BOLD - Issue 11: May/Jun 2018 MayJun18_BOLD_NL - online | Page 8

Mountain Biking in Toowoomba Region Upcoming Events TMBC Down Hill Round 2 SEQDH 6 May 2018 Kickin’ up dirt mountain biking is one of the favourite past times for many residents and visitors in Toowoomba Region. Jubilee Park is the perfect location for those looking for some fun, adventure and fitness. The park offers diverse trails for all disciplines of mountain biking including downhill, cross country, endurance and gravity enduro. TMBC Fox on Rocks Funduro Women’s Only GE style event 20 May 2018 Sunshine State Series Cross Country XCO 1 July 2018 Toowoomba Mountain Biking Club (TMBC) sought permission from Council in 2004 to gain access to Jubilee Park to create trails for mountain biking. The club has since managed and maintained the trails to create an exceptional park. The club schedules maintenance days to keep the tracks in tip top shape in order to hold many events throughout the year including Strava events, fun ‘enduros’, social rides and notably the combined Oceania Intercontinental Downhill and Cross Country Titles. These events have attracted many elite National and International riders. MTBA Round 1 Gravity Enduro Tour (Enduro World Series Qualifier) 15 July 2018 TMBC Range8 8hr Cross Country Endurance 12 August 2018 While mountain biking is certainly not for the faint-hearted, it's a sport the entire family can enjoy. Mountain biking can suit any fitness level and age. We recently met with Juliet Redding and Kate Craft who are passionate mountain bikers in the region. ‘Anyone who can ride a bike can learn to mountain bike. As your fitness levels improve, so does your enjoyment,’ said Kate. Kate and Juliet’s passion for mountain biking brought them to recognise the need for a group to encourage and support women wanting to get into the sport and improve their skills. Together they helped create the Dirt Angels Facebook (FB) Page. This FB page has been operating for three and a half years and offers a space where women can get involved, ask questions or team up with someone to show them the trails. ‘Mountain biking is really exciting. It takes a different kind of skill set to road cycling and it’s a challenge,’ added Juliet. Dirt Angels and Toowoomba Mountain Biking Club created the women’s Fox on Rocks Funduro in 2017 due to the lack of any similar event being offered within Australia. The event proved to be an outstanding success with seventy women competing, encouraging the club to not only repeat the event but perhaps build it into a series of three rounds in the future. Through generous donations from local businesses, TMBC are 8 excited to be hosting Fox on Rocks Women’s Funduro 2018. This is a relaxed entry level fun event, open to women of all ages and experience levels. ‘Women's participation in this sport is growing at a phenomenal rate,’ said Juliet. The future for mountain biking in the region is bright, with the Mountain Bike Club’s goal of extending the trail system along the escarpment to create longer journeys for visitors wishing to spend the weekend. Kate said, ‘It’s going to be huge. We have a vision - with Toowoomba’s cooler climate, fantastic trails and enthusiastic club volunteers, Toowoomba can be developed to be a riding destination.’ For more information on the trails and events visit www.tr.qld.gov.au www.tr.qld.gov.au/bold l bold bold l www.tr.qld.gov.au/bold 9