Bone-dry conditions meant the 375m vertical drop track was torn up following the previous day's practice runs, providing a challenge to the bikers and entertainment to hundreds of spectators.
Mountain Bike New Zealand events Manager Chris Mildon said the first event on the new track had gone "spectacularly", with those lining the steep, open track "seeing some good action and lots of it.
"It was just amazing - a beautiful view and a really fun course that the riders were loving."
The course conditions resulted in times "pretty much even across all categories" and despite the heavy traffic over the last few days, Mildon said the course held up well.
George Brannigan, of Havelock North, won the men's elite section from Jacob Nation, of Christchurch, with recent world champ junior medallist Matthew Scoles, of Alexandra, showing his class, to finish third.
In the women's elite section, Sarah Atkin, of Lower Hutt, made the most of the challenging conditions, followed by Harriet Latchem, of Queenstown and Veronique Sandler, of Nelson.
Mildon said Mountain Bike New Zealand would "definitely" look to bring events back to the Remarkables course if the land owners were happy with it.
The downhill schedule of 2012 NZ MTB cup competition continues with the second round in Dunedin this Friday and Saturday, with cross-country competition starting on Sunday.
