BMX meets MTB in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Animal, Singlespeed Worlds 2010 (Alan Ofsoski).

New Zealand’s smallest mountain bike club, the Rotorua Singlespeed Society, is back with a first major event since the Single Speed World Champs in 2017.

The Singlespeed Summer Challenge on February is a team relay with a lap of Te Papa o Kauri, the Rotorua BMX Club’s track at Waipa followed by a short course in the world famous, gold status Whakarewarewa Forest mountain bike network.
Te Papa o Kauri will host round one of the UCI BMX World Cup on February 10 and 11.
2024 is a very big year for BMX with the sport featuring at the Olympics in Paris later in the year and tickets are on sale now.

“There’s always been a close relationship between BMX and mountain biking in Rotorua,” says the Society’s Dave Joy. “BMX is a brilliant place to learn bike skills and confidence…and their bikes are singlespeed, as well.”

Since 2008, the Society has organised three national championships, an Anzac championship in 2015, two world champs in 2010 and 2017 and three successful fundraisers.

“Over 2500 people have joined us over the years including a high percentage of international entries,” says Society President, Gary Sullivan from Nzo dirtwear and RideRotorua. “And at the same time the society has raised over $70,000 for a variety of charities and community organisations.”
This includes over $6000 donated to the Rotorua Trails Trust and Rotorua Mountain Bike Club.
“Not bad for a bunch of amateurs,” Sullivan adds with a chuckle.

For the Society, it all starts at the local level.
“Without support from Rotorua Lakes Council events and tourism over the last 15 years none of this would’ve been possible,” says Paul Laing, another cog in the Society’s volunteer brains trust. “A deep bench of local bike, hospitality and tourism businesses are also fundamental to our success.”
The prize swag bag in February is an example of this with the Society’s HQ since 2007, the Pig and Whistle Historic Pub, Secret Spot Hot Tubs, Mountain Bike Rotorua, Timber Trail Lodge and Rotorua based skills and guiding company, New Zealand Mountain Biking already in the mix.

Nduro Events have also been a core part of all the Society’s events since 2008.
“We’re really happy to help wrangle the Summer Challenge,” says Tim Farmer who has also event directed the massively successful Whaka 100 MTB Marathon since 2014.
“Pretty sure this BMX and MTB race combo is a world first.”

The mountain bike course is a work in progress.
However, it will definitely include the notorious stream crossing on the Rosebank Trail that has featured in the Society’s events since the World Champs in 2010.

Video: 2010 Singlespeed World Champs by Gregg Brown, Pig and Whistle.
And all their events since.

Video: 2015 ANZAC Singlespeed Champs by Tak Mutu, Mountain Bike Rotorua, Multi Day Adventures, Crankworx Rotorua.

Colourful costumes are a big part of any singlespeed event.
The winner of the ‘best-dressed’ award at the 2010 Singlespeed World Champs will be returning in February.
“Manamana,” says world-famous Muppet, Animal.
Photo: Roger Whitefield. Red Star Images.

He may not be the only celebrity returning.
"We're hoping Wallace and Gromit, Alien, Aquaman, Astronaut, Julian Dean and more will join us, again,” adds Joy.
Photo: Mead Norton.

www.rotoruasinglespeed.com
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