Peaty's Steel City Downhill

Sheffield’s own multiple world cup downhill champion Steve Peat is helping to organize the cities first official Mini Downhill race, the inaugural Steel City series event.
Steve Peat in association with the Wildlife Trust and ThisiSheffield, are proud to present Sheffield’s very own Mini Downhill race, the inaugural Steel City Series event.

The Greno Woodland appeal is an on-going fund raising campaign, where the local community is attempting to raise £1 million to buy the forest back, www.grenowoods.com. This would secure the woodlands use and maintenance for years to come, with Mountain Biking being one of the many activities in mind. All profits from the race will go directly to the Wildlife Trusts appeal.

It’s been a long time since the last ‘official’ Downhill race in Steel City, the last one was a National in Greno way back in 1995. This time around riders of all ages and abilities will be able to race in the Mini Downhill format.

The course caters for riders of all abilities from 10 year old rippers through to seasoned Vets. Various line options are available but at speed it will be a challenge to all. The track length is around 1:30, with a dedicated and easy Fire-Road push up back to the start. It suits mid travel trail bikes rather than full on DH rigs. Whatever your reason is for attending the race, be it for the serious competition or just to have the experience of racing Downhill, we’ll make it fun for all. Riders will get two timed runs with the fastest 3 riders in each category receiving a prize. Spectators will be able to see large stretches of the track, so make sure you bring your friends and family along.

Freecaster.tv will be covering the event, producing a full length feature hosted by the inimitable Rob Warner. This will include coverage of the whole track, top ten race runs with commentary, interviews, helmet and cable cameras… and a Course Walk with Rob himself.

The details are as followed:

- Date: March 5th 2011

-Categories:

o Ripper Age 10-11 £10
o Juvenile Age 12-14 £10
o Youth Age 15-16 £15
o Junior Age 17-18 £15
o Senior Age 19-29 £20
o Master Age 30-39 £20
o Veteran Age 40+ £20
o Pro-Am Open £20
o Ladies All ages £15

Online pre entry via activeglobal.com

-Timetable:

o Registration 8:30 - 10:30
o Practice 9:00-12:00
o Race 12:30
o Prizes and presentations 3-3:30

-On Site Medical cover, catering, toilets and car parking available

-Royal, Sram, 18 bikes, Cotic, The Bike Tree, O’Neal, Polaris, Five Ten, Chromag, Smartwool, Monster, Arcteryx and many more.

-Professional timing for the race will be provided by the MIJ team. The same guys that provide you with the fantastic MIJ Welsh downhill series (http://www.mijdownhillevents.co.uk/)



You can check out a GPS map of the track, which has some more info on the drop/length of the course here.

A general location map of the event can be found here.

You can register for the race here.

Along side the race we’re teaming up with SHAFF, Sheffield’s adventure film festival at The Showroom Cinema. On the evening of the race we urge you to follow us into town for an exclusive Alex Rankin film “Progression”.

The film montage will take us from the early days of Sprung, all the way up to the latest Earthed release, showing how things in the sport of Downhill have taken a radical step in the last decade. The film will be followed by a Q&A interview session with Steve Peat. Ticket information is TBC, but information can be found at www.shaff.co.uk and keep an eye out on the usual social networks and www.ThisiSheffield.co.uk


Film Contest

Calling all budding film makers… Freecaster.tv is hosting a contest during the event to uncover new talent!

The challenge is to film and produce a one and a half minute edit of the race, to be aired in the Showroom Bar later that day (after Alex Rankin’s “Progression” screening). Videos must be submitted by 8:30pm, and will be judged by a panel including Alex Rankin, Freecaster, Rob Warner and Steve Peat himself.

The winner of the Film Contest will get an all expenses paid trip to the Fort William World Cup to join the Freecaster Crew and experience life as a professional cameraman for the weekend! All the best submissions will be featured on the Freecaster.tv website.


Photo Contest

If you prefer to be behind the lens of a photo camera, there will be photo contest alongside the race which is another chance to make your own mark on the festival. The challenge is to capture a series of 3 images which you think capture the spirit of the event. All submissions must reach us by 8:30pm the same day and will be exhibited in the Showroom Bar for judging.

The winner of the photo contest will receive an Arcteryx jacket for those cold days on the hill. All the best submissions will be featured on Steve Peat’s Website.