The Wilderness Coast & Snowy Mountains Bike Club present a weekend of Mountain Bike racing at Manna Park, on Saturday March 6th and Sunday March 7th.
Download an Entry Form HERE
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The Manna Park tracks have been repaired, rebuilt, tweaked and bunted and are ready for a race. The new berms on the short course have hardened up nicely and the main XC loop is firm and fast.
Food, glorious food. We will have the BBQ running almost constantly during the weekend and there will be lots of cold drinks, coffee and tea.
Australian Mountain Bike Champion heads to Merimbula for Manna Park Mission - March 6-7
Beijing Olympian and reigning Australian champion Dan McConnell will provide some stiff competition for local riders when he heads to Merimbula for the Manna Park Mission weekend of mountain bike racing.
The Manna Park single track will host three mountain bike events over two days, with the Short-Course and Time Trial sprints set down for Saturday, March 6 and the Four Hour Enduro for Sunday, March 7.
Although McConnell heads the men's field, event organiser Jake Iskov says the weekend is not solely for elite riders, with categories and prizes on offer for every standard of rider from children to over 40s. Further information and entry forms can be found at www.mannapark.com.au. Saturday's Short-Course is a fun 600m loop with berms, tabletops and sprints sections. "Kids, big and small will have a ball over this loop," says Iskov. The Time Trial will be a single-lap timed sprint around the slightly modified 7km Manna Park Course.
On Sunday the endurance action begins with the four hour Manna Park Mission Enduro which can be contested by individuals or pairs. McConnell, the 2009 National Cross Country Champion is not the only marquee rider heading south. McConnell's TORQ team mates Steele von Hoff, Luke Fetch, Mark Tupalski and Joel Donney, are also racing along with Canberra's Bec Henderson and brother Ben.
"I'm looking forward to Manna Park. It's always good to go to a different track and I've heard it's a fun course. It'll also be good to have a race just before the Canberra National round," McConnell says.
Iskov admits it's a coup to have riders of McConnell's standard coming to race. "The word is out, we have quality trails down south, and now people are keen to ride and race on them," says Iskov. "We are fortunate to have facilities like Mandeni and Manna Park, which foster and encourage mountain bike riding and racing."
In preparation for the event Manna Park owner Rob High and his environmental team have been frantically rebuilding bridges washed out by the recent floods. "Generally speaking the rain hardened up the track, and bedded down the berms," says Iskov. "But it also washed away some bridges. Come race day though, we will have a super cool track perfect for racing."
Racing gets underway on Saturday morning March 6 at 9.30am with the kids and adults Short Course Sprint. The Time Trial Sprints are scheduled for 1pm. On Sunday the Manna Park Mission starts at 10am. Entry for all three event events is $45, with single event entry also an option.
To fuel up for racing, healthy food and drinks will be available at Manna Park, along with a BBQ for breakfast and lunch both days.
Those looking to match it with McConnell and Co, or upgrade their wheels can also trial the latest bikes from Pivot , Trek and Kona . Demonstration bikes will be on site for testing over the two days of racing.
Event Program:
Following is the intended event program - depending on the final number of riders, we may have to 'tweak' it a little, so it is only a guide. If in doubt come a little early and test ride one of the demo bikes or go for a ride.
Friday 5th
4.30 to 6.00pm registration at Manna Park
Saturday 6th
7.30 to 9.30 am registration at Manna Park
Short Course races
10.00am Under 10's XC on the short course loop
10.30am Under 15's short course XC
11.00am Over 40's women's short course XC
11.30am Over 40's men's short course XC
12.00am Open women's short course XC
12.30am Open men's short course XC
Presentation
Manna Park Hot Lap; time trials on the full race course
2.30pm Under 15's followed by, Over 40's women, Over 40's men, Open women, Open men
Presentation
BBQ available for lunch and dinner, please support the club fundraiser.
Hang out with the other riders and stay at the Hostel / Race headquarters. This saves driving and supports Manna Park. Bookings essential.
Sunday March 7th
8.00 to 9.00 am Enduro Registration
10.00 am The Manna Park Mission 4hr Enduro (solo, pairs, mixed pairs)
Presentation (as soon as possible after completion of the event)
Race sponsored by:
The MP Loop
Manna Park has a challenging 6.5km course for mountain bike racing, designed and built by Jake Iskov of Tathra Beach and Bike. The track has been featured in "Australian Mountain Bike" magazine (Issue 102, September 2009, p.108).
Talk about non-stop action! There's swooping S-bends, plunging drops onto narrow bridges, jumps, tricky hill climbs and fast downhill sections.
For a map of the course click here
See helmet-cam footage here: Cyclerides
The Manna Park Track joins another 10km of Mountain Biking tracks at Mandeni, who also offer bike hire at $14/day
The Short Course
It begins with a vision. We walk the idea, test ride the route, mark it out and then call in the Bobcat.
The concept for the new Short Course is that spectators can see all the action from a comfortable vantage point. It'll be easy enough for Juniors to pedal around safely, but damn hard for the pros to do it fast.
For example the tabletop will have a steep launch ramp, so the faster you gom the higher you get. There's an off-camber sweeper that'll gets harder'n harder as you get faster'n faster. There's A-line log jumps for the brave or detours for the Bs.
The course will be compelted, tested and ready for action by the March race weekend.