The 7th edition of the avalanche
Big Ride Manzaneda, organized by
Sherpa Project, was held this past September in Manzaneda Bike Park, in northern Spain.
As many of you know, competitions like "avalanches" consist of a big downhill race with a massive start of all the bikers together. On this kind of track we can find long dh sections of more than twenty minutes, where you can also have to pedal and even do small uphills. Therefore, most of the bikes used there are "all mountain", "enduro" and "freeride" bikes. Still, it can be done with a DH bike too.
Check the video with the Bike Support team at the Big Ride Manzaneda:
The Big Ride Manzaneda takes place for a whole weekend, where on Friday the track can be walked and inspected, on Saturday is the qualifying round to set the starting order for the two races on Sunday. The winner is determined by the order of your finishing timel, adding both races together for an overall time on Sunday. This year José Antonio Diez Arriola was the clear winner of the whole weekend.
The Big Ride Manzaneda 2011 had more than 1000 meters of descent, starting from the top of the Bike Park at 1800 meters and reaching the main square of the City Council of Manzaneda to 800 meters.
The guys from Transition bikes, on their way back from Eurobike didn't want to miss the opportunity to participate in their first avalanche. They had a great time and have promised that next year they would return. I was there with Bike Support team and this is what we lived for the entire weekend with Fernando Marcos, Pablo Gonzalez Wittig, Gonzalo Corrales and Javier Guerrero.
We stop to eat a healthy meal before we go on the road.
Kevin Menard , Kyle Young and Sam Burkhardt with a natural posing after the race at Manzaneda Bike Park
Fernando Marcos couldn't even finish his first training run due to a silly but painfull crash
I had time to shoot and ride the new Bandit 29er. Javi Molina from XMS Imports on the photo.
Ask yourself twice before going on the road with these guys...
Arriola was the clear winner during all the weekend
Transition/XMS Imports and Bike Support team at the podium
Sam Burkhard and Kevin Menard shredding at Manzaneda Bike Park
Sam Burkhard testing the new 29er prototype
Happy faces at the finish line at Manzaneda village
Javier Guerrero broke his shoulder blade in the qualifying heats
The spanish "padron" peppers, they loved it
Hope you like the post, and we want you to be a "Big Rider" the next year!
Text, photos and video by Juan Angel Triguero -
www.freedreams.net More info:
www.bigridechampionship.com
