Mountain biking in Australia#New South Wales
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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox sport governing body
|name = Mountain Biking Australia Limited
|abbrev = MTBA
|logo =
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|sport = Mountain Biking
|category = Lifestyle activity
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|jurisdiction = Australia
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|headquarters = Varsity Lakes, Queensland
|location =
|president =
|chairman =
|chairperson =
|chair =
|chiefexec = Shane Coppin
|vicepresident =
|director =
|secretary =
|coach =
|womenscoach =
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|url = https://www.mtba.org.au/
|countryflag = Australia
}}
Mountain biking in Australia is a mix of dedicated mountain bike parks, ski resorts with mountain bike facilities, and other parks that have become popular with mountain bikers despite lacking dedicated facilities. The peak body for the sport is Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA).{{cite web | url=http://www.mtba.asn.au/about | title=AusCycling | Home Page }}
Facilities
= Australian Capital Territory =
File:MTB downhill 21 Stevage.jpg's downhill track, during the 2009 UCI World Mountain Bike Championships.]]
Mount Stromlo Forest Park has international standard tracks including a downhill track, 60 kilometres of cross-country, four-cross track, and a dedicated mountain bike trials course. There is also a testing track known as "the playground" for training and testing demonstration bikes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stromloforestpark.com.au/mtb/|title = Home|date = 3 November 2021}}
- Sparrow Hill, part of Kowen Pine Forest, 11 km from Queanbeyan on the Kings Highway, and 25 minutes from Canberra CBD, has 50 km of world-class cross-country tracks renowned for being fast and flowing, popular with beginner and elite alike. All tracks are named and maintained, and clear signage offers numerous routes of varying length.[https://archive.today/20141022135452/http://sparrowhill.info/ Sparrow Hill website]
=New South Wales=
- Manly Dam, Sydney{{cite web|title=The Northern Beaches Mountain Biking Group|url=http://nobmob.com/rides/manlydam|publisher=Northern Beaches MTB}}
- Thredbo{{cite web|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/thredbo-boasts-australias-longest-downhill-mountain-bike-trail-with-extension-opening-20170406-gvfinl.html |title=Thredbo boasts Australia's longest downhill mountain bike trail |date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Canberra Times|access-date=March 12, 2018}}
- Oaks Fire Trail, Blue Mountains
- Hunter Valley
=Tasmania=
Tasmania has a strong mountain biking culture{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-11/national-mountain-bike-championships-tasmanian-course-praised/7314942|title=Tasmanian mountain bike course praised after hosting national championships|first=Sallese|last=Gibson|date=April 11, 2016|website=ABC News}} with a large network of tracks around the state including the world class Blue Derby{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-26/mountain-bike-trails-driving-major-change-in-derby/9276384|title=What happens when a rural town becomes the mountain bike capital of Australia?|first=Felicity|last=Ogilvie|date=December 26, 2017|website=ABC News}} which hosted the {{ill|Enduro World Series|de}} in 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-08/thousands-flock-to-derby-for-world-enduro-mtb-event/8427662|title=Mountain bikers flock to Tasmania's 'super sick' Blue Derby trail|first=Aneeta|last=Bhole|date=April 8, 2017|website=ABC News}}{{cite web |url=http://www.enduroworldseries.com/2017-event-calendar/ |title=Enduro World Series {{!}} 2017 Event Calendar |website=www.enduroworldseries.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217033739/http://www.enduroworldseries.com/2017-event-calendar |archive-date=2017-02-17}} Hollybank, Wellington Park and Trevallyn are other popular mountain biking areas.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtbiking.com.au/destinations/mountain-biking-in-hollybank-and-derby-tasmania|title=Mountain Biking in Hollybank and Derby Tasmania - Mountain Biking Australia magazine|website=www.mtbiking.com.au}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wellingtonpark.org.au/bikes/|title=Bike riding|website=Wellington Park, Hobart Tasmania}}{{cite web |url=http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/indeX.aspX?base=36516 |title=Parks & Wildlife Service - Tracks and Trails |website=www.parks.tas.gov.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318130028/http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/Index.aspx?base=36516 |archive-date=2016-03-18}}
=Victoria=
