Race Day Sunday 11 April 2010

Mt Peel Mountain Bike Marathon
Blue Mountain Challenge
Blue Mountain Relay
Sunday 11 April 2010

Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides

Huge Adventure Challenge
Spectacular Mountain Trails
Magnificent Alpine Scenery
Beautiful Orari Gorge
New 2 Person Relay Option

The Events

New for 2010
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Blue Mountain Races - start time 8.30am - making it a little easier for those coming from out of the area, although we do recommend staying overnight at Peel Forest it is a delightful settlement.

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Blue Mountain RELAY - new event - two person team relay event. Ideal if you are keen to ride full Blue Mountain Challenge, but lack the fitness, experience or confidence to complete the whole ride on your own. Click here for more details.

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Alpine Energy Ltd has signed on as major sponsor of the Mt Peel MTB Marathon for the next three years.

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Accessman SC MTB Cup Blue Mountain is also the Final race of Accessman South Canterbury MTB Cup series for more information on the series go to http://www.scmtbcup.co.nz/. 4 Great races to find South Canterbury MTB Champions.

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Didymo Risk !
The Orari River Catchment is a didymo free area and we want to keep it that way.

Mt Peel MTB Marathon and Blue Mountain Gorges Challenge are national events so there is a very real risk of spreading Didymo via entrants who have ridden in or near infected South Island rivers this summer.

All riders must wash their bikes & shoes, socks, leggings thoroughly before coming to Mt Peel. An alternative to washing is removal of any weed/algae and thorough drying for at least 48 hours.

This link may also be of use- http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/didymo

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Mt Peel on a great morning

When the weather turns bad

The infamous carry!!

About the region

Mt Peel and Blue Mountain

Mt Peel and Blue Mountain are two of the many mountain peaks that seperate the Canterbury Foothills from the Main Divide (or Southern Alps). Mt Peel is 1743m high but has two lower peaks (middle Mt Peel at 1583m and at 1311m) and overlooks the upper Ranigtata River and the Canterbury Plains. Mt Peel is popular as a hiking and outdoor recreation area.

Blue Mountain 1642m lies to the South West of Mt Peel and is one of the peaks in the Four Peaks Range that overlook Geraldine. Mt Peel and Blue Mountain are separated by the Orari River Gorge.

Peel Forest is a remnant of a magnificent podocarp forest which once covered a huge area in mid-Canterbury. Now only 700 hectares remain, but what is left of the forest is rich and diverse. Peel Forest Park was set up in 1926.

Find out more information about Peel Forest.

Further up the Rangitātā River is historic Mt Peel Station, owned by the Acland family, who were among the region’s first run holders. It features a brick homestead completed in 1867 and a stone church consecrated in 1869. The first part of the Peel Forest ride runs through Mt Peel Station.

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