The Bike Buller MTB Festival is on again this weekend and is bringing all that is great about mountain biking back to the one spectacular location. This year competitor numbers have doubled to nearly 400 riders from all over Australia, contesting four races in two days. The field is hot again with Murray Spink and Jess Douglas both returning with the aim of retaining their overall titles for the weekend’s events.
The three racing stages capitalise on the best bits of the Glen Jacobs built single track that slalom through the region’s snow gums. The weekend kicks off Saturday morning with a 25km cross-country (XC) race in and around Mt Buller Village using more new trails, followed in the afternoon by a new Super - D Mt Buller Descent that will see competitors racing down an 11km cross-country/downhill course that drops over 1100 vertical metres! In between all of this excitement will be a junior event to encourage the skills of this thriving sport’s future. After a party on Saturday night, riders saddle up again on Sunday morning for a tough 50km XC race over neighbouring Mt.Stirling and back again.
The eldest competitor is over 60 years of age and there is a young 8 year old in the kids race. Also amongst the participants are a few of Australia’s finest MTB riders including Tory Thomas who will give Australian 24 Hour champ, Jess Douglas, a good run for her money. Shaun Timberlake, team mate of Murray Spink and runner-up last year is no doubt keen to make some waves as well as recent 3rd place getter at the Mountains to Beach stage race Andrew Fellows.
They’ll both have to work hard though as Spink says his, “form is okay”. After experiencing 2 flats that caused him to retire early from the coveted Otway Odyssey 2 weeks ago he’s eager to make amends. When asked what brings him back this year his answer was a simple, “it’s a good event. Good course, good trails, good fun”. He’ll be accompanied by his wife and a few Giant Bike team-mates and is looking forward to a good mix of riding and socialising. After all, it’s not all about the riders. Friends and families of competitors will enjoy a whole range of on-mountain activities like horse riding, rock climbing, tours, bush walking, scenic chairlifts and cafes to simply relax in.
The weekend promises terrific mountain bike riding, superb facilities, village atmosphere, fantastic scenery with endless mountain views and an extensive network of new single, 4WD and double tracks linking nearby Mt Stirling. Combine this festival-like atmosphere with one of the best MTB riding locations in the country and we are in for a fantastic weekend!
If you find this tempting, entries will be taken on Friday night at the Village Square and between 7.30m and 8.30am on Saturday morning.
For more information on the Bike Buller MTB Festival visit the event website at www.bikebullermtbfestival.com