On 25 June 2011, Rocky Trail successfully hosted their first MTB endurance race in Juliane’e hometown of Gnas in the beautiful region of South-East Styria, about 3 hours South of Vienna. To share their passion for mountain bike riding and racing in Australia in their home country of Austria. That was the bold goal of
Juliane and Martin Wisata from Rocky Trail when they launched the Wild Wombat MTB Challenge.
A supportive council and mayor, an active local MTB club and a luscious Styrian forest with awesome descents, gentle climbs and heaps of Aussie-style singletrails – those were the ingredients for the successful launch of Rocky Trail’s first endurance race in Austria, the Wild Wombat MTB Challenge.
Inspired by their SHIMANO MTB Grand Prix Series, the Rocky Trail duo set out a 5.2 km circuit for the 2, 4 or 8 hour race options in Juliane’s hometown and mobilised local and regional supporters and suppliers to make it an Austro-Australian celebration of the first ever MTB race in the region.
More than 100 riders were at the start line of the first Wild Wombat MTB Challenge. With an estimated
500 event spectators, the racing field ranged from 30 junior riders of the local school to seasoned
endurance racers from all over Austria and Slovenia, including Crocodile Trophy finishers as well as a
24H World Champion (of which there is more than one each year, curiously).
The region around Gnas is called the “Land of the Volcanos”, a tribute to its ancient heritage. And the
organisers proofed that the fiery vulcanos and the Australian heat go together well. “We really wanted
to bring a little bit of Australian atmosphere back with us, I think a few more races and the entire town
will be hooked on Vegemite too”, said organiser Juliane Wisata. Not only culinary treats from Austria
and Australia were on the menu, but also a combination of traditional music from both countries – a
local Didgeridoo band entertained the crowds and the unique sounds spread through the valley,
welcoming racers as they came through the event centre, lap after lap.
Visiting Austria every year to catch up with family and friends and recently also to hold marketing and
event management guest lectures at the Tourism Institute of the IMC University for Applied Sciences
near Vienna, organisers Juliane and Martin have a new goal already in sight. Next year’s event date is
about to be confirmed and they are extending an invitation to all mountain bikers in Australia to join
them at the Wild Wombat MTB Challenge 2012 in Gnas:
“Next year, we want to get some real Aussie racers to the Wild Wombat MTB Challenge as well!”
The next Rocky Trail endurance race in Australia will be held at Awaba MTB Park near Sydney on 16 +
17 July with the SHIMANO MTB Grand Prix and the BANZAI Lifecycle Fitness Time Trial events.
Photos of the Wild Wombat MTB Challenge 2011 are attached and for more information, please
contact Juliane or Martin at Rocky Trail Entertainment or visit www.rockytrailentertainment.com