Lake Crackenback rings in start of Snowies MTB Festival and Oceania Cross Triathlon Championships

The Man from Snowy River highlights a star-studded media launch prior to the start of two straight weekends of world-class mountain biking and off-road triathlon…

man-from-snowy-riverSNOWY MOUNTAINS, NSW—The stars came out in force on Thursday at the official launch of the inaugural Snowies Mountain Bike Festival (21-22 Feb) and Oceania Cross Triathlon Championships (28 Feb -1 Mar) at Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa, nestled in the middle of the stunning Snowy Mountains.

In2Adventure pulled out all the stops, with attendees including Member for Monaro and Minister for Regional Tourism John Barilaro, Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa General Manager Anthony Cleary, as well as the Man from Snowy River, Nev, and his trusty steed, Boss.

Mr Barilaro said, “I wish all competitors the best of luck ahead of this weekend’s Snowies Mountain Bike Festival and the Oceania Cross Triathlon Championships and Multisport Festival to be held the following weekend.

“The NSW Government is proud to support these events that advance the stunning Snowy Mountains’ reputation as a year-round destination for adventure and nature-based experiences,” he added.

Many of the world’s top elite male and female athletes were also in attendance and spoke at the launch event.

Mountain bike specialists including Shaun Lewis (AUS) and race ambassadors and newlyweds Andy Blair (AUS) and Jenny Fay (IRL) joined pro triathletes and Xterra champions Ben Allen (AUS) and Jacqui Slack (GBR) at the launch event held on the ancestral lands of the Ngarigo people of the Gumaal Nation.

“We are really excited to see the Snowy Mountains Multisport Festival launched this year after two successful years holding the Australian Cross Triathlon Championships in the Snowy Mountains,” said event director Simon Lazenby of In In2Adventure.

“The expansion of the event into the Snowies Mountain Bike Festival and this year the Oceania Cross Triathlon Championships really showcases the region’s summer activities and will set the stage for further growth of the whole Multisport Festival.”

The Snowies MTB Festival is a two-day, four-stage event with a loaded field of 20 elite riders and more than 180 age-group participants. Three stages will be contested on Saturday, including a time trial and both uphill and downhill races, followed by a 75-kilometre cross country marathon (XCM) on Sunday.

“I am really looking forward to racing here this weekend,” said Blair, who is fresh off a win at the AMB 100 two weeks ago and a marriage to Jenny Fay on Sunday. “The trails here are not too technical which means it will be fast and can be anyone’s race to win.”

Fay, who is the 2013 Irish national champion, agreed saying, “I couldn’t be more excited to be here. Just look at this place, who couldn’t get excited to race in such a beautiful place.”

The Oceania Cross Triathlon Championships features a 1500m swim, 30km cross-country mountain bike and 10km trail run, and like the Snowies MTB race, also includes a red-hot start list. Aside from Allen and Slack, Australian Olympians Courtney Atkinson and Erin Densham will challenge next Sunday. Densham is the 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist, while Atkinson will be attempting his third-straight Olympic games in Rio.

Other big names include adventure race world champion and recent winner of the Coast-to-Coast Braden Currie (NZL) and reigning Australian cross triathlon champion Max Neumann.

“Jacqui and I were in 26 countries last year,” said Allen, who finished third at Xterra Philippines last week, while Slack took second in the elite women’s field. “And there are few places more spectacular than the Snowy Mountains. I am looking forward to a very tough race next weekend and hopefully kicking off my season with a big win.”

In2Adventure is providing a generous prize purse of $10,000 for the Snowies MTB race, while the Oceania Cross Triathlon Championship will see $40,000 up for grabs.

In2Adventure also took time to wish the athletes well, as well as thank event partners for their ongoing support to make this year’s events a success.“We would like to thank the NSW Government through Destination NSW and Tourism Snowy Mountains for their support in making the Snowy Mountains Multisport Festival a success. Their support will help ensure the region realises a great benefit from people visiting to take part in summer activities as the event continues to grow,” said Event Director Robyn Lazenby.

About the Oceania Cross Triathlon Championships:

The Oceania Cross Triathlon Championships is a Continental Championships awarded by the Oceania Triathlon Union (OTU), and is one of three events in Australia that are qualifying rounds for the World Cross Triathlon Championships in 2015 to be held in Sardinia, Italy on 26th September, 2015.

The race will be hosted at Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa in the spectacular Snowy Mountains (NSW), featuring the trails, rivers, hills, lakes and bushland of this iconic region. The Championships includes events for the entire family, while the feature race consists of 1500m swim, 30km XC mountain bike and 10km trail run. For more information about the event visit the event website HERE

About TreX:

For seven years TreX has positioned itself as the pinnacle of the cross – or off-road – triathlon racing series in the Asia-Pacific region. Presented by the premier outdoor adventure event specialists In2Adventure, TreX consists of an open water swim, mountain bike leg and trail run. While each TreX event features an elite category with industry-leading prize purses, including $10,000 for the Australian Cross Triathlon Championships and $40,000 for the Oceania Cross Triathlon Championships, the TreX Cross Triathlon national series invites participation from all ages and skill levels. For more information visit TreX here.

About The Snowies MTB Stage Race:

The Snowies Mountain Bike Festival brings you some of the very best riding found anywhere in Australia. Based in the heart of Australia’s iconic Snowy Mountains, riders wil be challenged with 4 diverse stages that will test speed, endurance, stamina and technical skills. Tackle all 4 stages as a solo or as a team of 2 or 3, OR choose to do the 75k marathon or 30k XC only in this ‘not to be missed’ Mountain Bike Experience. For more information visit the Snowies MTB Festival HERE

About In2Adventure:

In2Adventure are Asia-Pacific’s premier adventure event specialists. With a full calendar of national events scheduled throughout Australia, including adventure races, cross triathlon, XC Mountain Bike, trail runs and corporate events, In2Adventure fully embraces all things ‘off road’ and ‘off the beaten track’ and offers a unique, individual experience for all ages and skill levels. For more information visit In2Adventure HERE

Upcoming Events (2014/15):

  • Snowies MTB Stage Race – Snowy Mountains, NSW, 21/22 February 2015
  • Oceania Cross Triathlon Championships – Snowy Mountains, NSW, 28 Feb-1 March 2015
  • TreX Cross Triathlon Championships – Sunshine Coast, QLD, 2/3 May 2015

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Photo Credit: Courtesy In2Adventure

Media Queries

Aaron S. Lee
Media Manager | Public Relations
+61 415 763 293
Aaron@in2adventure.com.au

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