Just letting people know that we have an event going on, below is the 'official press release'
The St. Mary Off-Road Bicycling Association (SMORBA) is pleased to announce that the coolest mountain bike event on the planet is back! The 9th Annual Jamaica Fat Tyre Festival is set for February 8-11 in the lush, tropical mountains of St. Mary. This years event will feature even more of the irie vibes that led Rob Story from BIKE magazine to proclaim that riding in Jamaica: doesnt remove you from people; it enables you to meet them in strange places under sublime circumstances (BIKE, June 1997, p. 63)
The Festival is set to kick off with a welcome and registration party on the evening of February 7th at John Crow Tavern. This will also be our meeting spot each morning and is located in the heart of Ocho Rios - the vibes capital of Jamaicas beautiful north coast. The first full day of riding will take participants, including our invited pro riders, deep into rural Jamaica near Robins Bay, St. Mary. These amazing, technical singletracks are the same trails that were featured in the June 2006 issue of Mountain Bike Magazine. The day will culminate with a complimentary meal and soiree at Robins Bay Beach Hotel.
February 9th will see riders trek to Pimento Hill in St Mary, for a more relaxed day of singletrack, downhills, and waterfalls, ending at Black Sand Beach where a meal of roast breadfruit and other local dishes will be prepared by local SMORBA dude, Natty Grant. In what will almost certainly become a favorite tradition of the JaFTF, local fishermen will shuttle riders from the beach to the pick up point by boat!
On the 10th riders will shuttle up to Murphy Hill, perched high above Ocho Rios. After taking in the view it will be time to let brakes overheat on the blistering descent to world reknown Dunns River Falls. After regrouping at John Crows, the crew heads out to the friendly communities of Oracabessa, Hamilton Mtn, and Jacks River. Checking out SMORBAs trails in western St. Mary is sure to prepare riders for the after-ride relaxation at famous James Bond Beach and Stingray City in Oracabessa.
February 11th will be local Jamaicans day to shine with the staging of the National Rambo (local slang for mountain bikes) Bicycling Championships in Hamilton Mtn. SMORBA is expecting over 50 local riders to compete for the honor of being named National Champion. Of course, overseas guests will be encouraged to pit their skills against those of our local intuitive riders in a spirit of semi-serious, healthy competition!
Spots for this years Festival are limited, so if you are interested in attending, or need more information, drop us a line at smorbaja@hotmail.com or contact Marshall Paul at madmantours@hotmail.com
The St. Mary Off-Road Bicycling Association (SMORBA) is pleased to announce that the coolest mountain bike event on the planet is back! The 9th Annual Jamaica Fat Tyre Festival is set for February 8-11 in the lush, tropical mountains of St. Mary. This years event will feature even more of the irie vibes that led Rob Story from BIKE magazine to proclaim that riding in Jamaica: doesnt remove you from people; it enables you to meet them in strange places under sublime circumstances (BIKE, June 1997, p. 63)
The Festival is set to kick off with a welcome and registration party on the evening of February 7th at John Crow Tavern. This will also be our meeting spot each morning and is located in the heart of Ocho Rios - the vibes capital of Jamaicas beautiful north coast. The first full day of riding will take participants, including our invited pro riders, deep into rural Jamaica near Robins Bay, St. Mary. These amazing, technical singletracks are the same trails that were featured in the June 2006 issue of Mountain Bike Magazine. The day will culminate with a complimentary meal and soiree at Robins Bay Beach Hotel.
February 9th will see riders trek to Pimento Hill in St Mary, for a more relaxed day of singletrack, downhills, and waterfalls, ending at Black Sand Beach where a meal of roast breadfruit and other local dishes will be prepared by local SMORBA dude, Natty Grant. In what will almost certainly become a favorite tradition of the JaFTF, local fishermen will shuttle riders from the beach to the pick up point by boat!
On the 10th riders will shuttle up to Murphy Hill, perched high above Ocho Rios. After taking in the view it will be time to let brakes overheat on the blistering descent to world reknown Dunns River Falls. After regrouping at John Crows, the crew heads out to the friendly communities of Oracabessa, Hamilton Mtn, and Jacks River. Checking out SMORBAs trails in western St. Mary is sure to prepare riders for the after-ride relaxation at famous James Bond Beach and Stingray City in Oracabessa.
February 11th will be local Jamaicans day to shine with the staging of the National Rambo (local slang for mountain bikes) Bicycling Championships in Hamilton Mtn. SMORBA is expecting over 50 local riders to compete for the honor of being named National Champion. Of course, overseas guests will be encouraged to pit their skills against those of our local intuitive riders in a spirit of semi-serious, healthy competition!
Spots for this years Festival are limited, so if you are interested in attending, or need more information, drop us a line at smorbaja@hotmail.com or contact Marshall Paul at madmantours@hotmail.com
