When it comes to mountain bike riding, the Vail Valley's premier opportunity for bragging rights -- even more so than Strava -- is the annual East West Hospitality Mountain Bike Race Series. This year the series wraps up on Aug. 21 with the Beaver Creek Blast.
A family friendly event, distances range from two miles for younger riders to 16 miles for adult riders. The races take place in the evening, with kids races starting first at 4:45 p.m., and the race will begin underneath the Buckaroo Express Gondola near the Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek.
Parking will be available at the Ford Hall or Villa Montane parking structures on a first-come, first-served basis. Once parking fills, racers and spectators will park at the bottom of the mountain and either ride up to the start area or take the free shuttle to the top. Racers are encouraged to arrive early to leave time for parking.
An after-party will take place at The Dusty Boot where series championship awards will be handed out and the much anticipated announcement of both individual category and team winners of the series will take place. This is where the bragging rights for next year begin.
But the real bragging rights lie within the many hours that volunteers put forth during the annual trail work days which keep Beaver Creek's trails in good shape for events like this one. The Vail Recreation District is a proud supporter of the Eagle County trails and the organizations that work hard to maintain them.
It is important to remember that riding and racing on world class trails is a privilege, and trails do not build or maintain themselves. This year during the 2019 East West Hospitality Mountain Bike Series, riders can earn an additional 25 points towards their overall series total if they participate in one trail work event prior to August 20 with either the Vail Valley Mountain Bike Association, Hardscrabble Trail Coalition or another organized trail group. For more information, visit vailrec.com.
