This summer, the JetBlack Wild Wombat heads south to make brand-new mountain bike event on the NSW South Coast. On December 1st both Team and solo categories will take part in a classic 12-hour format event, but race organisers Rocky Trail Entertainment have something unique to offer as well – as usual!
The all-new ‘Wild Solo Challenge’ is a new addition to the Wild Wombat, the event that started in Austria. This will be a new addition to celebrate the Wild Wombat’s move to its new home in the Eurobodalla Shire.
“We took the Australian ‘wild wombat’ to our home country of Austria in 2012 for three cross-country events to introduce the “Aussie-style” of racing singletrails,” said Rocky Trail’s Juliane Wisata. “This typical Australian animal fit well as a mascot – it’s an easygoing and friendly mammal, which sometimes can be very stubborn and determined… just like us mountain bikers, we thought! Now we are bringing it back Down Under to launch a new mountain biking event with the Jetblack Wild Wombat!”
The Jetblack Wild Wombat will cater for mountain bikers of all ages and backgrounds, and given the natural beauty of the tall forests, rivers and beaches in this unspoilt coastal wilderness of the Eurobodalla Shire just about any mountain biker will enjoy the location The event will be located in the small town of Mogo just outside of Batemans Bay – less than two hours from Canberra and well worth the drive from Sydney and beyond. If you’re familiar with endurance racing in NSW over the past 10 years or so, then Mogo shouldn’t be an entirely new destination for you.
The JetBlack Wild Wombat course
The course for the event uses a lot of handbuilt trails as a classic cross-country circuit around the popular ‘Dam Loop’ in Mogo. But alongside a classic 12-hour endurance race Rocky Trail will be introducing the ‘Wild Solo Challenge’: you set your personal goal for kilometres to achieve, and set about hitting the number! This sounds like a great personal challenge to suit anyone’s fitness and abilities, and we can see it being a great vehicle for fundraising for a chosen charity in the future.
“We are launching this ‘Wild Solo Challenge’ with groups of friends in mind who could sign up as solo riders and ride all day and into the night TOGETHER. If they don’t want to they don’t have to worry about lap times or general or even category classifications too much, but help each other chase that kilometre goal”, Wisata explained.
Ever been at a race with friends but not seen them? The Wild Solo Challenge could change that.
Part of any great event is the atmosphere, and Rocky Trail will be bringing in the big guns with SBS TV presenter and commentator Mike Tomalaris joining MC Paul Craft – there will also be a full entertainment programme to include fun kids’ activities and a DJ for that signature Rocky Trail vibe.
“This event will be our 2018 season finale and a celebration of MTB riding and racing – the perfect MTB-getaway, we think”, said Juliane Wisata. There are two accommodation partners on board and the organisers are also offering some ideas for families, couples and groups of friends to spend a weekend in and around Mogo via the race website.