The Queenstown-Lakes District Council have approved the construction of a course at Jardine Park (and adjacent paddocks) to hold the AJ Hackett Bungy NZ Cyclocross Championship.
For an entry form click here
The course, which will be approximately 3 km long, includes a mixture of ground surfaces including gravel road, dirt and grass. There will be a lot of steep inclines, some boggy areas, many off-camber grassey turns and, of course, wooden barriers. The Queenstown Mountain Bike Club will be constructing the course in May (if anyone has a small tractor with mower on the back please get in touch!).
Two optional practice days are scheduled for Sunday 5th June and Sunday 19th June 2011. The purpose of these practice days is to test the course, our bikes, fitness and skills ahead of the big race on Saturday 2 July 2011. Some big names have already entered the race – including the 2010 World Singlespeed Champion and 2009 NZCX Champ – Garth Weinberg from Rotorua. However we are forever hopeful that locals Willy and Jim will give him a run for his money. Rumour has it that the 2010 NZ Old Bugger Singlespeed Champ, T-Man, is also going convert himself and his Yeti singlespeed to a cx machine. We are unsure whether that inlcudes shaven legs at this stage. He will be a hot contender to secure yet another national title, but will have to fight off stiff competition from other veterans such as Eon Smith, Henry Van Asch, Geoff Hunt and John Knight.
Not everyone is happy with the cx champs rules (as per the entry form). One bushy haired bike mechanic from Outside Sports, who does not wish to be named, has complained about the rule requiring him to wear lycra. We all know his preference is to wear a blue dress and blonde wig, so we have accommodated his concern by inlcuding a fouth rule allowing him to enter as a “crossdressing cyclocrosser”. Who knows, he may even win the womens title.
Anyone who would like to help develop the course over the next few months please contact Carey 0274 858 123.
Professional photographer Miles Holden was out at the 7 Hours of & Mile race last Saturday taking some photos and has kindly supplied some to us for the website, enjoy…
Miles Holden Photography
photographer@ihug.co.nz
www.milesholden.com
Key Points: 
Event: Mountain bike ride on the trails and tracks of the Wakatipu basin on exclusive course from Millbrook Resort in Arrowtown to Chard Farm Kawarau River. Music, food and wine at the finish line!
Course: The course covers 36kms for the recreational course, and 45kms for the full course used by the expert and sport riders.
Location: Arrowtown – Lake Hayes – Shotover River – Kawarau River
Divisions: Elite, Sport and RecreationalElite athletes 2hrs, while the recreational athletes will finish in 3 – 4hrs
Date: Easter Sat 23rd April 2011
Web site: http://www.tourdewakatipu.co.nz
There has been a bit of an issue with some riders skidding down a line to the top of the original Vertigo trail next to ZipTrek. This is not part of Vertigo and there has been a few close calls with people on the main track.
For those that don’t already know there is a great new entrance to Vertigo off Hammy’s Trail and if that’s not steep enough for you go a bit further along and drop into Ant’s track! If you want to do the original Vertigo then ride down the main track between the helipad and the bike chute and drop into it next to the main ZipTrek entrance.
Play nice and keep everyone happy and we’ll be building trails up there for years to come!
[Destination Queenstown press release]
The New Zealand lake and alpine resort town of Queenstown has been given the ultimate seal of approval by international mountain biking sensations the Athertons.
The UK brother/sister trio of Dan (29) Gee (26) and Rachel (23), who have a string of world cup victories between them, arrived ‘Down Under’ in March for two months of pre-season training.
They have been making the most of Queenstown’s world-class tracks which range from backcountry trails, serious downhill rides, a jump park and heli-biking to short scenic trails, road rides and New Zealand’s only gondola-assisted bike lift.
Launched in January this year, the lift allows riders of all abilities to load their bikes onto the Skyline gondola and transport them to the top of Bob’s Peak for easy access to million dollar views and a myriad of trails down to the town centre.
Queenstown has provided the Athertons with a unique opportunity to hone their competitive edge both mentally and physically. Not only have they been improving their physical fitness at Queenstown Events Centre’s highly regarded gym and aquatic facilities, they’ve also pushed their personal limits by bungy jumping, an adventure activity Queenstown is famous for.
Gee Atherton says training in Queenstown has exceeded the family’s expectations.
“We just don’t want to leave – this place has everything! Not only does it have a great mix of downhill and cross-country trails, it has the most spectacular scenery, the gym facilities we need to keep us physically strong and a huge range of activities to keep us busy when we’re not riding.”
Whilst in town, the Athertons are also filming for reality podcast series The Atherton Project which features on www.Redbull.co.uk.
Gee got a taste for Queenstown and its biking potential last year while filming adventure bike movie Follow Me. He believes it’s the best training ground in the Southern Hemisphere and could be “the next big thing for the mountain biking fraternity”.
Queenstown’s growing reputation as a must-visit biking destination will be further enhanced this Easter with the highly-anticipated inaugural Queenstown Bike Festival on 16 -25 April.
Headlining the festival will be the three day Ben Lomond Dirtmasters Downhill, a challenging three kilometre course in the Ben Lomond Forest open to elite riders only and the Outside Sports Brake Burner a six hour non-stop tag team or individual mountain bike Super D.
The progamme also caters to all ages and abilities with rides for kids, a social wine-trail and coffee rides.
For more information about Queenstown visit www.queenstown-nz.co.nz.
ENDS
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