700-plus mountain bike riders of all disciplines will go head to head at the unique Bike Buller MTB Festival this weekend, 9 to 11 March at Mount Buller, Victoria.
The battle will be headlined by Paul Van der Ploeg, a short course specialist and recent Australian Elite Men’s Cross-Country Eliminator 2013 Champion; Adrian Jackson, 2012 Bike Buller MTB Festival winner and skilled marathon rider; and Josh Carlson, a Super D specialist currently racing for Global GIANT Factory Off-Road Team in Canada.
Bike Buller MTB Festival provides the ultimate test for mountain bike riders, and is set to challenge the talented field with three adrenaline-pumping races over the three days in the Premier Category, including a mix of cross country courses, downhill and ‘all mountain’ terrain.
The fifth edition of the revolutionary gathering will once again feature four different mountain bike races, with the renowned 5hr Brakeburner Enduro on Sunday a highlight stage which finishes at the bottom of the mountain, joining up with the annual ‘Picnic in the Park’ at Mirimbah.
Saturday begins with the Stage 1 Stirling Circuit, a choice of 30km or 50km XC route over Mt Stirling and back again; and a kid’s race in the afternoon providing a taste of the infamous mountain bike tracks. Stage 2 on Sunday is the Brakeburner Enduro, utilising the ski lifts for a downhill circuit before sending riders flying off down the hill to finish at the Picnic in the Park. Stage 2b the Super-D, is a flowing 12km 1100 metre vertical descent, also finishing at Mirimbah; and finally Monday’s Stage 3 morning finale, the Cornhill Cranker, a 25km XC that uses parts of the Copperhead Trail.
Overall, the event provides eager mountain biker riders and their families a massive weekend of bikes, single track, fresh air and partying at one spectacular and renowned mountain bike locations, Mt Buller.
In the words of Glen Jacobs from World Trail – trail building extraordinaire,
“Mt Buller is one of the most iconic biking destinations in Australia and the next big thing in mountain biking. The new cross-country trail network is of a world class standard that will be on par with North American resorts and Stromlo Forest Park, near Canberra… The varied alpine landscape at Mt Buller ensures that the resort offers mountain bikers an experience that is unique in the market.”
With entries on track for record numbers, and 30% of entries hailing from non-Victorian residents, it’s easy to see why this event weekend is one of the most popular amongst the mountain biking community
Entries close 9am (AESDT) Thursday 7th March, 2013 at www.bikebuller.com