2012 Tathra MTB Enduro

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THE RACE

TATHRA MTB ENDURO - Mountain Bike Race

WHEN: April 21-22, 2012

WHERE: Tathra, Far South Coast, NSW

DISTANCE: FREE Kids Races, 10km Prologue (Saturday), 20km, 50km, 100km (Sunday)

ENTRY: Entries NOW OPEN on line at www.mountainbiking.com.au/tathraenduro

Race Introduction

The Tathra Enduro is a mountain biking odyssey that pays homage to the early coastal pioneers and captures the best of beaches, the forests and the mountans.

From Tathra Beach, Ford's Farm and Thompson's Estate to the Kangarutha Wilderness and Boulder Bay the event offers a rare opportunity to race along the coastline, tracking through reclaimed farmland and the stunning Mimosa Rocks National Park.

Local history is full of old tales about gold being in "them thar hills". Hundreds of prospectors flooded into the area in the 1850's. Whilst the boom in Tanja proved short lived - the prospectors have left behind a "gold mine" of trails.

Loggers also plied their trade in the early to mid 1900's in the nearby Tanja forests. The forests were alive as teams of men and beast felled the native hardwood trees for building, railway sleepers, bridge beams and latterly telegraph poles and mine struts. Saw mills sprouted like mushrooms and locations like Goat's Knob, Hell Holes,Monkey Dung and Vimy Ridge are now entrenched local landmarks.

These earlier pioneers have inadvertently created a modern mountain bikers dream, their legacy and secret stashes of single track deep in the heart of the coastal wilderness.

And as pretty as the picture is, the Tathra enduro also offers some of the same hardships shown to the early settlers.

You'll no doubt spare a thought for that poor bullock, snigging a 500kg log from the forest when you tackle the mountains and the gullies.

In 2012 there have been some changes to the courses - Goat's Knob 50kers can still expect plenty of climbing, however the development of new single trail in the Doolagharl area, and access to some special trails on private land now means riders will never be further than five kilometres from the heart of Tathra.

Those opting for the epic 100km can expect plenty more, as they tickle the trigs and ride perilously close to the district's highest point.

Are you up for the challenge?

You still want more?

The Tathra Enduro is a mere appetiser of the district's mountain biking menu. It is the aim of the event to promote tathra, its surrounding forests and national Parks as a coastal mountain biking destination.

Sweet single track can also be found at the nearby Manna Park and Mandeni Resorts (near Merimbula) and at Bermagui, 30 minutes north of Tathra.

Check out the Tour de Tathra

Funds raised from this year’s Enduro provided solar panels for the Bega Aboriginal Land Council and the Uniting Church, and a wind turbine for the Tathra Surf Club.

Where do the profits go? Cycling for a commun ity cause.

The Tathra MTB Enduro is a collaboration between the not for profit organisations. the Tathra Mountain Bike Club inc and the sustainable energy group Clean Energy for Eternity (CEFE).

In 2006 CEFE was instrumental in persuading the Bega Valley Shire Council to adopt the 50/50 by 2020 clean energy target. The Snowy River, Bombala and Cooma Shire Councils also adopted this target which rfequires 50 per cent of each shires energy requirements to come from renewable sources by the year 2020.

The Tathra MTB Enduro continues to support the 50/50 bu 2020 campaign with profits from the Enduro going towards sustainable energy projects for the community.

For further media information contact: events@mountainbiking.com.au

Tathra Mountain Bike Club Inc.

Click here for the Enduro 2011 Overall Results

Click here for Prologue 2011 Results

Click here for the Enduro 2011 Results by Category

Click here for the link to photos

Click here to check out the new Tathra trails.