Australia’s largest private mountain bike events promoter Rocky Trail Entertainment has set its targets on the beautiful East Gippsland village of Omeo with its brand-new MTB pump and skills track. Known as a place of “proud cattlemen, rich farmland and magnificent mountain views”, the Omeo region has also been establishing itself with cyclists who are in search of outdoor adventures on two wheels.
The Omeo Pump Track Shootout race on 19 March 2022 is set to draw some of Australia’s most successful gravity mountain bike riders to town. Multiple BMX World Champion Caroline Buchanan will attend the race. The multiple National and World Championship finalist Jayce Cunning and gravity elite racer Ryan Gilchrist will not only compete but will also offer the unique opportunity to join them for skills sessions ahead of the main event.
The Omeo mountain bike trails construction has been announced to go ahead in 2022 and the quaint village in East Gippsland has already put itself on the map for mountain bikers with its new world-class pump and skills track. The venue has been testing beginners and experts alike and will host the show-race put on by Rocky Trail Entertainment on 19 March 2022 featuring some of Australia’s top gravity elites. The revolutionary new chip-based pump track live timing set-up and it is launching into Victoria with the Omeo event.
The local Omeo Business Tourism Association together with East Gippsland Shire Council has been able to attract the Omeo Pump Track Shootout event as part of the Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery grant program (RTBR), an Australian Government bushfire recovery initiative.
East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor, Cr Mark Reeves, said Council is spending $4 million to turn Omeo into an adventure hub and year-round tourism destination – and the Omeo Pump Track Shootout would help put the Alpine town on the map as a cycling town.
“This event will bring a lot of attention to Omeo as a place for families and anyone who loves bikes. The town’s Pump Track and Skills Course offers something for every rider – from beginners right through to the elite-level BMXers we’ll see on March 19.
“And once we’ve rolled out the 121km Omeo Mountain Bike Destination trail network later this year, the town will be one of the nation’s premier destinations for mountain biking, too,” Cr Reeves added.
This project received grant funding from the Australian Government
“At this event, local and visiting riders will be able to meet the pro racers, pick up skills from them and then compete against them – a perfect opportunity for spectators to watch the action, especially the finals under lights in the evening”, says Rocky Trail’s National Event Manager, Jo Parker. She added that the Omeo pump and skills track was ideal for the event concept because it allowed mountain bikers to ride through endless loops of rollers, jumps and berms on the pump track or practise your jumps and downhill expertise on the skills track. “Both tracks are located walking distance from the main street of town at Livingstone Park, so it’s easy to grab a coffee or a bite to eat and keep riding and racing”, she addded.
Race Director Bob Morris who helped initiate the concept said in Omeo there will be multiple heats to determine the outright male and female winners. “Competitors can race across a wide range of age groups and clock in multiple race times in the qualifying stages. The fastest group of racers in male and female classifications will then progress through the final Shootout Heat, which will be all the more exciting with the four Elites thrown into the mix”, he explained and added that the racers will also compete for rankings across age categories based on their fastest time throughout the day in additional male and female adult and junior age classifications. LIVE timing will be run throughout the event. The organisers expected a deep field of competitors at the pump track race he said.
Race competitors can now register online via the Rocky Trail website. Spectator entry is free and Covid-19 rules will be communicated via the rider briefing ahead of the race. All event participants must check in at the Rocky Trail event hub on race day.
Racing action schedule and information:
- Omeo Pump Track Shootout event portal: https://rockytrailentertainment.com/shootout/omeo/
- Volunteer opportunity is offered, all information can be found on the RT website: https://rockytrailentertainment.com/home/volunteering/
- Local business engagement & support – promote your local business in the free business listing in the Destination Guide by Rocky Trail: https://rockytrailentertainment.com/home/local-business-support/
For more information and to arrange a site-visit this weekend as well as interviews, please contact the Event Manager Jo Parker at Rocky Trail Entertainment on 0424 955 332.
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Photo: OuterImage.com.au | OuterImage.com.au photos may be used free of charge for coverage of this media release or Rocky Trail events only.
Photos: Visit Omeo
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