Each year, Moab mountain bike riders creatively raise money for both the Moab Bike Park and Trail Mix, a local trail advocacy group. This year’s 9th Annual Moab Ho-Down Mountain Bike and Film Festival includes an endurance bike race, parties, films, prizes and more. The festival starts Thursday, Oct. 23, and ends Sunday, Oct. 26.
On the Amasa Back trail system near Kane Creek Boulevard, both men and women will compete Saturday in what’s called the “Enduro” race, starting at 8 a.m. There are two downhill stages of the race, taking place on two different single-track routes ― the Ahab Trail and the Hymasa Trail.
There will be an awards ceremony after the race at Chile Pepper Bike Shop, 702 S. Main St. #2. Then it will be time to dress up for “The Ridiculous Costume Party” held next door to the bike shop at the Moab Brewery, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The person with the best costume will win a “townie bike,” said Chile Pepper Bike Shop owner Tracy Reed.
The four-day event “is a fun, great way to wind down the season and blow off steam,” after working so hard all summer, Reed said. Spectators can watch the race by riding their own bikes up an adjacent trail to the two single-track courses, she said.
The Jump Jam takes place Sunday ― practice is at 1 p.m., with finals at 2 p.m. at the Moab Bike Park on 500 West.
“This is a super fun, excellent spectator event,” said Wendy Palmer, co-owner of Moab Mountain Bike Instruction. “There will be extraordinary tricks.”
Women who are new to mountain biking may want to attend one of the women’s skills camps, scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Two levels are offered: standard ― for any skill level, and enduro ― for those with more experience. The enduro skills camp will emphasize race strategy, and more advanced techniques, Palmer said.
Those who have filmed their mountain biking experiences were invited to submit their short, two to three minute videos for the festival’s “Movie Time,” at 7 p.m., Friday, at Star Hall, 159 E. Center St. The best short film winner will receive a prize.
“Last year’s winner won a Go Pro camera, worth $300 to $400,” Reed said.
The chosen shorts will precede the feature film “Rad Company,” which stars a number of well-known mountain bike riders, including Brandon Semenuk, who competed last month in the Red Bull Rampage near St. George. The film is shot in British Columbia, Fiji and Utah.
“It has great footage of riders, and beautiful scenery,” Reed said. “It’s awe-inspiring.”
Reed said she expects at least 80 riders for the race on Saturday. The race is limited to 100 participants.
“We get people from all over the place,” she said. “The majority signed up are from Colorado, Arizona, Utah and Idaho.”
Group rides, raffles, a Thursday night party at Eddie McStiff’s, and a pump track competition on Sunday are included in the weekend’s festivities.
“It’s a fundraiser,” Palmer said. “All the money (after expenses) goes to the bicycling community in Moab. We raised the money to build the (Moab Bike) park, maintain it, and now expand it. We’re about to build a fun skills area.”
The park includes dirt jumps, a pump track and a small BMX track, Palmer said.
For more information or see a complete schedule of events, visit www.moabhodown.com, or email info@chilebikes.com; or call 435-259-4688. To learn more about the skills class, visit www.mmtbi.com.
Event includes race, bike tricks, films, parties
What: The 9th Annual Moab Ho-Down Mountain Bike and Film Festival
When: Thursday, Oct. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 26
Information: 435-259-4688; www.moabhodown.com; or info@chilebikes.com
Cost: Festival Pass $30: Includes entry into the movies, the “Ridiculous Costume Party,” and the Saturday group shuttle to the lower Porcupine Rim single-track trail
Racers Festival Pass $70: Includes race entry, the movies, and costume party
Enduro race only: $65
Pump Track Competition: $10
Women’s Skills Camps: 2-day is $295; 1-day is $195
Jump Jam: free
Or attend a la carte: Movies: $8 at the door / $6 advance
Ridiculous Costume Party at The Moab Brewery: $5
Saturday Porcupine Group Shuttle: $25
