Pats Peak Ski Area To Host 6th Annual Mountain Bike Festival

By AlpineZone News |
Jun 13 2007 - 01:07 PM

HENNIKER, New Hampshire — Pats Peak in Henniker, NH will host the 6th Annual Pats Peak 24 Hour Mountain Bike Festival the weekend of July 14 & 15, 2007. The weekend is presented by Pats Peak along with S&W Sports of Concord, NH and USA Cycling. Sponsors for the event include MB Tractor & Equipment and Grappone Automotive.

Bicycle riders from all over New England come to Pats Peak to participate in this exhilarating bike weekend. This year the event is anticipated to be even more exciting with the addition of a X-Country Challenge and a Downhill Thrill. Riders will be competing for over $4,000 in cash and prizes.

The bike course for the 24.12.6 Hours of Pats Peak and the X-Country Challenge is 5 miles long with 847 vertical climbing feet in each lap. It is a technical mix of single track, dirt, logging roads, switchbacks and downhill. Riders for the 24.12.6 Hours of Pats Peak may ride solo, in two person teams, in four person teams or in five person teams. The 24.12.6 Hours of Pats Peak races will kick off at 12:00pm on Saturday, July 14, 2007. On Sunday, July 15, 2007, the X-Country Challenge Beginners Race begins at 9am followed by other x-country classes throughout the day.

The Downhill racers will take the chair lift up to the top of the mountain and race down the course one at a time against the clock for the quickest time to the bottom of the course. They will take two runs each and the best of the two runs will be recorded. Bicycles used in the downhill have up to nine inches of suspension front and rear to help absorb the extreme terrain passing beneath them with speeds up to 40mph. Downhill practice will be from 9am to 4pm on Saturday and 9am to 12pm on Sunday. The Downhill Thrill starts at 12:30pm on Sunday, July 15, 2007.

Riders can register online at www.patspeak.com or call Pats Peak at (603) 428-3245 or 1-888-PATS PEAK (728-7732).

Kids will be able to participate in Kids Race on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday evening, riders and guests can enjoy the sounds of a Live Band playing on the deck along with food and beverage available in the Sled Pub. On Sunday, there will be two Fun Rides departing at 10:00am from the Pats Peak parking lot.

Overnight camping is available. Camping and Registration opens at 3pm on Friday, July 13, 2007. Family, friends, and non-riders are welcome. Whether you’re a spectator or plan to race, you’re sure to have a great time.

The Bike Race Course is now open to the public for riding. When on the course, riders are asked to practice common courtesy if an event is taking place outside in the base area.

Pats Peak 24 Hour Mountain Bike Festival Weekend Schedule

Friday, July 13

3pm: Camping opens for participants and guests
3pm-7pm: Registration: 24.12.6 Hours of Pats Peak; The Pats Peak Downhill Thrill; Pats Peak X-Country Challenge

Note: Everyone on your team must be present during registration. When all members of your team have signed the insurance waiver, an entry packet will be issued to the team captain that will contain your bike and rider numbers, any event schedule changes and information.

Saturday, July 14

7am-10am: Continental Breakfast (available for purchase)
8am-10am: Registration: 24.12.6 Hours of Pats Peak: The Pats Peak Downhill Thrill: Pats Peak X-Country Challenge

Note: Everyone on your team must be present during registration. When all members of your team have signed the insurance waiver, an entry packet will be issued to the team captain that will contain your bike and rider numbers, any event schedule changes and information.

9am-4pm: Downhill Practice
10am-3pm: Lunch (available for purchase)
10:30am: 24.12.6 Hours Riders Meeting (mandatory)
This meeting is mandatory for all team captains and is an opportunity for us to go over the event rules prior to the race. Everyone will have a chance to ask questions regarding the race rules, scoring procedures, weekend schedules, etc.
11am-11pm: Sled Pub open. *Lite Pub Fare will be available for purchase from 3pm-9pm.
12pm: 24.12.6 Hours Begins
1pm: Kids Race
5pm-10pm: Live Band
6pm: 6 Hours Ends, Awards Following
8:30pm: Riders must start using lights
11pm-5am: Quiet Hours

Sunday, July 15

12am: 12 Hours Ends, Awards 9am
5am: Riders are permitted to ride without lights at this point in the race.
7am-10am: Continental Breakfast (available for purchase)
7am-1:30pm: Registration: Pats Peak X-Country Challenge
7am-9am: Downhill Registration
9am: X-Country Beginners Race Begins; First Timers Race to follow
9am: 12 Hours Awards
9am-12pm: Downhill Practice
10am: Fun Rides Departing From the Pats Peak Parking Lot
10am-4pm: Lunch (available for purchase)
11am-Close: Sled Pub open
11:15am: Kids Race
12pm: X-Country Sport/Singlespeed Open Begins
12pm: 24 Hours Ends, Awards Following
12:15pm: Downhill Race Riders Meeting – At Summit (mandatory)
12:30pm: Downhill Race Begins (2 runs each, Best of 2), Awards Following
2:00pm: X-Country Pro/SemiPro/Expert/Expert Open/Expert Singlespeed Begins
Following XC: X-Country Awards

For additional information on the Pats Peak 24 Hour Mountain Bike Festival, please visit www.patspeak.com.

0