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20th Annual Spring Thaw Mountain Bike Festival May 14-15, 2011

Feb 8, 2011
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20th Annual Spring Thaw Mountain Bike Festival
May 14-15, 2011 Saturday and Sunday in Ashland, Oregon.

The 20th Annual Spring Thaw Mountain Bike Festival will return to Ashland, Oregon this May 14-15, 2011. This Kenda Cup Qualifier will host a cross country race on Saturday beginning at 9:15 am. Racers will start at Lithia Park on the pavement and immediately begin to climb as they head to Horn Gap Trail. Category 3 (beginner) racers will enjoy a 9 mile course, while the Pro / Category 1 & 2 classes will enjoy the traditional 25.8 mile epic loop. Racers can expect miles and miles of awesome singletrack, and breathtaking views as they ascend to an elevation of about 5000 feet. The racers will finish back in Lithia Park, where cheering spectators and a delicious lunch will be awaiting. The very popular Shimano Youth Series Kids Race will take place near the bandshell at 1:00pm. After awards and a plush raffle, racers are invited to the post-race bash at Standing Stone Brewing Company in downtown Ashland. Racers will be able to hang-out, socialize, brag and relax before the epic downhill race on Sunday.

On Sunday, the gravity riders get their shot at the Spring Thaw starting at 11:00 am. The 10th Annual Downhill race will bring about 200 riders to Four Corners in the Rogue River National Forest. All racers will drop down Catwalk trail - 1.7 miles of adrenaline rush to the bottom where it intersects Toothpick Trail. This course has plenty of technical sections, off camber switchbacks, a couple of all-out straight sections, and the last 60 yards is a slight uphill to the finish – a little bit of everything thrown in to even out the competition. Lots of excited spectators line the course and get everyone pumped for this epic day on the mountain. Once the racers have completed their race, they are shuttled back to the top for lunch, awards and another hefty raffle.

The entire weekends cash and prizes total US$10,000. Echelon Events, LLC will organize this years event with the help of many generous sponsors and volunteers. For more information visit www.echelonrace.com , www.echelonevents.webs.com or contact the Race Director, Joseph Davis at echelonevents@live.com