The Glenworth Valley Adventure Park on NSW’s Central Coast will be the hosting venue for the inaugural event of the Australian Gravity Enduro Series this Sunday. Initiated by local events organiser Rocky Trail Entertainment and the Victoria-based promoter Alpine Gravity, six series events are planned across Australia between now and September and riders from all over the country will compete for the newest National Series Champion title on the Australian mountain biking calendar.
Reigning Gravity Enduro NSW Series Champion, Jon Odams will be at the start. – Photo: Flow MTB
More than 100 racers from all over the country are expected to compete in the first Australian Gravity Enduro Series event this Sunday, 9 March, at the Glenworth Valley Adventure Park near Gosford on the Central Coast.
The two series founding promoters have both followed the huge growth in the sport from Europe and North America, and run their own state race series events in Victoria and New South Wales/ACT respectively, for this new style of mountain biking. They have now teamed up to lead the charge in running a professional, exciting, and truly Australian series based on the Enduro World Series, with multiple stage events and a big diversity in courses and locations throughout the series, which has also been officially endorsed by the national governing body, Mountain Biking Australia (MTBA).
Genevieve McKew, one of the strongest NSW gravity enduro racers will take on an interstate field of female riders this Sunday. – Photo: JB Photomedia
What is gravity enduro all about?
Overseas, the racing format means long-distance downhill races descending off big mountains – in Australia the options of comparable elevation levels are limited and that’s where the “enduro” part comes in, says Martin Wisata, race director at Rocky Trail. “We Australian promoters had to think outside the box, so we came up with races that combine timed downhill sections with un-timed uphill connecting sections”, he explained and added that the main emphasis was on showcasing the full potential of gravity enduro racing in Australia and that the events are fun for the riders.
Various race track options across series
A combination of shuttled transports, chair lift trail access and un-timed neutral rides will be used in between the time race sections, always depending on the specific race location. “The track at Glenworth Valley is quite technical – fit to be part of a national series, that will challenge even the best riders”, said Wisata and explained that after snaking it’s way through lush bushland and gently descending along flowy turns, the custom-groomed track had a very technical rock garden that drops right into the valley before a short sprint to the finish. The estimated 8-10 minute track for Round 1 will be raced twice and the combined times will determine the series leaders in various skill and age categories.
Kick-off event attracts national racing field
Riders at the series launching event will include New South Wales’ reigning Rollercoaster Gravity Enduro State Series Champion Jon Odams, Queensland’s five-time National Downhill Champion Michael Ronning and Victoria’s Alpine Gravity Series winner from last year, Dan McMunn. One of the elite female racers to watch will be South Australia’s Jaclyn Schapel, who will be up against the current NSW State Series leader, Genevieve McKew and multiple NSW Four Cross State Series Winner Vanessa Thompson.
Racers at Round 1 will be able to practice the race track on Sunday morning from 9am and racing will start from 1pm. For all series dates and locations, including Bright (VIC), Fox Creek (SA) and Stromlo Forest Park (ACT) and more event information for this Sunday, please visit
www.rockytrailentertainment.com
Dan McMunn will represent Victoria in the competitive elite male field. – Photo: Ronnie Grammatica
