Mountain bikers ready to gear up
Wild Rockies, Knobby Tire series coming
With the winter’s deep snow receding, local mountain bikers are getting their bikes out and preparing for an exciting season of riding trail and competing in Gem State races.
The Wild Rockies Regional Championship Series is ramping up for its 19th season of action. The seven-event series begins Saturday, April 12, in Nampa and continues through September.
In addition, the 2008 Knobby Tire Mountain Bike Series kicks off May 4 in Boise and continues through September. The Galena Grinder, July 26 at Galena Lodge, is on the Knobby Tire schedule.
Last year’s season champions from the Wood River Valley area include: Idaho state cross-country champions Dave Harrison, Austin Bourret, Sandy Fahey and Dave Bell; Idaho marathon champions Muffy Ritz, Matt McNeal and Dave Bell; Knobby Tire Series class winners Grace Alexander and Scott Grill; and Wild Rockies champions Cody Peterson, first, and Dave Harrison, second, in the Pro/Semi-Pro Men’s.
Wild Rockies Series
Second-year owner and operator Darren Lightfield of Boise said, “We have some exciting sponsors on board and a great line-up of activities to keep you engaged all year long.
“On the schedule are a few new events, including a cross-country points event in Pocatello and a Super D (old-school downhill race) at the Brundage Mountain Festival.
Lightfield reminded athletes that trail running is also on the schedule.
Visit wildrockies.com or knobbytireseries.com for details.
The schedule includes:
Saturday, April 12: The 13th annual Barking Spider Bash desert races, featuring a 10.5-mile trail run and cross-country mountain biking at Hemingway Butte Recreation Area 25 miles south of Nampa. Lightfield said, “It’s a great way to test your legs before heading off to big events like the Sea Otter Classic.”
Racing begins with a 10-mile trail run at 9 a.m. followed by a mass-start mountain bike cross-country race. Pros and experts will go up to 30 miles on a rolling grade, off-road course. The race is comprised mostly of single-track trails. The highlight is undoubtedly the “infamous” skateboard park descent, a twisting, turning, tunnel of thrills, Lightfield said.
Saturday and Sunday, June 6-8: The third annual Janna Brimmer Memorial (10k trail run, XC biking and downhill biking) at Salmon.
Friday through Sunday, July 11-13: The 17th annual Brundage Mountain Bike Festival at McCall (trail run at Brundage, 15.5-mile bike, Brundage Bomber DH).
Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 2-3: 10th annual Pomerelle Pounder two-day downhill mountain biking event south of Burley featuring a contrast in courses—a steep and rocky course Saturday, and a flat out speed and tight, slalom-style run Sunday.
Friday, Sept. 12: The Bogus Basin Resort Championship Trail Run (10k or 20k) starting at 6 p.m. Friday at the Bogus Basin Mountain Resort lower lodge just north of Boise.
Friday and Sunday, Sept. 12 and 14: The 13th annual Bogus to Banzai Super D, good 16.5-mile fun for the beginner riders all the way up to top pros. Lightfield said, “We are seeing large contingents of riders participating in the event called ‘Super D.’ It stands for super descent!”
Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21: The Bogus Basin Kamikaze Downhill, Hari-Kari Short Track XC and Samurai Long Course XC, also at Bogus Basin. Series championship for the Wild Rockies and Northwest Collegiate Conference series.
Knobby Tire Series and more
The Knobby Tire Series mission statement “endorses the sport of mountain biking, its health benefits and team spirit in Idaho by promoting races throughout the state.”
Sunday, May 4: Sixth annual Avimor Coyote Classic in Boise.
Saturday, May 10: The Sagebrush Scramble Short Track, Boise.
Saturday, June 14: The City Creek XC at Pocatello, great for single speeders, cross-country only that is also a points race for the Wild Rockies Series.
Saturday and Sunday, June 21-22: The Soldier Mountain XC and DH at Fairfield.
Saturday, July 26: The Galena Grinder XC and Marathon at Galena Lodge north of Ketchum.
Saturday, Aug. 2: The Intermountain Orthopedics White Knob Challenge at Mackay.
Saturday, Aug. 16: The Silver Creek Pedal and Plunge in Garden Valley.
Saturday through Monday, Aug. 30-Sept. 1: The Knobby Tire Series Finals and NMBS National Finals at Tamarack Resort south of McCall.
Other races this summer
Saturday and Sunday, June 21-22: The 11th annual Idaho City MTB Tour, formerly known as Cycle Idaho. It’s a recreational adventure and group ride (45 miles each day) that raises money for SWIMBA and Idaho Velodrome Cycling Park. Visit swimba.org.
Sunday, Aug. 24: The third annual XTERRA Wild Ride Triathlon at McCall featuring a 0.75-mile swim, 19.5-mile mountain bike ride and 10-kilometer trail run. There will be individual and team competition. Wild Rockies points are available. Visit xterraplanet.com.
