DATE:6/11/7
SOURCE: Panorama Mountain Resort
Panorama Mountain Village , B.C. – The Mad Trapper Mountain Bike Downhill returns to Panorama on June the 24th and this year’s event will be faster than ever thanks to a new race trail.
The Mad Trapper has been held on Insanity for the past few years, a trail known for its gnarly, technical sections. This year’s race will be much faster, as course designer, Darcy Lehr, has decided to switch things up. The new course will run on Lookout, an A-line style trail with tight, twisty segments. “The final bottom section will be super fast and flowy in contrast to the last few years,” explains Lehr. “It will give fit racers an advantage, so if you haven’t been endurance training, you’d better get started.”
Panorama opens for the mountain bike season on Friday, June the 22nd, with the Mile 1 Quad operating between 10:00am to 5:00pm Sunday to Friday, and until 8:00pm on Saturday’s.
The Mad Trapper race isn’t the only thing happening at Panorama on opening weekend. Bikers can test ride the latest Kona Mountain Bikes, check out the re-shaped table top jumps on Hell’s Bells, or ride the brand-new machine groomed trail, Let It Ride, a 3.2km bermed cruiser.
The old Hell’s Bells was a hybrid trail for intermediate and advanced riders featuring gap jumps of various sizes. In spring all the jumps were leveled and replaced with table tops to allow progressive improvement in jumping skills. Riders not used to air can safely roll over the table tops, until they are ready to start jumping and eventually land on the transition. According to Brad Brush, Director of Mountain Operations, the new features are part of Panorama’s commitment to growing the sport, “We wanted a jump trail that more experienced riders could hit up without undue risk,†he said.
The new and improved trail was designed and built by Jamie King, Park Supervisor and devoted biker. The trail was machine-shaped over the past two weeks, and will soon be compacted and raked in time for opening weekend.
For more information about mountain biking at Panorama and the Mad Trapper Downhill (including registration) visit www.panoramaresort.com
2007 Mad Trapper Schedule:
Friday June 22
10:00am to 5:00pm – Mile 1 Quad open for mountain biking
Saturday June 23
10:00am to 5:00pm – Mad Trapper registration in the Ski Tip Lodge
Sunday June 24
9:00am to 11:00am – Downhill rider sign-in (new registrations will not be accepted). Mandatory training run.
10:45am – Professional riders only loaded on chair
11:00am to 11:30am – Professional riders training run
12noon – Downhill race starts
Note: Awards to follow half an hour after completion of the race.
Panorama Mountain Village, located in the Purcell Mountains, has one of the largest vertical descents in North America. Quad chairlifts give access to the summit and over 100 trails, including former Heli-Ski terrain in Taynton Bowl. Panorama is also home to Greywolf, ranked British Columbia’s best golf course by Golf Digest. For more information, visit www.panoramaresort.com
KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR SOMEBUNNIES OUT THERE THIS YEAR. TEAM MUDDBUNNIES REPRESENT!!!
Aimee Dunn – Team Muddbunnies
Photo: Corey Toews
Edith Jansen – Team Muddbunnies
Photo: Corey Toews
Lisa Howies Bike – Team Muddbunnies
Photo: Corey Toews
