Ryan ChartrandMountain bike racing enthusiasts in San Luis Obispo will soon have the opportunity to witness some of the best riders in the sport compete in their backyard. The grand finale for the Jeep 48STRAIGHT Mountain Bike Series is rolling in for another year at the Madonna Inn on Friday and Saturday.
“We’ve been to the Madonna Inn for several years now,” said Zane Cochran, spokesperson for Jeep 48STRAIGHT, an Idaho firm that organizes winter and summer sporting events coupled with concerts. “The environment and the great atmosphere have us coming back.”
Top competitors like Greg Minnaer, Kathy Pruitt, Eric Carter and Brian Lopes are among the many that will compete for a split of the $100,000 payout and keys to a new Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The Jeep 48STRAIGHT, coming from two races in New Jersey and Utah, has partnered with ECO-SLO to create a Green Your Scene Eco-Festival, which will offer educational and interactive features aimed at raising environmental consciousness and providing local-level solutions.
“It casts a pretty wide net for somebody just looking for something fun to do on the weekend,” Cochran said. “If they’re only interested in sports, we’ve got that. We’ve got the music, and if they’re interested in environmental awareness, this event offers that as well.”
Many local vendors will also be in attendance to showcase their environmentally friendly innovations.
Competition begins on a course (designed by Carter) at the base of Madonna Mountain at 2:30 p.m. Friday with an open qualifier, time-trail race. The dual slalom race will follow Saturday.
Because the event is not sanctioned by the National Off-road Bicycle Association, an annual license is not required. However, participation in the qualifier is restricted to professional and semi-professional riders, although Cochran said it will be open to athletes from all over California. Amateur riders will also have an opportunity to contend in the hill climb competition.
“This is a great opportunity for amateur athletes to show their stuff,” Cochran said.
Out of the 75 men and 25 women who qualify in the open qualifier, the fastest times will earn entry into the dual slalom championship, where they will compete against the champions from the previous two events. Prizes put up by event sponsors for the taking Saturday will include the keys to a brand-new Jeep and $10,000.
Two free concerts will be part of the festivities, with a noon concert by the Sunshine Brothers. Folk/pop singer Brett Dennen, who Rolling Stone named as one of “10 Artists to Watch” in 2007, will wrap up the event from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Cochran expects a large showing for this year’s event, which he said will cater to different audiences.
“We’re talking about thousands of people coming for the several events – either for the music or to go green,” he said.
Alexis Hiney, expo manager at the Madonna Inn, said that the attendance should be larger than in recent years.
“This is a good location in terms of the weather, population, the facilities available and the age base,” she said. “This is the first year we’ve had the event while Cal Poly is in session, so the college demographic may be higher.”
In addition to other guest giveaways slated for Saturday, Madonna Inn staff will be handing out free tri-tip sandwiches to the first 500 visitors to the expo site.