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2013 UnisonFibre Hawkes Bay Sports Awards
The finalists for this years awards have been announced, which include:
• HBMTBC - ‘Club Performance of the Year’ category.
• HBMTBC - ‘Club Operations of the Year’ category.
• Brook Macdonald - 'Junior Sportsperson' category
• George Brannigan - 'Junior Sportsperson' category
The awards function will be held on Saturday 18 May at the P.G. Arena.
Tickets cost $90 each, or $800 for a table of 10, from SportHB.
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Hawkes Bay riders Sign with TREK WORLD RACING !!!
George Brannigan (left) and Brook Macdonald have signed with TREK
for the 2013 season. - Read the full press release here
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Mt Tamalpais in California, USA, is widely regarded as the birthplace of mountain biking back in the early 70’s, where thousands of enthusiasts have 'paid homage' to that magic mountain and the early pioneers who had the vision and determination to go against popular cycling opinion. Today the culture has progressed into a professionally disciplined sport with specialities such as Downhill, Cross-country, Dual Slalom, Freeriding, 4X and Trials to name just a few.
There is a World Cup Series and a World Championship held every year – where the HBMTBC have 2 members with professional contracts competing, both in 'Elite Men' Downhill, at the World Cup Series & World Championships, plus other European & American events:
- Brook Macdonald - Trek World Racing (also sponsored by Red Bull)
- 2009 UCI World Junior DH Champion
- 2012 NZ Mountainbike Cup Champion
- 2012 UCI World Cup - Downhill Round 6 winner
- 2012 UCI World Cup - 7th overall
- 2012 world ranking # 6 (downhill)
- George Brannigan - Trek World Racing
- 2012 UCI World Cup - Downhill Round 7, 2nd place
- 2012 UCI World Cup - 10th overall
- 2012 world ranking # 9 (downhill)
New Zealand is one of the greatest places in the world for off-road cycling & people travel from all over to ride on our turf. Specialist mountain bike parks are popping up all over the country as the sport grows from strength to strength. Mountain biking can be for recreation, training or as a competitive profession.
Just 10 minutes drive north of Napier on the East Coast of the North Island, one of New Zealands largest and very highly regarded Mountain Bike Parks is located. Set within the privately owned, productive working, Pan Pac ‘Tangoio’ Forest is the Hawkes Bay Mountain Bike Club’s main, purpose built facility, known as "Pan Pac Eskdale MTB Park".
This 2170ha facility is broken down into 5 blocks: [ blocks aerial map ]
• Waipunga (370ha); - logging in 2015-2016
• Tait (300ha); - logging in 2015-2016
• Replanted (210ha);
• Mill (440ha);
• Pakuratahi Valley (850ha) - New Downhill Park
NB: Pakuratahi Valley is still under development - NO RIDING ALLOWED, YET.
290m of elevation at the highest peak allows tremendous views across the Bay and plenty of scope for a huge variety of trails, currently with over 80km of purpose-built cross-country, freeride and downhill trails, plus over 40km of forestry roads and 4x4 tracks to cater for all levels of rider ability – from the novice beginner through to the experienced professional.
Click image to enlarge. Pan Pac Eskdale MTB Park. Photo by Dave Keys (July 2006)
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HBMTBC Membership / Permit Checks
Random membership/permit ID checks can happen at anytime either by the forest security or the club committee !!!
For access into our 3 privately owned MTB Parks of - Pukeora, Aropaoanui & Eskdale, you need club membership (or a Visitors Permit).
A visitors permit costs $10 per person & includes a trail map of these 3 facilities and an ID docket and is valid for 3 weeks from date of purchase. (the one permit covers all 3 venues). Refer to the Join page for a full list of retail outlets that sell these visitor permits, or you can purchase a permit online with Visa or MasterCard.
So make sure ALL riders & runners have current club membership (purple ID tag) or a valid 3 week visitor permit - and to carry your ID with you! otherwise you will be denied access into the forest, or even worse could be issued a trespass notice.
Purchase a VISITORS PERMIT online
(or from any of the listed retail outlets on the Join page)
or JOIN ONLINE visa or mastercard only,
or DOWNLOAD a MEMBERSHIP FORM
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Hawkes Bay Mountain Bike Club Incorporated (HBMTBC), is New Zealands largest mountain bike club with 1760 members in total for the 2011-2012 membership year, [best year to date was in 2008-2009 with a grand total of 2069 members] and is also affiliated to MTBNZ, which is part of BikeNZ (a combination of all the cycling codes). The requirement for a large, specialist area to cater for all the different styles of riding and abilities associated with the sport is well provided for at Eskdale.
At least 80% of the year the clay/dirt based trails in Hawkes Bay are sprinkled with pine needles and are hard, dry and ride very fast, creating an awesome riding experience on the open and flowing style single-track.
Refer to the MAPS page for more information on the venues this club have created or other riding areas in the region.
The HBMTBC have hosted a DH & XC round of the National MTB Series (now called NZ MTB Cup) approx every 2nd year (1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011 & 2012). Since 2008 we have also hosted a round of the very popular AKDH Series (now called the NZDH Series) every year with great success.
The HBMTBC is very grateful to the generosity of Pan Pac Forests Ltd & to PF Olsen Ltd for allowing the club access to their land. Due to being privately owned 'working' forests, a permit is required for access to these 3 areas. This is obtained, by either joining the HBMTBC, or by purchasing a 'Visitors Permit' (valid for 3 weeks) from any of the main cycling shops, Info Centres, Bayview 4 Square - See the full list on the JOIN page.
If you want to help or learn how to build or maintain the trails, then please contact:
PAN PAC ESKDALE MTB PARK
(Pan Pac Forests Ltd)
Park Manager - Ross Mepham 021 220 7444
PAN PAC AROPAOANUI DOWNHILL PARK
(Pan Pac Forests Ltd)
PUKEORA HILL MTB PARK
(PF Olsen Ltd)
Park Manager - Hamish Schwass 027 363 8319
TARADALE DIRT PARK & PUMP TRACK
(HBRC)
MARINE PARADE PUMP TRACK
(NCC)
