Natural Selection Tour (NST) Bike Aotearoa, previously named Proving Grounds, will be held at Arthurs Point’s Mt Dewar on February 15 and will feature about 30 of the world’s top mountainbikers, including a host of homegrown heroes.
The competition will feature men’s and women’s divisions and will combine downhill, slopestyle and freeride on new trails and will be broadcast "as live" on Red Bull TV.
There will also be a Dream Ticket qualifier at Fernhill’s Dream Track on February 8-9 giving local talent the chance to nab four spots at the main event.
Riders are judged on creativity, risk, execution, difficulty and overall impression.
The first event was to have been held last February, but delays processing the resource consent application to build the new trails meant it had to be postponed.
Construction of the trails is due to start on November 4.
New Zealand’s top freeride mountainbiker, Robin Goomes, a part-time Queenstowner who won the prestigious Red Bull Rampage in the United States earlier this month, is thrilled the competition is coming to New Zealand.
"There is such a sick mountainbike scene here and everyone’s going to be fizzed to get amongst it.
"There are already so many talented young riders in New Zealand, and I think having this on their doorstep is just going to push them to the next level."
Event director Sophie Luther said NST Bike Aotearoa would provide a "fantastic opportunity" for homegrown riders to shine on an international stage, and compete against the world’s best.
"NST Bike will also bring their heroes to Queenstown and give everyone a chance to see the best riders in the world ... "
Luther said the Dream Ticket event would be free to watch, while tickets for the main event would be released at the end of this month through Flicket.
Commercial director Ed Leigh said a key feature of NST Bike Aotearoa was its pioneering approach to sustainability. It will be the country’s leading ultra-low-emission sporting event.
It will be powered by a battery storage unit, charged at a local hydro-electric facility, and produce zero landfill waste.
"Everything we do, from the energy we use ... to our commitments to regenerative planting, or our waste management practices and transport solutions, reflects our commitment to sustainability.
"Our goal isn’t just to host an amazing competition, but to set a global benchmark for low-impact events."
NST Bike Aotearoa is part of the Natural Selection Tour, the brainchild of pro snowboarder Travis Rice, which is expanding from its snowboarding roots to include mountainbiking, surfing and skiing.
