Trifecta of events over three days
3 February 2014
It's the Rotorua Bike Festival tourism trifecta.
Three events on three consecutive evenings at three of the city's leading tourism venues - all during Rotorua's 10-day annual celebration of cycling.
The Shweeb World Championship is on 19 February. The Shweeb is a unique pedal-powered pod hanging under a monorail on a figure-8 course at Agroventures Adventure Park. The aerodynamic pods swoop and flow over the terrain at up to 50kph, swinging out in the corners for a thrilling ride.
Agroventures' Mary Tolley said the bike festival is growing each year, attracting more visitors.
We're very proud to be involved in such an iconic event. Because the Shweeb is the only one in the world, if someone sets the fastest time, it's a world record and they win $1000.
The following evening, the focus is on a dual slalom race at OGO on Mount Ngongotaha. Organisers describe it as rivalry at its most naked. There are two competitors per heat, side by side, battling it out to the finish line in a downhill, knock-out challenge.
The course was designed and built by a talented group of young Rotorua riders and friends including downhilling brothers, Louis Hamilton and Connor Hamilton.
It's a real honour to be building this track, says Louis, who'll also be lining up in the National Downhill Mountain Bike Championships on the opening weekend of the festival. It's the first opportunity we've had to ride here since the Worlds back in 2006.
In a twist, the top riders of the day will throw on their speedos and bikinis and exchange their bikes for OGOs to see who the fastest ball roller is.
The final part of the trifecta is The Sprint Warrior at Skyline Skyrides on 21. The event was hugely popular with riders and spectators last year, and was the first of the 2014 festival events to sell out.
However, there is an open day on Wednesday for riders to get a look at the Warrior racecourse, without the pressure of racing.
The views from the top of the Warrior and the Dual Slalom courses are spectacular, taking in Lake Rotorua, Mokoia Island, the city, Mount Tarawera and the Whakarewarewa Forest.
The 130 kilometres of world-class mountain bike trails in the forest are one of the main reasons Rotorua is regarded as a top mountain biking destination. They'll be home to a range of events at the festival including the National Mountain Bike Championships and the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro.
The Rotorua Bike Festival is from 14 to 23 February.