Latrobe City, Victoria – Rocky Trail returned to Haunted Hills Mountain Bike Park for a two-day event. The event featured the Rocky Trail Academy Schools competition on Friday, followed by the inaugural Rocky Trail Bites™ Shred & Flow and pump track race on Saturday.
The Friday school competition saw a strong turnout of 178 young riders from nearly 50 schools. Building on the success of previous years, the event has become a staple in the mountain biking calendar, alongside other Rocky Trail events in Melbourne, Buller, Falls Creek, and the Dandenong Ranges.
Rocky Trail introduced the new Shred & Flow format for the Saturday’s activities. This innovative format leverages the potential of smaller, boutique trail networks, working in collaboration with local clubs, land managers, and tourism partners to create exciting and sustainable racing experiences.
The day kicked off with the Shred & Flow, followed by a pump track race. The Shred & Flow format offered a timed race window, allowing riders to complete timed stages throughout the morning. This intense and exciting format is perfect for smaller networks with shorter race tracks.
With the 2 days of racing and by introducing the Shred & Flow, Rocky Trail generated an estimated $80,000 for the local visitor economy of the Latrobe region. The new format aims to achieve the following objectives for assets like Haunted Hills MTB Park:
- Increase accessibility: Open up amazing riding experiences to a wider range of riders, regardless of location.
- Unlock hidden gems: Work with land managers and tourism partners to showcase hidden trails, boosting local economies and promoting sustainable trail development.
- Support local communities: Collaborate with local stakeholders to promote sustainable trail development and boost local economies.
- Grow the sport: Introduce mountain biking to a wider audience and nurture the next generation of riders.
- Connect with nature: Create immersive riding experiences that allow riders to escape the everyday and enjoy the thrill of two wheels on dirt.
Rocky Trail is committed to expanding the reach of mountain biking and providing exciting opportunities for riders of all levels. The exciting debut of the Shred & Flow event at Haunted Hills is a testament to this commitment.
We would like to thank the Latrobe City Council for the support of mountain biking and its CEO Steven Piasente for welcoming us so warmly to Haunted Hills MTB Park.
