Maxxis Gravity Series Schedule 2017

For many years now Maxxis Tires has been sponsoring, supporting, and enabling downhill racing around the globe. No place has this been more evident than along the eastern United States where the Maxxis Gravity Series (formerly the Maxxis Gravity East Series) kicks off its 10th consecutive year of downhill excitement in 2017. Primarily operated from Vermont to North Carolina over the past 10 years this series has been and continues to be an opportunity for racers of all ages and experience levels to revel in the excitement of downhill racing and to hone the necessary skills and race craft to take their game to the next level. No matter if rider aspirations are of US and National titles, World Cup ambitions or just weekend glory the opportunity continues to be there thanks to the support of Maxxis Tires.

With an alumni list that reads like a who’s who of US gravity racing, it’s easy to see the pedigree that’s associated with the Maxxis Gravity Series. Here are just a few former series racers:

2016 Enduro World Series Champion: Richie Rude

Former US National Downhill Champion, Jr world Silver Medalist, and World Cup veteran: Neko Mulally

Masters World Champion and Red Bull Rampage competitor: Lars Tribus

2016 World Cup Top 10 racer: Luca Shaw

Thanks again to the kind stewardship of Maxxis tires we bring you the…

2017 Maxxis Gravity Series schedule:

Round 1 - Massanutten Yee Ha

April 29th-30th


The 2017 Maxxis series kicks off with a rider favorite and historic venue in McGaheysville, Viginia at Massanutten Resort & Bike Park. Formerly the 1997 World Cup Venue this site is now a full-service destination bike park in addition to a beautiful and well-appointed resort that boasts an indoor waterpark and many other amenities. The top of Chair Six will get you close to the start and then riders will work their way over to the scenic view afforded by the rocky ridge of the historic start ramp area overlooking the Harrisonburg valley. It’s there where you will find your early lines through some of the most recognizable rock slabs in North American Downhill. Chair six is fitted with rear mounted trays to get bikes & riders to the top.

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Round 2 - Duryea Downhill
May 6th-7th


Just a week after round one we will travel to Reading Pennsylvania for the annual epic Duryea Downhill. This epic race has often been considered an urban downhill as it’s finish is in a park within City limits. It often features staircases, manmade jumps, a well-known pro/expert road gap, and an iconic Pagoda. (That’s right, a Japanese Pagota) on the mountain with a course starting atop the Mt Penn ridgeline above the city and ending at the city park bandshell. This course contains a bit of everything as you may well imagine. Technical rock gardens, flow, high speed sections, The works! Racers here are often competing against Neko Mulally literally in his original back yard playground. Riders here are shuttled to the top of their runs in frequently departing moving trucks.

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Round 3 - Bryce Bike Park
June 3rd-4th


This relatively new bike park on the gravity scene has quickly become a huge hit with area gravity riders thanks to its flowy lines and fun features designed and often sculpted by the masters of Gravity Logic. This place has made a huge commitment to gravity riders and has an excellent stable of bikes. This event will mark the first time the Maxxis Series will contest a race round at Bryce in Basye, Virginia. The onsite restaurant and bar is friendly and welcoming and often has local microbreweries on taps or onsite. For non-riders, there’s ziplining and golf on site also. The highly effective tray systems mounted to the chairlift offer a great way to the top for riders & bikes.

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Round 4 - Wisp Resort

July 15th -16th


With a long history of supporting gravity riding and racing in western Maryland this venerable gem above the Deep Creek lake in McHenry, Maryland will host our fourth round. Local amenities like a mountain coaster, lake access, ziplining, plenty of restaurants and bars means your non-riding counterparts will be happy to tag along for the weekend. Area racers are not strangers to this venue which has held many events in the past and boasts a dual slalom course that will host a Mid-Atlantic Cup Saturday DS event in addition to the Maxxis Series DH event on Sunday. Chair lift service with bike hangers is provided for racers. Auxiliary shuttle service may also be available at peak usage.

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Round 5 - Blue Mountain Bike Park
August 5th-6th

The passion for Downhill riding and racing surrounds you at Blue Mountain Bike Park, Palmerton, PA. The stable and crew here is excellent. It’s a full sized Pennsylvania mountain with full sized terrain and features to boot. You’ll experience a lot of variety here from rocky & rooty to gritty and loose to often flowy and sometimes greasy. As they say in the alpine world “variable conditions exist”. Here you get an opportunity to try them all and sometimes in one run. After the riding, there’s a spectacular lodge on the hill with great vistas, evening fire pits and great food and drink. There’s always a full calendar of racing events at Blue and the history of great racing continues. This year we’ll see a Saturday Mid-Atlantic Cup DS event in addition to the Maxxis Series DH contested on Sunday. Efficient tray systems on the chair lift are used to take riders and bikes to the top.

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Round 6 Timberline Resort, WV - Finals
August 26th-27th


With over 1,000 ft of vertical, steeps, and dirt that can range from tacky hero to silt under dry conditions, it’s no wonder that riders keep wanting to come here. If you love natural downhill this might just be the place for you. There’s just enough rocks and roots here to make it technical enough and we like to get a bit of that in front of you straight away. Once through those bits, it’s between you and your brake rotors and some great high speed single-track. The vertical just seems to keep coming and with it the speed that it affords. It’s a rider’s mountain. Not showy or cruise ship like this venue has a welcoming and relaxed if not rustic West Virginia flavor in the Canaan Valley with arguably some of the world’s best and largest burritos nearby and a friendly and convenient bar & restaurant on site. There’s camping available on the slopes in addition to many vacation rental properties, some hotel rooms, and inexpensive bunkhouse options. Chairlift is used to transport riders and bikes.



With seventeen categories and six venues to compete at the 2017 Maxxis Gravity Series is downhill for all!

Founded in 1967, Maxxis Tires is one of the most trusted tire brands in the world. Maxxis delivers high-quality, performance focused tire products to customers in 180 countries.

Pedigree and Maxxis Tires... Let’s not forget that the GOAT (Greatest of all time: 3-Time World Champion with 69 World cup podiums): Greg Minnaar rides on Maxxis Tires as does the 2016 World Champion Danny Hart. As well as 2016, Olympic Gold Medalist Nino Schurter. Enough said!

With that, I would like to thank Maxxis Tires for their commitment to the sport and the superior products and support provided to further ensure the continued growth and enjoyment of mountain bike racing.

For more detail and up-to-date series info please visit Maxxisgravityseries.com

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