..."tough is all in the mind..."
Rotorua – The World’s Best Mountain Bike Trails…
That’s what Australian Mountain Bike magazine is saying in the latest issue out this week in Australia and New Zealand.
AMB Editor, Chris Southwood, and the team were in Rotorua, in the heartland of New Zealand’s North Island, in mid-November 2009 and were impressed by the quality of the mountain bike trails and the hospitality of the locals.
“We’d heard the whispers about the legendary singletrack in the Whakarewarewa Forest,” says Southwood, from AMB HQ in Sydney. “And we just had to go.”
They trails were better than the rumours suggested.
“Even the hype really doesn’t do the place justice,” Southwood continues. “What the lucky folk of Rotorua have right on their doorstep is truly world leading, with trails that are mesmerising, absorbing and just plain fun.”
It wasn't just Rotorua's trails that impressed the AMB team.
"Incredibly, the riding doesn’t end there – an hour’s drive took us to the magnificent, untouched isolation of Whirinaki Forest and to the shimmering edge of Lake Taupo’s Craters of the Moon and W2K track," adds Southwood.
"Both are world-class destinations in their own right."
Although the main purpose of the trip was to experience the trails, the AMB team also enjoyed some other features of Rotorua, that make it a world-class adventure tourist destination.
“In a few days we crammed in jet boating, a giant swing called The Swoop, bungy-jumping, kayaking off a waterfall and, of course, the infamous Luge.” Says Southwood with a big grin. “And the hospitality we received from the local mountain bike community was incredible. They welcomed us like family.”
The AMB issue has other local connections.
The Rotorua photography is by Derek Morrison, who is back in New Zealand after a stint as AMB editor. Morrison is in partnership with Kashi Leuchs, New Zealand’s top cross-country rider of the last decade, in a new venture, the Adventure Media Group, based in Dunedin.
The cover is by Rotorua photographer, Graeme Murray, and features another local, Gary Sullivan of Nzo dirtwear, who designs top class mountain biking clothing in a barn just north of town.
AMB will be back in Rotorua in October, for the 2010 Singlespeed World Championships.
“I have to say that I’ve never really got singlespeeding,” says Southwood. “If you can have gears then why not. I mean, mountain biking is hard enough with them.”
Recently, though, Chris saw the light.
“The thing about singlespeeders is they do know how to have a very good time,” he adds. “Maybe, it’s because they suffer so much on the bike, but having a good party afterwards is big part of it.”
Southwood also likes the attitude of singlespeeding - with top riders wearing costumes and a tattoo being the main prize for 1st man and woman across the line.
There is even a 'party animal' entry for anyone who just wants to enjoy the entertainment without racing for friends, partners and family.
“They never take themselves too seriously and have a sense of humour that is sometimes missing from mountain bike racing,” says Southwood. “That’s why I’m getting involved in October - even though I’m a bit baffled by the concept, I’ll be back in Rotorua for the Singlespeed World Champs and I know it’ll be a hell of a good time.”
He will join hundreds of other riders from all over the world at the event.
“Entries opened at midnight New Zealand Summer Time on New Year’s Eve and they’ve been flowing in ever since, with around 500 so far,” says Dean Watson, from the event team.
“The biggest overseas contingents are from the USA, Australian and UK, but we’ve also had entries from all over Europe and from South Africa, Israel, Singapore and the Philippines.”
The timing of the publication of the AMB issue was perfect, too.
"Our full website went live at midday today," says Watson. "Every issue of AMB is read by over 70 thousand Australian mountain bikers so it's a great way to help get the word out."
The 2010 Singlespeed World Championship race is hosted by the Rotorua Singlespeed Society and is on Saturday October 23.
It is part of the week-long Rotorua Bike Festival that starts on Sunday October 17 with the Whaka 100 mountain bike classic.
• More from Chris Southwood on Rotorua and the AMB Rotorua cover.
• SSWC10NZ Media: Graeme Simpson - singlespeed@riderotorua.com
• SSWC10NZ happily powered by
the Pig & Whistle and Events and Venues Rotorua
