Press release from Southern Alpine Recreation
5 February 2008

Coronet Peak mountain biking season finishes

Mountain bikers celebrated the end of a third successful season at Coronet Peak Bike Park with one last downhill ride on Sunday 3 February before the lift closed at 7.30pm.

The season opened on 3 January and operated 7 days a week from 10.30am to 7.30pm (weather permitting) until 3 February. The season was shorter than last year due to an intensive Coronet Peak summer development programme in preparation for winter 2008.

Coronet Peak’s Mountain Biking Operations Manager Jeff Hodge says he’s delighted with the success of the season and the amazing weather which encouraged people to get out and enjoy the Coronet Peak recreation reserve.

“We’re committed to developing recreation at Coronet Peak outside the winter ski season, and the Bike Park is a great use of the facilities during the summer months. Mountain biking at Coronet Peak was well supported this year with riders ranging from amateur to elite racers. We anticipate further development of the Park in the future as mountain biking becomes an increasingly accessible activity for a broad range of people,” says Mr Hodge.

Several events contributed to the success of Coronet Peak’s mountain biking season including the Subaru South Island Downhill Cup and the NZCT South Island Cross Country Cup from 4 to 6 January, the Vertigo Chain Free Downhill on 19 January and the Nzone Brake Burner endurance race on 2 February.

The Nzone Brake Burner six-hour Endurance Race attracted a 200-strong field which included some of New Zealand’s best riders like Scarlett Hagen. Although only ten percent of the entrants were locals, they proved the most successful, winning most of the categories. For more results visit www.brakeburner.co.nz.

Mountain bike champion Scarlett Hagen also hosted training for riders of all levels and age between 15 and 30 January. Hagen described Coronet Peak’s 1.6km downhill track as comparable to professional trails in Europe.

A locals’ weekend enticed more than 100 keen riders each day to take advantage of discounted day passes.

The Coronet Peak Bike Park featured a scenic 4.2km Downhill Cross Country Trail designed for bikers of all levels, a challenging competition-standard 1.6km Downhill single track for experienced bikers, and a feature-packed mini park to get freestylers off the ground with wooden features and a see-saw.

ENDS

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