The 2016 course has taken a step up from the inaugural edition. After all, we've got over 40km of singletrack now at Falls Creek, why don't we use some of it?
Riders will start on the peak of Mt McKay at 1849m above sea level. Starting all together, the snow leg will take riders down Mt McKay / Pretty Valley Rd until the Summit access turnoff in the ski fields. A brief climb to the Summit and then Thunderbolt links up to Wishing Well for a fast descent to village level**.
**This was the plan but the season is going so well that there is too much snow to ride Thunderbolt. Instead our alternate course takes you down the singletrack of Old Summit Home Trail to Heartbreak Hill and then Final Muster.
Cross the road and it's on again riding down the normally uphill Packhorse trail which belts down for 4km until the Howman's Gap Ticket Box area. All up that's 7km or so of singletrack.
Swinging out right riders are onto the Fire Trail leg with Junction Spur, a brief stint on the Bogong High Plains Road and then the Cable Track to get to the Bogong Power Station with Lake Guy and the Bogong Jack's pub finish line.
Rider briefing will be early in Slalom Plaza before loading to the Falls Express lift and ride to the start line. All riders will get a lift back to Falls after the finish for the after party that night.
Full face helmets are compulsory and XC or Enduro bikes recommended.
Picture a snow-capped mountain top - the highest one you can drive to in summer. 22km away, picture a pub on the shores of a beautiful alpine lake. In between you have a ski resort, Alpine National Park and some of the country’s newest singletrack.
Now picture bombing this with 200 other shredders all kicking off at the same time for 1750m total descent - that’s the Chaos part.
2015 was an epic start for a big idea – a unique snow, dirt and road MTB gravity enduro event with a hectic mass start on top of a bloody mountain. Some things worked, others could be improved so we’ve gone and improved them. You guys gave feedback and we have taken it on board.
You wanted singletrack? You’ve got it (over 7km in fact). The new course takes riders through key trails in the Falls Creek MTB network of Thunderbolt, Wishing Well and Packhorse (ridden down instead of the usual up)**. You want timing? Sure thing. Now every rider will get their results immediately with modern timing gear on board. Firmer snow for the mass start ride? We’re racing a week earlier when the snow should be that little bit more frozen.
**This obviously all depends on the snow - too much up top and we might not be able to find some trails let along put treads on them. We're going to keep our options open whilst aiming for the best case.
For the rest we’ve kept the mountain, we’ve kept the power plant and we’ve kept the scenery. Most importantly we’ve kept the awesome spirit in which this event was started – a group of riders getting together to shred the alps then share a beer afterwards.
Mckayos grows up this year. Make sure you’re there with it!
EVENT DETAILS
Single Gravity Enduro mountain bike stage
$2k value total prize pool
Mass start
Entries open to Individual competitors or teams of 4
Winners will be determined by first individual rider to complete the course
Official timing provided
Competitors will be shuttled back to Falls Creek upon finishing the stage
Full face helmets mandatory (XC/Enduro bikes recommended)
Event will conclude with a presentation and official After Party
THE COURSE
Newer, Longer, and with 7km more Singletrack
The 2016 course has taken a step up from the inaugural edition. After all, we've got over 40km of singletrack now at Falls Creek, why don't we use some of it?
Riders will start on the peak of Mt McKay at 1849m above sea level. Starting all together, the snow leg will take riders down Mt McKay / Pretty Valley Rd until the Summit access turnoff in the ski fields. A brief climb to the Summit and then Thunderbolt links up to Wishing Well for a fast descent to village level**.
**This was the plan but the season is going so well that there is too much snow to ride Thunderbolt. Instead our alternate course takes you down the singletrack of Old Summit Home Trail to Heartbreak Hill and then Final Muster.
Cross the road and it's on again riding down the normally uphill Packhorse trail which belts down for 4km until the Howman's Gap Ticket Box area. All up that's 7km or so of singletrack.
Swinging out right riders are onto the Fire Trail leg with Junction Spur, a brief stint on the Bogong High Plains Road and then the Cable Track to get to the Bogong Power Station with Lake Guy and the Bogong Jack's pub finish line.
Rider briefing will be early in Slalom Plaza before loading to the Falls Express lift and ride to the start line. All riders will get a lift back to Falls after the finish for the after party that night.
Full face helmets are compulsory and XC or Enduro bikes recommended.