The 2013 dates for two of Australia’s most iconic mountain biking events have been confirmed with Rapid Ascent announcing the popular Kona Odyssey will take place on Saturday February 16th 2013, while the Bike Buller Mountain Bike Festival has been locked in for March 9-11th 2013.
Riders who like making more than just a weekend of their mountain biking endeavours will smile at news that the Bike Buller MTB Festival will again coincide with the Labour Day long weekend and the Picnic in the Park Festival. This year’s festival drew the highest number of competitors yet, with post event feedback suggesting the buzz and action will only continue to grow in 2013.
While full details of the event are to be announced, it will reprise the hugely popular 5hr Brakeburner Enduro, which as a stand-alone stage sold out in 2012. Such is the demand for entry, event organisers are looking at the logistics of how to increase numbers on this Stage 2 ride, which has riders hopping ski lifts to create a unique multi-lap downhill circuit before flying off down the hill to finish at the Party in the Park, a gourmet food and wine festival at the bottom of the mountain.
Other races taking place over the three days include: Saturday’s Stage 1 Stirling Circuit, a 50km XC route over Mt Stirling and back again; the Stage 2b Super-D, a flowing 12km 1100 metre vertical descent, also finishing at the food and wine festival; and Monday’s morning finale, the Cornhill Cranker, a 25km XC that will use parts of the freshly minted Copperhead Trail.
More than 800 riders are expected to ascend (and descend) on Mt Buller in 2013 as the festival cements its place as the pre-eminent mountain bike festival in the southern hemisphere.
The full mountain biking event line up for the long weekend is:
Stage 1 – A Stirling Circuit: 30km or 50km cross country (XC): over Mt Stirling and back again on the incredible new ‘Stonefly’ single track and other flowing trails all in a magical alpine setting
Stage 101 – The Kids Race – 10km: held on the single track around the village – designed to gives kids their own fun MTB experience
Stage 2 – The 5hr Brakeburner Enduro: a 5hr multi-lap enduro down a flowing XC-downhill course where you catch the lift up as part of each 6km lap including part of the new Copperhead trail, until the final 12km descent Super D Mt Buller to the food, fine and music festival at the bottom of the Mt. Suitable for XC bikes.
Stage 2b The Mt Buller Super D: a friendly 12km top to bottom race down a flowing 1,100m vertical descent to festival at the base of the hill. Suitable for XC bikes.
Stage 3 – Cornhill cranker: 25km XC: on the flowing singletrack around the Mt Buller village and neighbouring Corn Hill, taking in the new Copperhead trail top to bottom.
Further event details at: www.bikebuller.com
Meanwhile, the Kona Odyssey Mountain Bike Marathon is again expected to sell out at 2000 riders, with organisers urging punters to keep a close eye on Rapid Ascent news feeds for when entries will open.
Featuring three challenging yet scenic courses – the 100km main game along with the 50km ‘Shorty’ and 15km ‘Pioneer’ – the event scoots along world renowned single track, providing a heroic mountain bike journey through a range of wild landscapes in what Rapid Ascent reckons is “an Odyssey sent from the gods.”
The 100km course begins seaside at Apollo Bay, quickly hooking inland for the big uphill haul to finish after much sweat, some tears and occasionally some blood, in Forrest, a town that has come to be regarded as a Mecca for mountain bikers courtesy of the bunch of singletrack routes weaving around it’s wild outskirts. The 50km and 15km events start and finish in Forrest.
Date: Saturday, February 18th, 2012
Location: Forrest, Otway National Park, Victoria
Distances:
• 100km Kona Odyssey, Apollo Bay to Forrest
• 50km Kona Shorty, Forrest
• 15km Kona Pioneer, Forrest
Festival: Finish your quest with a feast at the bike, food and entertainment expo
Entries are now open at www.konaodyssey.com.au
