Some Notes from Utah Mountain Biking Calendar of Events

Welcome to Spring in Utah! As I'm writing this, it is actually snowing outside at the end of March. But no matter -- spring is on its way. So I figured I would post a few key cycling events in and around Utah for those who are so inclined. We'll start with some of the mountaing biking events. First let me tell you about the Solitude Full Throttle Midweek Mountain Bike Race Series for people who can make the evening race thing happen. Hey -- if you can't dawn patrol on skis, why not end the day on a mountain bike? In fact, with the way it has been snowing in Utah this winter the two may overlap! Throw on your mountain bike gear and get out there. Races start at Solitude Mountain Resort, Entry 1 (the Moonbeam lot). Show up at 5:45 for registration, and the race is at 6:30. There are 4-, 8-, and 12-mile options. At this time the races are set for June 24, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 29, and August 5. Go to SkiSolitude.com for more info, or ask for Nick Jay at 801-536-5784. Next is the Soldier Hollow Training Series which runs Wednesdays, May 7, 14, June 4, 18, July 2, 16, 30, August 13, 27. The race is at 6pm each time, and just call 801-358-1145 for more info. For all you folks in Utah County, set your sights on the Showdown at Five Mile Pass, which is an XC mountain bike race in its 14th year and takes place in Lehi, UT on May 3rd. It is the 3rd event in the Intermountain Cup and is a cross-country mountain bike race. There's also event #2 for the Intermountain Cup on April 12th, which takes place in Hurricane, UT. For more info, go to IntermountainCup.com. May 10 is the Wimmer's Bicycle Race XC, the 4th stop for the Intermountain Cup. It takes place in Logan, UT at Sherwood Hills Resort. Again, go to IntermountainCup.com for more info. Event #5 for the Intermountain Cup is on May 17 at Soldier Hollow in Midway, UT and is called the Hammerfest at the Hollow. Ed Chauner has more details (801-942-3498), and go to the Intermountain Cup website for the remaining events in the year. A killer event for spectating (whether it's the view or just the incredible riding to be witnessed) is the Sundance/Parks Sportsman Super-D Downhill Race at Sundance Resort on May 24. The event is at 9am so come with your cowbells! You are bound to be blown away. Go to SundanceResort.com for more details, or to book a little getaway at the cottages there. Hey -- this would be a great way to impress the wife AND take in some great event biking! Snag a getaway package in a cottage with a view of the backside of Mount Timpanogos, set her up in the spa with a Four Winds massage, and then you can cheer on the riders! Call Sundance Resort for more details: 801-223-4849. There is also another Super-D event at Sundance on June 21st at 9am, and another on July 19th. Another event for big speed and big air is the Bountiful Bomber Downhill Race on June 1. It is part of the Utah DH series and takes place (obviously) in Bountiful, UT. Visit Go-Ride.com to get the full skinny, or call 801-375-3231. For those of you with oversized lungs, check out The 12 Hours of the E100 on June 21 in unbeatable Park City, UT. It is a 12 hour endurance race for charity, and takes teams of differing sizes. Get your fellow freaks of nature together for an oxygen fest. Visit thee100.com for details. Don't forget the NORBA National Mountain Bike Series on stop #4 at Deer Valley, UT on June 26-29. It is THE biking event of the summer in Utah, in this writer's opinion. No better place to gawk at your mountain biking heroes. mtbnationals.com. More to come, but this should get you going for now. Get out there & start training now if you are planning on hitting any of these races! See you out there!