Raboplus National Mountain Bike Championships

The Raboplus National Mountain Bike Championships will be held from February 26th - March 1st in Nelson (UCI Class CN).

Hill Climb - Feb 26th: Have a crack at the back face of the Grampians! Climbing from the Brook Valley through to the Grampians summit and transmitter station will take competitors through a mixture of four wheel drive road and native bush trails to a fantastic view over Nelson city.

Dual Slalom - Feb 26th: A side by side race on the Branford Park dual track in the Maitai Valley. This event and location is a popular one for cross over between downhill and cross country, with the grassy Branford Park location a good test of bike handling skills.

4X - Feb 27th: The 4X course is situated beside the Kaka Hill Nationals Downhill facility. First used for the Oceanias in 2008, the Sharlands 4X course will look quite different for 2009 - twice as long and just as challenging for the Friday evening competitors and spectators.

Cross Country - Feb 28th: 2009 brings on line a completely new venue and course for Champs racing, and one unlike anything used in Nelson previously. Situated at the base of Fringed Hill on the new Codgers Trail network, the XC race course is undulating in the purist sense of the word. The purpose built MTB trails will have competitors winding in, out and around a compact piece of pine forest with reward for power, flow and technical prowess.

Downhill -March 1st: The infamous Kaka Hill Nationals Track has had a tweak for 2009, aimed at adding the type of technical flow that has always been difficult to find in this brutal terrain. Kaka Hill is in the Hira Forest in the Maitai Valley, close to town and easily accessible for competitors and spectators alike. Taking on this race course against the clock is definitely not for the faint hearted, but changes made for 2009 mean pitting yourself against NZ's best is now much more achievable at the National MTB Champs.
Note the Downhill includes an extra practice day.

Short Track XC - March 1st: This event will be held around the downhill event village during Sunday's lunch break. The short 1.5km long course has a little of everything included, and will take competitors to a level of racing intensity that spectators just love to be part of

Location: Various locations around Nelson
For more information contact the Chris Mildon.
Phone: 021 230 9120.