Oudoor clothing and footwear company Patagonia is head sponsor of this year's event, which was held for the first time last year by Southern Traverse.
Race director Geoff Hunt said it was inspired by a demand for a new and different style of mountain-biking race.
The multi-lap relay mountain bike event takes place on the challenging and scenic Jacks Point course, overlooking Lake Wakatipu.
It involves individuals and teams of two, three or four competing on an 8km course through Jacks Point over eight hours.
Teams can compete in junior, open (men's, women's or mixed) and veteran (men's, open and mixed) sections.
Mr Hunt said one rider per team would ride a lap then tag a team-mate.
Elite riders would complete the lap in about 35 minutes, while recreational competitors averaged 45 minutes, he said.
The track, known as Stragglers Loop, has been developed specifically for the event and incorporates rocky outcrops and even a small gum forest on the northern edge of Jacks Point resort, before returning to the internal trails.
"The course is designed technically to suit recreational bikers.
"It is the same as for last year's inaugural event but there will be no stiles to cross this year," he said.
"Last year there was a great atmosphere around the base, a lot of camaraderie and friendly rivalry.
"We were delighted with the response, and anticipate that there will be a lot more teams this year, now that the word is out there that it is a very different and quite stunning course," he said.
The individual winner of the 2009 8hrs@Jacks was Andrew Ballantyne, of Invercargill, who completed 15 laps, pipping leading Queenstown multisporter Jim Hawkridge to take the title.
The 8hrs@Jacks will help promote the work of the Wakatipu Trails Trust in developing trails in the district.
