Ten Reasons Why You Need to do The Pisgah Stage Race

Photos by Icon Media Asheville courtesy of Blue Ridge Adventures

1. It’s World Class
I've been able to race this awesome event 5 times in the last 7 years. The Pisgah Stage Race has been carefully refined year after year. All the hot trails in Pisgah are featured, and each day contains almost 75% single track. Professional chip timing and electronically scanned Enduro segments yield accurate and worry free results. Each evening, a gourmet catered dinner is complimented by a professionally produced video featuring race action from that same day. There’s also a professional photographer capturing all the action. You’ll be sure to find a great photo of yourself to make all your friends jealous. Blue Ridge Adventures has continuously improved this event over the past 7 years and the finished product shows it. Racers come from all over the US and the World to participate. I’ve raced in this event with folks from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, the Caribbean, and all corners of the US.


2. It’s Bad Ass
That’s right, bad ass! The easiest way to put it is… well let's just say that where you’re from there is a beginner, an intermediate, and an expert trail... a green, a blue, and a black diamond. You need to step that up when you come to Pisgah. The riding is physical… it’s raw. Rocks, roots, repeat.




3. Oskar Blues
When you have a headline sponsor like Oskar Blues, you know it’s going to be a great event. What’s a great mountain bike race without great beer, right? Well no need to worry because Oskar Blues has you covered with the best beer, brewed right in town in Brevard. You can crush a stage, and then stop by the brewery and see and taste first-hand how great beer is crafted.


4. Location, Location, Location
The town of Brevard N.C. is the primary staging point for the Pisgah Stage Race, and it’s in the heart of the Pisgah Mountains. Each stage starts and finished very close to town, so you don’t have to worry about transferring from town to town with each stage. Brevard is a tourist attraction in its own right and is popular for many family and adventure vacations. Transylvania County surrounds Brevard and contains much of the Pisgah Forest. The county is known as the “Land of the Waterfalls” with over 250 places where water cascades over the unique geography of the region. Nearby Dupont State Forest has an amazing network of well groomed trails as well as some spectacular waterfalls. Asheville N.C. is close by and boasts a vibrant arts scene and plenty of historic architecture. You won’t have any shortage of activities to fill your spare time and all these opportunities make for great adventure for your family to enjoy as well.



Video stills by Land of Sky Media courtesy of Blue Ridge Adventures


5. Enduro
Would you rather focus on shredding the downhills? You will love the Enduro sections! Think you can win your stage category and take the Enduro segment? Why not, there’s some serious talent that shows up for this race. Throw your hat in the ring. Each stage features a chip timed Enduro section.


6. Kick Ass / Kick Start
Anyone who has done a stage race will tell you that by the end of it, you're usually rolling stronger than you started. Plus, training for a stage race in the Spring is going to help turbo charge your summer season. The Pisgah Stage Race will kick start you out of the winter cold and set you up for a kick ass season.


7. Beast Mode!
Riding in Pisgah is demanding and raw. Completing the Pisgah Stage Race will turn you into a brawler and leave you with the Pisgah Tattoo. Race in Pisgah for a week and you’ll return home a prize fighter ready to rage on all the trails you used to think were hard. You might come to the race as an animal, but you’ll leave as a beast.


8. Old School meets High Class
Just because you are racing in the oldest mountains on the planet, with some of the gnarliest trails on the East Coast, don’t expect the event to be old school. The Pisgah Stage Race is a modern, high class and high tech event. Blue Ridge Adventures has been continuously improving and refining the event every year. A constant evolution of course design, catering, post ride events and activities, ensures you can focus on one thing, having the best damn time possible enjoying all that Pisgah has to offer.


9. Family
The Pisgah Stage Race really is a family affair. You’ll race together, dine together, and share in the challenges and triumphs. Blue Ridge Adventures becomes your extended family for the week and will absolutely make sure you have a good time. Every day you’ll get to know the friendly staff and folks out there on the course making sure you stay on track, that your well stocked, and of course having fun. Even if you come to the Pisgah Stage Race without knowing anyone, I guarantee you’ll leave with a lot of new friends.


10. Your Adventure is waiting!
Over the years, I’ve participated in lots of racing and riding events. From the local cross country circuit to bigger adventures such as the BC Bike Race and many hundreds of miles in the NUE series. But there’s something about Pisgah that always calls me back. Out of all the places I’ve raced, and all the events I’ve been fortunate enough to participate it, the Pisgah Stage Race is at the top of the list. Every time I’ve been able to race it, I’ve always come away with new stories of adventure, new friends, and memories I’ll carry throughout the rest of the year. Oh yeah, and… I come out a beast.


Sign up for the Pisgah Stage Race.