COME RIDE IN THE SUNSHINE STATE!
After a booming 2023, the Quad Crown event crew are back on the ground with another 4 long weekend events for 2024. The fun has already started in Tasmania, with riders tackling tantalising trails around the Wild Mersey and Penguin mountain bike networks at the Wild Penguin in early March. But the Quad Crown don’t want Tasmanians to have all the fun, with three more events this year all on the mainland.
Next up is the Sunny 80 on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland this June. Running from 7-9 June, the Sunny 80 is a ready-made winter escape for those who want a break from the chilly air down south. The comfort of the Queensland winter sun and warmth of Queensland hospitality are ready and waiting on the Sunshine Coast. So do as the whales and migratory birds do and go north for winter to the Sunny 80. Our tip? Plan to stay a few days longer, to take in the beaches, a visit to the hinterland villages, or even to head back out and ride some more trails.
The 2024 edition of the Sunny 80 will start at the popular Sugarbag Road Trails. This is the mini mountain bike park everyone wishes they had near home, with a tight network of trails, an asphalt pump track, built features, picnic areas, toilets, a cafe and ocean views. We can’t think of a better place to start on Friday afternoon for the 8km Prelude. Expect lots of flowing singletrack and plenty of corners.
Stage 1 on Saturday starts at Hidden Valley, diving into the Parklands trails where the Cross-Country Olympic venue will land for the Brisbane Olympics. There’s no big grand stand or overly built features at this stage – just lots of trails squirelled away in the forest. From old-school bench cut singletrack in the rainforest, to swooping trails below the eucalypts and built up flow – this stage will have it all.
On Sunday, Stage 2 visits Ewen Maddock Dam and has a split stage with another element at the nearby Country Club and Dularcha National Park. Don’t fret, it all makes sense on the day and adds a whole lot of trail variety – from Return of the Jedi style forest singletrack drag races, through to old rail tunnels, loose and wild descents and everything in-between.
Each day will wrap up without turning into a death march on the trails, so make a plan for an afternoon on the beach, doing a scenic drive, or maybe taking a hike in the Glass House Mountains – there’s plenty to do on the Sunshine Coast, so make a plan around the Sunny 80 and kick start your winter in Queensland this June. The event runs from 7-9 June, and you can race all 3-days or just pick one weekend day if you prefer. Get all the details on the Quad Crown website.
quadcrownmtb.com.au