Race Report: 2023 Cannonball MTB Festival Kicks off at Thredbo MTB Park

Words: Thredbo

Thredbo's 2023 Cannonball MTB Festival presented by Boost officially kicked off on Monday February 13 with a non-stop week of mountain bike racing, live music & good times running through to this Saturday February 18.

There are over 900 riders registered to race this week & over 3000 spectators are expected to come and get amongst it.


Day One: Practice

On Monday, riders descended on Thredbo MTB Park to get in some practice for their races this week, testing out the courses & picking their lines.


Day Two: A Test Of Stamina In The Osprey All-Mountain Assault

The first races for Cannonball 2023 kicked off on Tuesday with competitors putting their stamina to the test in the Osprey All Mountain Assault.


In the Pro Men’s Division, Tim Eaton took home the win with an impressive time of 6:31, with Josh Arcus winning silver and Duke Millington winning bronze.


Harriet Harnden was the winner in the Pro Women’s category, with Zoe Cuthbert and Jess Hoskin hot on her heels in second and third.


For the full results of the Osprey All Mountain Assault, please click here.


Day Three: Double Wins, Pure Gravity Racing & Good Vibes at the Fox Flow Motion Cup

Day 3 of the Cannonball MTB Festival presented by Boost Mobile saw some of the country’s best riders take on the Kosciuszko Flow Trail for the Fox Flow Motion Cup.


The National Championship titles have been integrated with the Cannonball MTB Festival events for the first time ever so it’s safe to say the stakes are high for this year’s Cannonball riders competing for two titles in one race.


The Fox Flow Motion Cup event saw Tim Eaton and Harriet Harnden become National Champions and take out their second wins in the Pro Divisions, making that two out of two events that they have both entered and won this week. For the full event results, please click here.


As well as the racing, yesterday was also the official practice for the highly-anticipated Oakley Australian Open Downhill event on Saturday, set to be a super-heated race with some heavy-hitting national and international riders in the mix including but not limited to Sam Hill, Camille Balanche, Jackson Goldstone, Nina Hoffman, Laurie Greenland, Sian A'Hern, Josh Arcus, Tim Eaton, Jackson Frew and Benoit Coulanges.


Cannonball 2023: What's Coming Up

Day 4 today will see the Rockshox Pump Track Challenge will take over the village and the final Fox Flow Motion Cup races keep running on the mountain. With daily live music, entertainment, and activations, the good vibes are rolling every day of the festival, wrapping up with the Cannonball Closing Party featuring a live DJ set from North East Party House on Saturday, February 18.

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