about how to change your attendance: https://rockytrailacademy.com/wollongong-events-cancelled-due-to-park-closure/