Presented by Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBoSC) and FOX, the 4th annual Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival will take place on April 13-14, 2013 (the weekend before the Sea Otter Classic in nearby Monterey) at the Barry Swenson Builder property (Aptos Pump Track and Post Office Jumps) in Aptos Village, California from 9am-7pm Saturday and 9am-4pm Sunday. Admittance to the Expo Area is free.
The festival, which was created to celebrate the world class mountain bike facilities, riders, and cycling industry of Santa Cruz county, continues to grow year after year with the generous support of its sponsors, volunteers, and community. In just its third year, the 2012 event boasted a 50% increase in attendance and athlete participation over the previous year, attracting over 6,000 spectators, 200 amateur and professional athletes, 200 kids’ rodeo participants, 70 sponsors, and 150 volunteers. The festival’s success testifies to the depth of the mountain bike culture in Santa Cruz county.
Mark Jordan, title sponsor FOX’s Global Communications Manager, affirms “The Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival takes everything that is great about the local mountain bike scene and brings it all together in one place. From families to amateurs and pros, the festival has something for everyone. We are happy to be a part of it.”
The festival features a variety of events that represent cycling in Santa Cruz county:
PLUS Kat Sweet brings SUGAR SHOWDOWN to the Aptos Post Office Jumps! Coached by Tammy Donahugh, Lisa Tharp, Gale Dahlager & Cortney Knudson.
FAMILY AND SPECTATOR FRIENDLY The Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival offers many other activities in addition to competitive events and skills clinics. Bike aficionados can visit industry exhibitors, test ride demo bikes from some of the leading bike manufacturers on the planet, and take a shuttle to the top of Soquel Demonstration Forest. Buy or maybe even win some of the mountain bike gear offered by festival sponsors. Kids aged 3-12 can try their skills at the Shimano Kids’ Rodeo, tackling obstacles in a challenging and support environment. Riders can test their limits on the Sombrio Portable Pump Track. Spectators and participants alike can enjoy refreshments offered at the festival’s renowned food court & beer garden. And don’t miss the Saturday After-Party featuring live music from WhoGas!
The mission of the festival is to celebrate mountain biking in Santa Cruz county by bringing cycling enthusiasts together to participate in and spectate competitive and recreational mountain bike events, promoting the world class mountain biking facilities and riders of Santa Cruz county while bringing the local community together and advocating for an active outdoor lifestyle. Through the Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival, MBoSC—a 501(c)3 non-profit organization—has raised over $25,000 to support bike projects in Santa Cruz county.