Rubberhead Bike Festival rolling into the Kootenays
By Contributor
Rossland’s Rubberhead Bike Festival is back for its fourth year with two-wheeled fun for all types of riders, from dirt jumper/slopestyle rippers to enduro racers to cross-country heart pounders.
The always-popular Seven Summits Poker Ride goes down Sunday, Sept. 2 on the IMBA Classic Seven Summits Trail, featuring 36 kilometres of big climbs and long, flowing descents. This all-day event is all about the fun with a classic bike bash, refreshments and prizes to finish it off. Best poker hand and costumes win the day!
“The Poker Ride has been running for 8 years now and it is always a great time on a fantastic trail, if you are prepared for it that is,” says organizer and Revolution Cycles and Service owner Tyler Merringer. “It’s an expert trail and the event can only accept riders who can handle a big day in the saddle with a smile.”
Saturday, Sept. 8, will see the Dreadhead Super-D and Huck ‘n Berries Jump Jam (slope style) go down with something for everyone, including a kids pumptrack challenge.
The Dreadhead Super-D is a downhill-oriented race with a little uphill to test a racer’s fitness as well as their technical riding ability. Held on the Larch Ridge/MC trails near the Black Jack Biathlon area, this is a fun race for young and old. These trails, buffed lovingly by the Kootenay Columbia Trail Society, offer a combined 4.5 kilometres of single track and involve 120 metres of climbing and 335 metres of descent. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., with pre-rides on the course from 9 to 11 a.m. and race time high noon.
“Last year was our first on the Larch/MC trails and feedback was very positive,” says race director Ryan Kuhn. “Expert riders can pin it and challenge themselves, while the recreational rider can come out and test themselves against their friends and foes. It’s a great race for everyone.”
The Huck en Berries Jump Jam is a rider-judged dirt jump contest held at the Centennial Jumps in Rossland, BC. Every year organizers put hours into buffing the jumps and technical features to make this a crowd favourite. Practice runs noon to 3 p.m., with the competition 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and entertainment to follow.
“We’ve been putting countless hours into getting the course dialed,” says event director Rory Belter. “The jumps and features are completely redesigned and I think the riders will dig it. This is the only event of its type in the Kootenays.”
Organizers are currently working out food vendor options and entertainment for the Huck ‘n Berries Jam and award ceremony/party to follow, so stay tuned for more information on this exciting event.
The Dreadhead and Huck ‘n Berries events coincide with Rossland’s annual Golden City Days, a jam-packed weekend of events and entertainment including a skateboard jam, running races, roller derby and much, much more.
Registration for all events can be made at Revolution Cycles and Service at 250.362.5688.
This event (and the amazing prizes) is brought to you by Powder Pig Excavation, Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Revolution Cycles, Cycleye, Dakine, Spank, IXS, GoPro, Giro, EVOC, Live to Ride, Honey Stinger, Camel Back, Frozen Laundry, Sleemans, Oakanagan Spring, KCTS and the City of Rossland.
