Cannonball Festival - where to go, who to see
Toyota Cannonball MTB Festival in Thredbo – Event Schedule
Toyota Cannonball MTB Festival in Thredbo – Event Schedule
Released & Prize Pool Increased
Over $45,000 in cash and prizes to be won
Thredbo has just released the Toyota Cannonball MTB Festival event Schedule with 3 epic days of high flying adrenalin filled action and entertainment plus some massive prizes on offer.
The festival, which takes place across the weekend of December 5-7, will have the biggest mountain biking prize pool on the Australian mountain biking circuit with $45,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs. The Industry best are supporting the event including major sponsor Toyota along with Maxxis, SRAM, Rock Shox, ODI, Avid, Truvativ and Joes No Flats,
The complete schedule is now online at thredbo.com.au/cannonballfestival and registrations are still open but filling up fast so jump online and register to ensure your place.
Schedule highlights include:
Friday
11:00am – 4:30pm – ODI Dual Compressor
4:30pm – 5:00pm – Big Air // Whip Wars Practice
6:00pm – 9:00pm – ROCKSHOX Pump Track Racing, DJ, BBQ and presentation
Saturday
11:30am – 2:30pm – Flow Motion Cup Racing
3:00pm – 4:30pm – Australian DH Pro and Under 19 class seeding runs 4:30pm – 5:00pm – Big Air // Whip Wars Practice
4:30pm – 7:30pm – DJ & BBQ at the base of Kosciuszko Express 5:00pm – 7:00pm – Whip Wars Jam All Divisions
7:00pm – Flow Motion Cup & Whip Wars Presentations
Sunday
12:00pm – 3.30pm – Racing Australian DH All Divisions 3:30pm – 6:30pm – Greasy Pole Party with DJ & BBQ 4.30pm – Australian DH Presentations
King and Queen of the mountain
A fun new twist for 2014 is points from each event will be tallied to crown the King and Queen of the mountain in the Pro Divisions. To win this prestigious accolade, the higher you place, the more you score, with the winners launching into Cannonball royalty.
The Thredbo MTB season kicked off last week, with riders revelling in the chance to hit the mountain tracks before the Cannonball Festival. Junior World Champion and Thredbo MTB rider Tegan Molloy was one of the first on the hill.
“Thredbo have really raised the bar with the downhill track this year, with sections running a lot more open and fluid. Although a long and technical course, it seems that everyone is having a blast.
With the new lower section packing in nicely, it will definitely please spectators and riders alike. The track is in awesome condition in the lead up to Cannonball, the stage is set for one of the best races in Australia.
I’m lucky to have a world class training ground right here in my backyard in the lead up to what I hope will be a successful World Cup season ahead” said Tegan.
Tegan will be riding alongside other world class riders including Sam Hill, Troy Brosan, Andrew Crimmins, Ben Cory, Thomas Crimmins, David McMillan and Tim Eaton.
“Cannonball for me is definitely one of the best events on the calendar, simply because it’s not super competitive like the national series, just a bunch of guys and girls having fun in Australia’s best MTB destination. Thredbo is always known for pulling the huge crowd and I think this year will be the biggest yet, plus it hosts Aussies only whip comp! Who doesn’t want to sit on the side of the hill and watch people throw down? I’ll definitely be back to try and back up my win from last year!” Andrew Crimmins 2013 Australian Open Winner
“I’m really excited about coming back to Thredbo for the Cannonball Festival this year! Getting 2nd in the Australian Open last year has just fuelled the fire for me to take the win this year” Troy Brosnan Current World #2
There is something in this multi-faceted festival for any level rider, here are all the events over the long weekend.
1. The Australian Open Downhill
The main event, the Australian Open DH on Thredbo’s infamous Cannonball will take riders to their physical and mental limits. The 3.5km course of fast, intense, non-stop gravity starts at the top of the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift and will be the best one yet. We will see the return of the old favourite, the no holds barred Thredbo Fire Road and this is exclusive to the Australian Open DH. Along with other substantial changes that will widen sections and add more fall line riding. With the biggest prize purse on the Australia DH calendar, this will be one not to miss!
2. Flow Motion Cup
Utilising the Kosciuszko Flow Trail this all mountain race will snake its way down Thredbo’s famous ski runs. With around 6km of flowing single-track to negotiate with the odd flat pedal, this event can cater to all levels of riders. However only those with the will to win will head home with the cash!
3. ODI Dual Compressor
A new event for 2014. Racing at its most raw, the Dual Compressors crowd-pleasing format pits two competitors side-by-side to battle each other & the clock as they race to avoid elimination each round. The finely tuned course of jumps, berms, rhythm sections and drops makes for a gruelling battleground, challenging both pump-track specialists and the true downhillers. Riders will race on equal courses side by side before integrating and pushing one another through to the finish.
4. Big Air / Whip-Wars
A crowd favourite will see the best riders in the country send their bike sideways off a purpose built show-time jump at the Thredbo base. This will see a mix of downhillers and free-riders come together to settle the debate of the King of Style. You may not win the main event, but you may take home some cash for a crowd-pleasing trick.
5. ROCKSHOX Pump Track Challenge
Get ready for the ROCKSHOX Pump Challenge on Friday night. See Thredbo’s brand new updated Pump Track on The Village Green in full flight as the smooth momentum masters set the perfectly sculpted course on fire. A test of ultimate skill & stamina, as riders pump, double & manual around the 2-3 lap course without a single pedal stroke.
The complete schedule is now online, download and plan your weekend of adrenalin filled mountain bike action.
Visit thredbo.com.au/cannonballfestival for full event details OR join the Thredbo MTB facebook page facebook.com/ThredboMTB for all event updates.
For any Thredbo accommodation and festival package enquires visit thredbo.com.au or call Thredbo Resort Centre 1300 020 589.
