Footlocker (California)

Footlocker (California Trip)
We are excited that Footlocker (now named Eastbay Cross Country Championship) has announced it will be happening this year! Footlocker is the original Cross Country National Championship and the meet we are attending is the regional meet. We have been taking teams to Footlocker for the past 15 years and it has meant a lot to the growth of the program. This trip is about the race, but also so much more. We work hard to make it a memorable trip to California with beach time, Disneyland, shopping and great food! The trip cost will be in the $700 range, we are still working on some details. We are estimating the flight will be $250 range, but we hope it will be cheaper. We will purchase all the flight so all the kids are guaranteed a seat. Once the flights are purchased and we know how many kids are going, we will have the final number. Coaches will be chaperoning.

Register for the race here

Where: Los Angeles (MT San Antonio College)
When: Dec 2nd-5th
Cost: $700 - $250 is due Friday (11/5) to cover cost of the plane ticket. The remainder is due Friday (11/29).
The cost of the trip will go toward plane ticket, hotel, Disneyland ticket, van rental, fuel, and food. Please make checks payable to Hellgate XC.
Flights: Allegiant Airlines (Depart Thursday (12/2) @ 1:15pm, Arrive back in Missoula Sunday (12/5) @ 12:30pm
Meet Website: http://footlockercc.com/west/

Email sent on 11.29
Hello. Hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving! We are very excited about our trip to California this week. PLEASE read all the notes below and let me know if you have any questions. Going to be a memorable few days. Go HKXC!

Race schedule and more info can be found here. Also, if you are interested in looking at the course, I posted a few videos below. One is from a California meet a few weeks ago and the other is from 2012 when Paige Gilchrist from Hellgate qualified for nationals. There have been a few course changes since 2012, so the video from this year might be helpful. We will go run the course and pick up our packets on Friday, the day before the meet.

I am sorry to tell you won't be going to Disneyland this trip. I had looked up prices a few months ago to set the budget but didn't read that we need to book 60 days in advance to secure our tickets due to Covid. I was on the phone for while today trying to sweet talk them, but no luck. I apologize, I know a lot of you were excited about Disneyland. Instead, we are going to Knotts Berry Farm. It is a fun park that we have been to over the years, I think we will have a great time. On the positive side, it is cheaper than Disneyland so we can stay at a little nicer hotel. I promised we will work hard to make it up to you and make some fun memories.

Most of you have paid the $250 for the airline ticket and some have paid the $700. Since are not going to Disneyland and a few other things have changed (a little nicer hotel rooms) I will just let you know after the trip what is owed. That we can look at what is actually spent on food, etc., and let you know. If you paid $700 and it comes out to less, we will get that money back. So... don't pay anything more until I am in touch next week.

We are staying at the Hampton Inn. They are nice rooms with an outdoor pool. We like this location because it is centrally located between the beach and the course.

I will be at a conference starting tomorrow in Austin, so I will be meeting the team in LA on Thursday. Coach Em will meet everybody at the airport on Thursday to check you in. My mom (Carol) and dad (Tim) will also be there and are traveling with the team to LA. Meg and I will be waiting for the team at the airport when they arrive. Please be at the airport on Thursday by 11:45am, you will meet inside the main doors by the check-in area.

I have attached a list of seat assignments and confirmation numbers. It would be great if you could print off your boarding pass or download the Allegiant app before you come to the airport. You can check-in 24 hours before we depart. If you can't find it, we can get you your boarding pass at the airport. Please note that some of the seats on your ticket might not match the attached document. I had to seat some of you next to others teammates depending on age, but we can move you around and you can sit in these seats. Everybody is allowed one small bag (backpack) and a carry-on (9" high X 14" wide, X 22" deep). Remember you cannot carry on liquids, so you will need to empty your water bottle.

Make sure to get your run in before we leave on Thursday. Also, we won't be eating dinner until 6pm on Thursday so make sure to eat lunch before we leave and bring a snack for the flight.

The weather looks great!

Don't forget to pack:

1. ID (have ready at the airport)
2. Facemask (have on at the airport)
3. NXR uniform
4. Runners clothes, shoes, and race shoes
5. Swimsuit and towel
6. Spending money
7. Boarding pass (if you can't access it)

Below is the itinerary for the trip.