The Rotorua Giant 2W Gravity Enduro’s are events for everyone young to old, who loves riding their Mountain bikes down-hill. They draw in the riders who seek to have fun and hone their skills on flowing downhill trails. The beauty of these events is that the podium places are fort out by anyone – from the more laid back social weekend warrior, to cross-country machine, passionate Enduro rider, or mad downhill rider. Skills, fitness and tactics play an equal role in the execution of each ‘Race Stage’ timed run over the course of the event to decide who will be crowned Gravity Enduro champions. In addition to the age division place getters, we recognise overall winners and run a handicap to determine the most improved male and female rider (amongst the six stage categories) from race to race.

Encouraging riders to develop their fitness and skills through the season, each event will get progressively a little harder (fitness and skill wise), gradually challenging riders so by the end of the season they are in the best riding form of their lives.

The October Giant 2W Gravity Enduro is run from the Holiday Inn on the outskirts of Whakarewarewa Geothermal Village. It will start and finish under a big gantry on the Waka Lawn right in the heart hotel complex. Riders will roll out in groups of four every 15 seconds. Journeying out and back via a short 1km marked off-road route around the edge of the Whakarewarewa geothermal wonderland; riders will reach and experience the world renowned Whakarewarewa Forest containing a network of some of the best purpose built mountain bike trails anywhere in the world.

The new December Giant 2W Gravity Enduro is set to be run from Mountain Bike Rotorua (MTBR) base HQ, at the Waipa Mtb Car Park right at the entrance to Whakarewarewa Forest and the trail network. It will start and finish under a big gantry right in front of MTBR. Riders will roll out in groups of four every 15 seconds. Journeying no more than 100m over perhaps the most rider functional toilet/shower block in the country; riders will ride straight into the world renowned Whakarewarewa Forest containing a network of some of the best purpose built mountain bike trails anywhere in the world.

The February Giant 2W Gravity Enduro is one of the biggest events in the 10 day long Rotorua Bike Festival. It will start and finish under a big gantry on the Blue Lake Reserve, just metres from the refreshing waters of Tikitapu . Rolling out in groups of four every 15 seconds, riders can split and take one of two entirely off road routes straight into the world renowned Whakarewarewa Forest containing a network of some of the best purpose built mountain bike trails anywhere in the world.

Provided with a map, inside the forest riders select their own route to complete (in any order) either four or six special ‘Race Stages’.  These are electronically timed runs of roughly 3–20min duration on specific marked linked trails.

On what are commonly known as un-timed transitions, riders may cycle, push their bikes or catch dedicated event shuttle bus transport to the top of hills where the Race Stage starts are located.

There will be a ‘Feed Station’ and ‘Technical Zone’ in a convenient location in the heart of the forest for riders to refuel, plus get assistance with any mechanical repairs required.

But keep an eye on your watch because you will be given a set time (somewhere between 4hrs–6hrs, depending on the event category entered) to complete the special Race Stages and return back to the finish before you begin to accumulate a time penalty (6 seconds per minute you are late).

A carnival atmosphere with great beer, food and music will greet riders at the finish. There is also an enormous bounty of prizes and cash to be given away.

Division podium place-getters will be those riders with the lowest accumulative special Race Stage times, plus any time penalty for late return to the finish.