Wildflower Rush Cross Country and Downhill Bike Races

June 21-22, 2008 Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado

The Lowdown

Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) presents the 8th Annual Wildflower Rush Cross Country (XC) and Downhill (DH) Races. CBMR will provide a marquee venue for the third stop in the Mountain States Cup (MSC) series.

The race features its traditional 10-mile cross-country course, Saturday June 21 on the Butte’s legendary web of winding single track, climbing 1800 feet per lap.

On Sunday, June 22, the Wildflower Rush is excited to welcome back the Crested Butte Downhill (DH) and the new Wildflower Super-D (SD). The exciting Downhill course will include steep single-track, fast roads, open ski runs and "techy" wooded sections, while the Super-D will use a variety of challenging terrain with a Lemans style start and finishing through the Cross Country start.

Volunteers

Volunteers are needed both days of the race. Indoor and outdoor positions available. Volunteers will receive a complimentary one-day ski pass for the 2007-08 season for each 4-hour shift worked. To volunteer, contact Annie Dyar at adyar@cbmr.com or (970) 349-2221

The Competition

Wildflower Rush Cross Country Race
The Cross Country will take place Saturday, June 21 at 8:00am. All categories will start between 8:00-9:00am. The race features the traditional 10-mile course on the Butte’s legendary web of winding single track, climbing 1800 feet per lap.

All Beginners, & All Junior Sport (11-18): 1 lap

Pro, Expert & Junior X Women, Sport Men & Women, Junior X Men, Single Speed Women: 2 laps

Single Speed Men, Pro & Semi-pro Men, Senior Expert Men: 3 laps

Crested Butte Downhill
The Downhill event will take place Sunday, June 22. Final course layout will not be determined until the week of the event. Riders will use the Silver Queen Lift to get to the top of the course. Downhill chairlift access will begin 15 minutes before the scheduled beginning of practice and end 15 minutes before the scheduled end of practice. Daily lift tickets and number plates on the bike are required to practice.

Wildflower Super-D
The newest event at the Wildflower Rush will offer the best of Downhill and Cross Country events. The course will be fast and will offer a variety of challenging terrain using a Lemans Style start and finishing through the Cross Country start.

Shimano Kids Race
Saturday June 21 at 4:00pm
A free Shimano Kids Race will be presented for those 10 and under at the Cross Country start/finish area. Classes will be determined based on the number of participants. All kids will receive a medal and t-shirt. Kids must be accompanied by a parent and can register at the race site. All participants must wear helmets.

*Schedule is subject to change.

Schedule

Note: Schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions or other reasons

Friday, June 20, 2008 – Athlete Arrival
9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.: Registration and packet pickup at Event Headquarters (Butte 66 Restaurant, slope-side at the main base area)
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: DH Practice lift access via Red Lady Express Lift (Note: This is NOT a closed practice. You will encounter course overlap, CBMR vehicles, and other riders. Please use caution.)

Saturday, June 21, 2008 – Cross Country Race
6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.: Registration and packet pickup for the XC Race at Event Headquarters
Note: No new registrations will be accepted after 7:00 am
8:00 a.m.: Wildflower Rush XC Race
DH practice immediately following XC Race – 3:30 p.m. (Last ride up at 3:15 p.m.)
11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Registration and packet pickup for the DH and Super D
12:00 p.m.: Shimano Kids Race
1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.: XC Awards and BBQ
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: SD practice via Red Lady Express Lift

Sunday, June 22, 2008 — Downhill and Super D
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.: Super D Race
Super D awards immediately after the race
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.: DH Practice
10:30 a.m.: DH Race
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: DH awards/DH and Super D Pasta Feed

Registration

Online Registration

On-site Registration

Registration and packet pick-up will take place Friday, June 20, from 9:00am to 8:00pm. We will have registration and packet pick up for the cross country event on Saturday, from 6:00am to 7:00am and registration for the Downhill and Super-D will be from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Registration cut off will be one hour prior to the start of your event, this includes pre-registered riders. No exceptions will be made. There will be NO race day registration for the Downhill or Super-D on Sunday. Please make sure you are registered and have picked up your packet by 2:30pm on Saturday.

Important Norba Information: Norba no longer offers one-day licenses. Non-Norba members will pay an additional $5 when registering. If you are an expert level rider (including Junior X) or higher you must purchase an annual license. In addition, Norba has broken juniors into three categories, which include junior beginner, junior sport and junior expert, please register accordingly.

Results/Awards

Results and preliminary results will be posted on the deck at the awards venue immediately upon completion. Cross Country and Downhill awards will take place between 1:00-3:00pm, during the BBQ or Pasta feed on their respective days, after the completion of the event. Super-D awards will take place immediately after the event. Cash will be paid three deep in the pro and semi-pro categories and awards given three deep in all other categories. You must be present at the awards ceremony to receive your award or cash purse.

Lodging

Discounted rooms and condominiums will be available through Crested Butte Vacations at 800-810-7669. Racers can mention the Wildflower Rush Race for special lodging deals.

Camping

Camping is available all along the valley in Gunnison National Forest campsites.

Wildflower Rush Race – Directions

How to get here

From Denver
Take I-70 west, exit to highway 470 west, highway 285 south to Fairplay then Poncha Springs, highway 50 west to Gunnison, then highway 135 north into Crested Butte.

From Colorado Springs
Take highway 24 west, highway 285 south to Fairplay then Poncha Springs, highway 50 west to Gunnison, then highway 135 north into Crested Butte.

From Grand Junction and Montrose
Take highway 50 east to Gunnison, then highway 135 north into Crested Butte.

From New Mexico
Take highway 285, take highway 160 west to Alamosa, highway 285 north to Saguache, highway 114 north to highway 50, highway 50 west to Gunnison, then highway 135 north into Crested Butte.