Since the early 2000s, investment in mountain biking facilities has produced a number of areas of high quality trails. The 2006 Commonwealth Games in particular caused the creation of the Lysterfield Park mountain bike network, including the 6.4 kilometre race circuit. Nearly 60 mountain biking clubs are registered with Mountain Bike Australia. The trail network at Mount Buller is one of only three "IMBA Ride Centers" outside the US designated by the International Mountain Biking Association.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtbuller.com.au/Detail/Summer/Mountain2/Latest-News2/322|title = Mt Buller}}{{cite web |url=http://www.imba.com/ride-centers/current |title=Current Ride Centers | International Mountain Bicycling Association |accessdate=2013-07-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214094008/http://www.imba.com/ride-centers/current |archivedate=2012-12-14 }}
Parks Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) have assisted with the creation of trail networks in recent years, such as at Forrest and Lysterfield Park. In 2012, Parks supported the creation of a downhill trail in Kinglake National Park, the first mountain bike trail in a Victorian national park. The trail, Shepherds, follows an existing powerline easement to minimise environmental damage.{{cite web |url=http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/kinglake-national-park/things-to-do/bowden-spur-mountain-bike-area |title=Parks Victoria - Bowden Spur Mountain Bike Area |website=parkweb.vic.gov.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116050821/http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/kinglake-national-park/things-to-do/bowden-spur-mountain-bike-area |archive-date=2013-01-16}}
From the mid-2000s, a large number of tracks began to be constructed, with support from government agencies, local councils and tourism bodies. Reasons for the growth included the need to replace shrinking or displaced industries (as with the timber industry at Forrest), the need to supplement short ski seasons (as at all the ski resorts except Mount Hotham), the desire to attract more visitors to the national parks (as with Kinglake) and the need for facilities to support a growing sport (as with Lysterfield Park).
Formal trail networks:
Other important mountain biking areas include:
;Great Dividing Trail:This 280 km hiking trail has several sections which are popular with mountain bikers, especially between Daylesford and Castlemaine.
;Wombat State Forest:Site of the annual 100 kilometre endurance event, the Wombat 100.
;Avoca:Site of the annual Marathon Challenge.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bighillevents.com.au/marathon_challenge/Challenge_home.html|title=2013 Marathon Challenge - Mountain Bike Event Avoca, Victoria, Australia 2013|accessdate=12 April 2024}}
==External links==
- [http://www.bancoora.com Bancoora website] extensive list of locations with photos and videos of a lot of Victorian trails.
- [http://www.trailmate.com.au/home/vic Trailmate] list of locations.
- [http://www.mountainbikevictoria.com/ ทางเข้าib888สล็อตออนไลน์ สล็อตเว็บตรง เล่นง่ายๆ รับโบนัสฟรี] Independent commercial organisation providing a relatively comprehensive list of competition events run by clubs and private promoters.
- [http://www.trailforks.com/region/australia/ Trailforks] list of trails & locations across Australia.
Competitions
Major races and other competitions include:
- Wombat 100 - 100 kilometre singletrack/firetrail course held near Woodend each year.
- Marathon Challenge
- Mountain bike orienteering events run by Orienteering Victoria{{Cite web|url=https://www.vicorienteering.asn.au/go-orienteering/mountain-bike-orienteering/|title=Mountain Bike Orienteering | Orienteering Victoria|website=www.vicorienteering.asn.au|accessdate=12 April 2024}}
- Otway Odyssey - 100 kilometre held at Forrest.
- Granite Grind - 4 hour enduro event held at Lake Mountain.{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/site/murrindindicycleclub/granite-grind |title=Granite Grind 24 Feb 2013 - Murrindindi Cycle Club |website=sites.google.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407123251/https://sites.google.com/site/murrindindicycleclub/granite-grind |archive-date=2013-04-07}}
- Bike Buller - a 'festival' of events at Mt Buller.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rapidascent.com.au/bikebuller/|title = Welcome to Rapid Ascent}}
- Convict 100 - 100 kilometer held in St Albans, New South Wales
- Cape to Cape - Multi Day Endurance ride in Western Australia
Athletes
File:MTB downhill 18 Stevage.jpg
Successful Australian mountain bikers include:
- Cadel Evans: competed at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics before switching to road cycling.
- Nathan Rennie: downhill
- Sam Hill: downhill
- Bryn Atkinson: downhill
- Jared Rando: Four-cross and downhill
- Trent Lowe: cross country, switched to road cycling.
- Jared Graves: 2009 Four-cross World Champion
- Caroline Buchanan: 2009, 2010, 2013 Four-cross World Champion; 2013 BMX World Champion. 2013 Australian Cyclist of the Year.