Kaiteriteri Weekender back on track
It’ll be a case of new tracks and same old craziness when six hours of fun riding through the Kaiteriteri Mountainbike Park returns for another year.
The popular Kaiteriteri Weekender gets under way from 10am this Saturday, beginning with a 6hr relay ride for teams and individuals.
The course this year is tweaked slightly from last year, taking out the ‘‘tricky-forbeginners’’ Swish climb and adding in some new sections.
From Kaiteriteri Beach Camp riders head along Martin Farm Road, up Easy Rider, into Cruise Control and Glade Runner before heading through the new track Puff, zooming down Swamp Monster and out Halfpipe and back to the camp hub.
The route is said to have less climbing than last year, a slightly longer distance but takes around the same time to do a lap - between 20 and 30 minutes.
Categories include the ‘‘masochistic’’ solo men and woman to relay-style teams of 2, 3 or 4 sharing the 6 hours of riding. Mixed, intermediate (Year 7 & 8) and high school (Year 9 - 13) riders will also line up.
The fun vibe of the event extends to the competitors’ attire, with fancy dress a virtual prerequisite for entry. Spot prizes will go to those that demonstrate the most creativity in their costumes.
Kaiteriteri MTB Park manager Ross Maley said 350 entries had been received for what was considered a flagship event for the facility.
‘‘It’s all about fun on the day and there’s no pressure on people - if you come up behind someone you don’t bully them out of the way - you just ride and wait for them to give you some room,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s pretty low cost to enter, just to get people out and raise a bit of money for the mountain bike park.’’
Entries for the 6 hour event closed at 11pm on Sunday, with only waitlist entries now available.
Other events held over the weekend are the Jaws Enduro, Big Airs Whip-off and Mountainbike Rogaine, which Maley said was aimed at ’’appealing to a wider base’’ of riders.
The field for Sunday’s Enduro - a series of downhill races over three different tracks - has already met its cut-off of 70 entries.
In the aftermath of ex-Cyclone Cook and some Easter rain in recent days, sunny weather was forecast for the weekend.
Maley said the park’s tracks were ‘‘in great nick’’ for the weekender.
‘‘One of the tracks might be a bit tacky, but you want a little bit of slip and slide.’’
Proceeds of the event are used in the further development of the park.