MTB Race Series Sprout Up All Over The West
Mountain bike race series have become go-to summer events at ski resorts in the West, as riders look for competitive challenges to hone their pedaling skills.
MTBers can hit a race nearly every day of the week -- from the Pacific Northwest to the southern Rockies -- competing against locals, summer visitors and even professional bike riders.
Starting up north, British Columbia's Mount Washington Alpine hosts 50 riders in an all-comers MTB race every Thursday in August. The resort on Vancouver Island sends first-timers off at 6 p.m., followed by experienced riders at 6:30 p.m.
In south Idaho, Bogus Basin welcomes both X-C and downhill racers to its weekly series in July. Downhill racers take off at 6:15 p.m. every Wednesday, and X-C racers follow the next day (Thursday) at 6 p.m. The resort has laid out different courses for each of the five weekly sessions.
In northern California, Woodward Tahoe at Boreal Mountain debuts a four-race series on its most beginner-friendly yet longest trail. The races begin at noon on Sundays.
Over in Colorado, the Crested Butte Summer Race series resumes with summer with X-C and downhill racing for juniors and adults. Scheduled every week from mid-July to mid-August, cross-country competition runs on Thursdays and downhill race on Fridays. Both adults (18 and over) and juniors (U-18) compete in either sport and expert class races. X-C starts at 5:15 and downhill at 5:30. Lift ticket required.
On Tuesdays through July, Snowmass Bike Park is the site for its seventh annual series. All six races are of the downhill variety, and a lift ticket is required. Running for 4-6:30 p.m., riders can take two trips down the course, and count the fastest in the standings. There are seven categories for both male and female contestants.
At Vail, it's the 41st year for the VRD Bloch Ongert Town Mountain Bike Series. The eight-race series runs on Wednesday evenings through August on courses in Vail, Beaver Creek, Eagle, Minturn and Camp Hale. Categories go from beginners to professionals, who compete for up to $30,000 in prize money. Some 1,200 riders have showed up in the past.
