(from media release, YOU GOTTA SEE THE VIDEO!)
Celebrating mountain bikes, mountain communities, live music, and good friends
New Years Day brings new resolutions and a fresh start, and for mountain bikers looking for a good time, the opening day of registration for the 2019 Epic Rides Off-Road Series. Epic Rides, and apparently the nations mountain bike community, are amped for the 2019 season. Now in its third day, registration numbers have set new records on January 1st and 2nd already.
Attracting beginners, seasoned veterans and the world’s top professional mountain bike talent, the Off-Road Series has built a reputation for offering premium grade singletrack on three challenging course distances, a weekend of free live music and activities for the entire family.
Kicking off in Prescott, Ariz. on April 26-28, the 16th annual Whiskey Off-Road happens in the heart of downtown on the historic Whiskey Row. On May 17-19 is the 7th Annual Grand Junction Off-Road and the Four Peaks Brewing Downtown Music Festival in Grand Junction, Colo. The 4th Annual Carson City Off-Road in Carson City, Nev. follows on June 14-16, taking riders from Nevada’s Capitol City to the highest altitudes of the series, featuring iconic views of Lake Tahoe. The series wraps up in America’s hottest new mountain biking community, Bentonville, Ark. on October 11-13 at the 2nd Annual Oz Trails Off-Road.
Each event features three-course distances (15-, 30- and 50-mile) to fit a wide range of skill, fitness, and experience. Every course showcases some of the best trails in the four host communities, traversing beautiful and challenging backcountry terrain while giving every finisher a special keepsake and a feeling of true accomplishment. The Off-Road Series is a great opportunity for the host communities to show off their world-class trail networks, not only attracting visitors, but also new permanent residents who value outdoor recreation.
“The Carson City Off-Road invigorates our entire community with the energy of live music, brews, and a lively downtown. In turn, we love hosting some of the best athletes from around the globe in the sport of mountain biking,” said David Peterson, Executive Director of the Carson City Culture and Tourism Authority. “We get the chance to show off our thriving food, arts, and culture scene along with the world-class trails with breathtaking vistas we get to enjoy all year long.”
Thanks to its $168,000 Pro Cash Purse evenly split between Pro Men and Women – the most lucrative non-team backcountry mountain bike event purse in the world – the Off-Road Series delivers incredible racing action both in the backcountry and in the heart of downtown. The spectator-friendly, high-speed action of the El Yucateco Fat Tire Crit Series on Friday of event weekend races around each host community’s downtown area with an additional $8,000 in winnings up for grabs.
“What I love most about the Off-Road Series is the event atmosphere,” said Sofia Gomez-Villafañe, a professional rider for Stans NoTubes/Pivot Cycles. “It is so cool to pre-ride the course on Saturday and cheer the amateurs that are racing which is something we normally do not get to do at other events. I also enjoy the marathon aspect of the event as we get to really experience a variety of trails and trail networks.”
Aside from the world-class riding, each Off-Road Series offers live music headlined by national touring acts, free for the entire community to enjoy all weekend long. Past Off-Road Series acts include Greta Van Fleet, Ozomatli, The Motet, Barrington Levy, Roger Clyne, and the Peacemakers, MarchFourth Marching Band and more. And each Off-Road Series event also features a huge industry expo, showing off the latest in mountain bike gear.
In addition to innumerable smiles, laughs and good times, all registrants receive an event t-shirt, water bottle, limited-edition poster, goodie bag, and finisher’s award. The growing popularity of the Off-Road Series has resulted in all events filling to capacity in advance, so participants are encouraged to register as early as possible at epicrides.com.
To register or get more information the Off-Road Series, link this site: epicrides.com
For a sampling of the Off-Road Series backcountry experience, link this video from Bentonville/Bella Vista:
About Epic Rides
Founded in 1999, Epic Rides has become world famous for producing events that celebrate the many positive aspects of mountain biking. Events such as the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo presented by Tucson Medical Center, Tour of the White Mountains, Grand Junction Off-Road, Whiskey Off-Road, Carson City Off-Road, and the Oz Trails Off-Road are popular with participants because they offer challenging, fun riding and emphasize the joy and camaraderie inherent in the sport.
