Arkansan take the Ouachita Triple Crown in less than ideal conditions.
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — Arkansan Walker Jones won the Ouachita Triple Crown endurance race held November 8 – 10 as part of the sixth Gudrun Mountain Bike Festival in Hot Springs.
Jones finished the 178-mile endurance race despite challenging weather conditions the competitors faced during the weekend of mountain biking events centered on Hot Springs’ Northwoods Trail System.
“Walker Jones departed the starting point from the Northwoods/Gudrun trails at noon on Friday, November 8,” Visit Hot Springs Marketing Director Bill Solleder reported. “He rode through the night in a steady rainfall and finished the course in 29 hours 28 minutes. The Ouachita Triple Crown consists of some of the most challenging mountain bike trails in the country, and to accomplish the 178-mile trek in the rain and darkness is a true testament to Walker Jones’ physical and mental strength.”
“I’m delirious and I want a burrito,” Jones shouted as he approached the finish line.
Only two riders out of 20 registered competitors finished the race, which consists of mostly single-track trail that encompasses the LOVit Trail, Womble Trail, and a portion of the Ouachita National Recreation Trail all rated Epics by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. (editors note: We are not sure of any other mountain bike race in the world that covers 3 IMBA Epics. If you know of one, tell us in the comments.) Erik Deitz of Wisconsin was the only other finisher in 40 hours and 48 minutes.
The sixth Gudrun Festival was a great success despite the rainy weather, according to Visit Hot Springs Trails Coordinator Traci Berry. “What a weekend,” she said. “This was the first time in six years that we had to deal with wet weather conditions, but folks still showed up, surpassing last year’s registration numbers. How better to spend a weekend than three full days of playing bikes with faces that have become friends from all over the country.”
“We had a total registration of 650 this year, just a little bit shy of our record of 702 in 2021. We had 377 combined entrants in our Enduro, Time Trial, Dual Slalom, and Strider races; a record 253 in the Attila the Hun XC Race, and 20 in the Ouachita Triple Crown — although only two finished that challenging even.,” Berry said. “Twelve states were represented in this year’s Gudrun, and we are looking forward to Gudrun 2025 November 7 – 9 next year.”
