When the organizers of the Himalayan Outdoor Festival
approached Himalayan Single Track with the idea of having some kind of mountain
bike race as part of the festival, we were very excited. We made a few trips to
Hattiban to see how we could tackle the problem of building a cross country
style course in a pine forest on top of a hill…..no easy task.
Races are important for the future development of mountain
biking in Nepal and for the training and development of rider’s skills as well
as the development of a strong and tight-nit mountain biking community. Once we
decided that the potential was there it was the task of getting out there and
creating the track. Yesterday we went to Hattiban and did just that, built a
race track.
But this is not something that Himalayan Single Track can
take any credit for. Yesterday 12 riders went to Hattiban, including several of
Nepal’s top ten riders, lead by Ajay Pandit Chettri who showed incredible determination,
skill and leadership to transform the pine needle strewn hill top into a
fantastic race course.
Because of the amazing team work and passion shown by the
riders yesterday, we no longer want to call this race Himalayan Single Track’s
race, it belongs to the riders, and too the mountain biking community in Nepal.
Hattiban MTB Super Challenge will be held on the 2nd of June
2012 as part of the Himalayan Outdoor Festival,
supported by Himalayan Single Track and the Himalayan Outdoor Festival.
The course is short, 2.5km, technical, challenging and
something that we hope will showcase the skill of Nepal’s riders to the crowds
attending the festival. The course is 90% single track, winding in and out of
the pine trees, technical downhill, steep climbing and jumps.
Entry forms will be in mountain bike shops in Kathmandu from
Friday the 18th. Entry fee costs 500 nrs, the entry fee going
towards the cost of race course constructions and prizes. Entry closed on Wednesday
30th of May. At the moment we will have Open category but if we get
enough entries there will also be women’s and fun rider category. In any case
prizes will be award to 1st, 2nd and 3rd
winners and first finishing female and fun rider held over a shorter course.
We hope that all riders will come out and support the race and the Himalayan Outdoor Festival. And a huge thank you to all the riders who turned up at Hattiban on Wednesday to help work on the track.
