Challenging and scenic cross-country mountain biking with a small-town Gem State feel is coming to Fairfield's Soldier Mountain Ski Area this coming weekend.
There, in the rugged mountains of the Sawtooth National Forest the Epic Soldier Mountain March Slaughter Downhill will be held over two fun-filled days, Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22.
Knobby Tire Series organizer Davey Moore of Boise said, "It's sort of a party weekend. A lot of people camp out in the lodge parking lot. You find a half dozen bonfires going Friday and Saturday nights."
Saturday, the first day of summer, is the big day for the cross-country race through pine forests and quaking aspens, the course climbing to 8,000 vertical feet. There are long technical descents, creek crossings and fast single track along the way.
Register between 8 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. each day. Start time is 10 a.m. Experts and Pros go 23.7 miles, Sport racers do 20 miles and the Beginners are on a 12.5-mile course.
Moore said Janet and the local Fairfield group will have its awesome barbecue lunch for $8 on Saturday and Sunday at Soldier Lodge. Free beer will be offered both days, and there will be lots of prizes given out.
The Soldier downhill is Sunday, June 22 starting about 10 a.m. Moore said, "It's a tight, twisty downhill through pine forest."
After this weekend's racing, the next 2008 Knobby Tire Series event is the Galena Grinder cross-country and Idaho State Marathon Championships Saturday, July 26.
