National Mountain Bike Event at South West Extreme in Bideford

The

National Championships, the blue ribbon event in the Mountain Bike

calendar are heading to North Devon's South West Extreme Centre on

Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th August.

Saturday will see round five of

the National 4x Series (NPS) and on Sunday the UK's top riders

including previous National Champions and professional riders Will

Longden- Lapera, Oakley and Scott Beaumont- Rocky Mountain, Fox will be

competing.

 Entry for spectators will be FREE throughout the weekend,

and this is a unique opportunity for all mountain bike fans to meet and

watch some of the legends of the sport. South West Extreme is opposite

The BIG Sheep, and so this will be a big family weekend with the High

Ropes centre and climbing wall providing thrills and some of the best

views of the event.

 The course has been remodelled over the winter by

International rider Will Evans from Truro in Cornwall.  Will said

"Having spent time building a number of world championship courses in

Vego, Spain and Fort William in Scotland, to have this new course in

North Devon recognised as currently the best course in the UK to host

the most prestigious event of the year is awesome for me. I have spent

the last few years travelling around the world riding the top courses

and I have been able to put many of the ideas into this course. My

concept is to build a track that provides the very best racing, this

course has superb spectator viewing of the whole race, there is plenty

of overtaking opportunities, and although all abilities will be able to

ride it, there are a number of elements which will challenge the very

best.

The proline

has some massive jumps at the bottom of the track, the riders will be

travelling at 35mph and if they have the bottle to take on the 27 feet

double, this is certainly the fastest line with serious air time and

incredible spectator viewing"

Rick

Turner owner of The BIG Sheep said "We are thrilled to be hosting such

a prestigious event.  We have continued to invest in world class new

attractions and facilities.  Family visitors to our attraction are all

age groups and the extreme area has added another level attracting

thrill seekers to North Devon from all over the UK.  Whilst the rest of

the family enjoy the slower paced fun at The BIG Sheep, climbing, high

ropes, mountain boarding and biking and the battlefield live, twister

ride and the new splash zone we have something to entertain all the

family"

British Cycling and

NPS series organiser -Chris Roberts have been instrumental in

developing the new track, and there may be an opportunity for South

West Extreme to host a European event in 2011.

 What is 4x?

 4x racing is a fast, high action mountain bike discipline

that provides just as much excitement for the spectators as the

riders. 

4x comprises of 4

riders racing head to head from the top a of hill to the bottom, on a

man made track, filled with obstacles such as Jumps, logs, rocks and

corners both flat and burmed (banked).

The

high action and race simplicity makes 4x racing great for spectator to

understand and watch. So if you're not riding you too, can be part of

the fun and excitement.

 The Track

 The brand new 4x track designed and built by international

rider Will Evans who rides for Morewood bikes/ Maloja. The track has

not only been selected for a round of the National 4x Series, but also

the UK's pinnacle event, the National Championships.

Will

has used both his racing and track building experience to build SWE a

4x track that will provide fun by all abilities while unlike before,

provide the UK's Elite riders a challenge, helping building a bridge

between national and World Cup level racing.

The

riders will reach speeds of up to 35mph and tackle obstacles such as;

double and table tops jumps, a rocks garden, logs, steps, and both flat

and burned (banked corners). The track also features a 'Pro-line' on

the finial straight, with three HUGE 8-10m gaped jumps.

 There will be estimated 200 riders racing on the Sunday for

the National title in there respective category; Juvanile, Youth,

Jounier, Masters, Vetrians and the Main/ Pro event Senior.

There will

also be a dirt jump competition on Saturday evening to provide some

extreme entertainment, the unique North Shore features will be

providing some big drops and room for aerial tricks throughout the

weekend and with Rob Van Emmenis the park manager having spent two

years building a world class BMX jump area, there will plenty for the

crowd to wow over !!