THE Monkey awaits competitors in the opening round of Mountain Bike Australia’s national downhill series in Awaba State Forest, Cooranbong, this weekend.
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The Monkey is the name given to the downhill track considered the best in NSW.
Hunter Mountain Bike Club will host the event, and downhill co-ordinator Coleen Kehoe said The Monkey’s reputation was well deserved.
“It does scare people, and there’s some real heart-in-the-mouth sections of the track,” Ms Kehoe said.
She said the 2-kilometre track was steep, and sections challenged every aspect of downhill racing.
“It’s the variety on the track. It’s rocky. It’s steep. There are some tight sections, and some open, flowing sections. It’s a track that’s just relentless.”
It’s rocky. It’s steep. There are some tight sections, and some open, flowing sections. It’s a track that’s just relentless.
- - Coleen Kehoe
The top of The Monkey is at an elevation of about 380 metres, and the finish line is at about 70 metres.
She said elite riders such as Morisset’s Jack Moir would look to complete the track in about 3 minutes 30 seconds.
Moir, however, won’t be competing at the weekend. He flew to California this week to go into camp with the Intense Factory Racing Team.
His older brother, Bruce, however, is likely to be among the local hopes at Cooranbong.
Other Hunter Mountain Bike Club members who are keen to do well at the event include Pat Butler of Brunkerville, and Josh Clarke, of Kotara, Ms Kehoe said.
About 150 competitors are expected to descend on Cooranbong for the weekend.
The event will feature divisions for elite men and women, juniors in under-19s, under-17s and under-15s, and masters.
Competitors would start to arrive on Thursday, with track walks and practice runs on Friday afternoon from 2 to 6. Saturday will see practice sessions followed by qualifying rounds.
And on Sunday, practice sessions in the morning will give way to finals in the afternoon.
Ms Kehoe said the course was perfect for spectators.
And those who have never witnessed elite downhill racing up close always marvel at the speed, daring and skills of the riders, she said.
Entry to the event is free for spectators.
Entry is off Freemans Drive, Cooranbong, via Mount Faulk Road.
Signs will direct visitors to the car park area. There will be catering provided on Saturday and Sunday.
Spectators can take advantage of the shuttle service to the top of the mountain, from where they can walk the track.
“Downhill riding is a very high-adrenaline sport, and at The Monkey its very demanding physically and mentally for the competitors,” she said.
First-time spectators will be impressed by how quickly the top riders negotiate hazards such as the ‘rock garden’, she said.
“Some of the guys go down over the rock garden as if it were flat ground.”
