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!!

The Marathon

Mt Peel Mountain Bike Marathon – the marathon
Click here to view the 2010 Race Briefing Notes

Mt Peel is a mountain biking classic. 85km of tough uncompromising mountain biking with a total ascent/descent of 2340m.

The marathon is a complete circuit of Mt Peel. It starts from Peel Forest township and heads along sealed road towards Mt Peel Station. It passes historic St Stephens Church and Mt Peel Homestead and then begins an unrelenting climb to a high point of Coal Hill at 1617m affording magnificent views of the upper Rangitata River basin and the main divide including Mt Cook and Mt Tasman.

The white knuckle descent to the Hewson River is steep and rough. At Lochaber, the ride joins the final half of the Blue Mountain Course and follows Bernard Stream towards Blue Mountain. The course gradually ascends a saddle (1050 m) before down-hilling alongside Howards Stream and Andrews Stream.

The course then crosses back over the Orari River for a short sharp ascent of Scotsburn and a thrilling descent back to Peel Forest.

Click here to view a profile of the Mount Peel Marathon versus the Karapoti. Frightening? No!! But a huge challenge, that every serious MTBer has to achieve. And beleive it or not - it used to be tougher - it used to have a 20 minute portage through 1m high snowgrass, but the road has now been bulldozed through and you can ride the whole way.

Entry Fee
$50 for Junior Riders and $70 for Senior and Vet Riders. Entries Close Midnight Tuesday 6th April 2010. After this date a late fee of $20 applies.

Race Categories
Male and Female Sections in the following Categories

Juniors - Aged 15 - 18 Years - parents must sign waiver
Seniors - Aged 19 - 29 Years
Vet 1 - Aged 30 - 39 Years
Vet 2 - Aged 40 - 49 Years
Vet 3 - Aged 50+

For Junior Riders Parents must sign/acknowledge waiver, riders must be 15 years or over on race day.

Prizes/Trophies
First male and first female rider in Mt Peel Mountain bike marathon receive event trophy and cash prize
First male and first female rider to the top of Coal Hill is crowned King of the Mountain and Queen of the Mountain and receive event trophy and prize package.

This is an alpine race. All riders must carry thermals/wet weather gear and sufficient equipment to keep themselves and their bike mobile. Equipment checks carried out at race start.
Water and first aid are on course but riders should ensure they carry enough fluids and food to safely completely the race. There is no outside assistance on the course.

Major Sponsors