Some big changes are coming to next month’s annual Peel Out Mountain Bike Festival.
That’s the message from the Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium and the Williams Lake Cycling Club following the recent closure of the lower portion of trails and finish area on the Fox Mountain Trail Network.
The closure, announced in March, is due to concerns of private landowners’ in the area, where the finish line has been situated since the event’s inauguration four years ago.
As a result the biggest change to the race will be to the Peel Out Downhill, held on the first day of the two-day event, said Justin Calof, executive director with the Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium.
“This year we will be holding the Outlaw Invitational DH,” Calof said. “We’ve examined the top finishers from a selection of categories over the past four years of racing. These top finishers will be invited to participate in the Outlaw Invitational.”
A list of eligible participants is listed on www.ridethecariboo.ca, and sign up must be completed by May 10. Calof said signup is limited to 50 spots, and will be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, the CMBC plans to host a Facebook contest for an additional 10 wildcard spots. Details for the contest, Calof said, will be announced shortly.
“The course will be kept secret until a few days before the race, but it will be steep, gnarly and more like a world cup track,” Calof said.
On Sunday, May 18, both the Super Enduro and the Boitanio Bike Park Jam take centre stage.
“Sunday’s going to be awesome in the bike park,” he said, adding the city and the CMBC have been working together on maintenance and upgrades to the park. “We’ll have a barbecue, music, so a lot of kids are going to be stoked just about that in itself.
“The city’s been really good. They’ve supported a pretty big-time maintenance regime, we’ve kind of rebuilt the park and we’re just about to fire up more maintenance to finish up the pump track, things like that, and they’re going to try to build a dual slalom track.”
The Super Enduro — normally held on the Westsyde Trail Network — will be a timed, three-stage race on Fox Mountain, expected to take close to five hours to complete.
“Fortunately we’re blessed with a really great trail network so we had lots of options [to change the format],” Calof said.
Following the Super Enduro riders and the community are invited to the Boitanio Bike Park for the barbecue and awards. Sign up for the Super Enduro is due by May 1.
Sunday night the Peel Out party takes place at the Limelight featuring Vancouver band Redeye Empire.
On Monday shuttled and guided rides will take place throughout the city.
Race and event details are also available at www.ridethecariboo.ca/events/peelout.
The 2014 Peel Out goes from May 17-19.