The dust has settled on the epic, multi-day mountain biking festival that was Sea Otter Australia. While the event had been on the cards for a few years, it was 2025 where organiser Juliane Wisata pulled out all the stops and ensured Sea Otter Australia happened.
Spending the week in the seaside town of Batemans Bay, there are a few reflections a few weeks on.
1. The industry has spoken – it’s been rough but the horizon looks promising
After the COVID-19 boom and bust cycle, it’s no big secret that the industry has gone through some revolutions. Shops have closed, manufacturers sold or folded – the complete opposite of what was promised in the early COVID mountain bike peak. The turnout of nearly 200 exhibitors at the Sea Otter Expo was testament to the commitment of the industry’s support of new events, and the turnout of crowds was encouraging.
Many industry figureheads at the expo were skeptical prior to the launch, but were pleasantly surprised with both the industry and public turnout, with many noting that “this is the biggest bike expo I have been to in Australia.”
2. Batemans Bay is a long way away – is it worth it?
The festival and racing mainly kicked off at the main expo site at Batemans Bay Oval, with some exceptions being the schools race and Fox Superflow starting at Mogo Botanic Gardens. While Batemans Bay is a good option for the access to 135km of Mogo’s new trails, it did mean that road closures were required for the Maxxis Effervelo Gravel and Thule Marathon’s neutral rollout. For riders in the Smith Optics Enduro, it also meant a bit more bitumen and gravel liaison before the racing started.
Is it a dealbreaker? Absolutely not – especially when you consider the festival’s Airbag coaching, Muc Off Ottercross, Velosolutions pump track and Bosch E-OtterX located directly beside the expo.
But…will the town of Bateman’s Bay cope with the increased accommodation and population demands the event brings? Bringing the event closer to a capital city would certainly have benefits for athletes, bike fans and industry alike. Perhaps we will see a shift in years to come but for 2026 Juliane said, “we are not moving! We have the systems in place now, we are set up for 2026!”
3. Racing is a big part of Sea Otter – but not the whole story
With races for everyone from cyclocross racing for drop bar divas to enduro racing for the gravity-inclined, Sea Otter was the perfect opportunity to pin a number on and throw down some laps while only a stone’s throw from the beach.
Certainly, overseas Sea Otter is a launch festival for bike brands to reveal new products and tech, while also hosting large events like the Life Time Grand Prix.
In Australia, though, it feels different. Sea Otter felt more like a celebration of mountain biking than a specific product launch event or race expo. This was exemplified by the Juliana women’s social mountain bike ride on the Saturday morning – over 30 women turned up for coffee and a trail ride, and the vibes were off the hook.
Riders whooped and hollered and skidded and jumped through a trail loop at the Curtis Road trail head – proof that there is so much more to mountain biking than racing. The proof was in the pudding. Which leads me to point 4.
4. Mountain biking is cool
Even if you’re not, mountain biking is cool. The sport is inherently inclusive and mountain bikers are (usually) very cool. Sea Otter managed to bring out some amazing collective vibes throughout the whole festival, meaning that with all the events, expo and social rides, you can make new connections and find your people – regardless of the bike you ride.
