This section features the last few Wild Horizons email updates.
Join the Wild Horizons email list.
Wild Horizons Update - 29 February 2008
Wild Horizons Update - 20 December 2007
Wild Horizons Update - 24 September 2007
Wild Horizons Update - 23 August 2007
Wild Horizons Update - 13 June 2007
13 April 2007
Hello All..........Our 06-07 events season was completed with last months running of the 2007 Berghaus Polaris Challenge.
Congratulations to Shaun Lewis for dominating our events this season with Shaun a member (with Adrian Jackson) of the
winning teams in the Urban Polaris 06, the Berghaus Polaris Challenge 07 and winning our VAUDE Highland Fling 06.BERGHAUS POLARIS CHALLENGE – Rocky Madness!
March 10-11 saw 450 riders turn up for the Rocky Horror Polaris Show. Lipstick was everywhere, cleats found a home on stilettos and visits to the Transylvanian Tarts ensured liberal applications of make up to sweat stained faces. And the riding was superb for the 11th running of the event. See the website for the Event Wrap Up, results and photos.Pick up the latest issue of Mountain Biking Australia which features an article on the Rocky Horror Polaris Show.
INTERESTED IN RUNNING POLARIS EVENTS?
After 11 years and 23 Polaris events, we’re looking at the option of selling the Polaris Events (Challenge, Urban and Paddle) in the coming months. We still love doing these events but would like to free up some time to attack some new challenges. Perhaps you’re tired of that 9-5 job or you want to add a fun and interesting successful business to what you already do. If interested then contact Huw Kingston on 02 4883 6509 or 0418 977609 or huw@wildhorizons.com.au2007 VAUDE HIGHLAND FLING
With this year’s event still 7 months away (on 10-11 November if it’s not in your diary), we’re getting a lot of enquiries as to ‘When do entries open?’ We plan to open entries in mid June. You’ll see some new features to the event this year but rest assured we’ll be offering one fun and challenging weekend of MTB again! The options will include the Half Fling, Full Fling, Flinging Threesomes and 100Mile Fling. This latter will have cut off times a little more achievable in 2007! At this stage it is planned to do the ‘Anti-Fling’ in years with an odd number (like 2007!). This means we will run the race in the reverse direction this year. By the time the race comes around we should have even more of the new Wingello singletrack complete (perhaps as much as 10-12km) too. Of course the Bundanoon Dash will ride again on the Saturday evening.GROUND EFFECT – We love it!
The latest creations from Ground Effect have landed at www.groundeffect.co.nz And while you're there check out the photos from the latest catalogue plus oodles of other good stuff in Hot Rides, Tech Tips, Advocacy and the Events Calendar.If they've previously mailed you a catalogue then a fresh winter edition is winging its way to your letterbox. There's no need to request another. But if you've changed address, you'll need to let them know at www.groundeffect.co.nz/change-details.php
New products include: a two-in-one jacket; a Merino hoodie for the gals; and Mr Black is Back. Black jackets, vests, shorts and longs.
WINGELLO STATE FOREST – TRACKBUILDING DATES
The track is riding well now and there is some 6km in place. With Conservation Volunteers Australia heading back in there for a few more weeks in May/June and our own Working Bees, we should see some great new track built over winter along with signage etc of the existing track. Lock these dates into your diary and get in touch if you think you’ll be there and would like to be included on our Trackbuilding Mailing List.26 May, 28/29 July, 25/26 August.
Note than on the Sunday 27th of May there’s a MTB Orienteering Event on in nearby Penrose State Forest so combine a day building track with one riding tracks. See www.mountaindevils.com for details.
Talking of Trackbuilding, take yourselves off to www.terracare.org.au a website dedicated to promoting sustainable MTB trackbuilding in NSW. You can see what other trackbuilding may be happening in your area and ways to get involved.
4WHEELS4SEAN – It’s coming back!
Many of you will remember the charity we started in 2001. 4Wheels4Sean originally raised $50000 to purchase a special vehicle for Sean Fitzgerald, made a quadriplegic in a MTB accident. At the end of last year, the Trustees decided to close the charity due to lack of time to push it further and the balance of funding, some $17000 was awarded to the Paraplegic Benefit Fund. At the 11th hour, the charity was saved by the combined desire of every peak cycling body in Australia. Cycling Australia (CA), Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA), BMX Australia (BMXA) and the Bicycling Federation of Australia (BFA representing all state/territory advocacy groups) are in the process of relaunching 4Wheels4Sean as the charity of choice for cycling in Australia, assisting Australians severely disabled as the result of a cycling injury. The new trustees have met and the future is exciting. Watch out for more details and if you wish to assist the work of 4Wheels4Sean or have some fundraising ideas in mind then do be in touch. Contact Huw on 02 4883 6509 or email huw@wildhorizons.com.auFORTHCOMING EVENTS
ACT Cyclegaine, Sunday 6 May– Always a fun day out. Similar in style to a Polaris event, this is a 6 hour event which this year takes place in Sparrow Hill in the ACT. You can do it in teams of 2 to 5 people. See www.act.rogaine.asn.au/EVENTS/07cycle/ for details and entries.
The Simpson Desert Classic, 2-6 October 2007 – 5 days, 500km, 500 sand dunes........go on you know you want to! See www.sdcc.org.au and get yourself out to the 20th year of this amazing race across the Simpson Desert.
Enjoy the autumn riding and see you out on the trails
Cheers........Huw Kingston and the Wild Horizons Team
16 February 2007
Hello All
Rain falls heavily (around eastern NSW at least), John Howard has a miraculously starts believing in climate change and I’ve found myself supping with the devil (riding a road bike – only occasionally, honest....). The world is a weird place for sure....2007 BERGHAUS POLARIS CHALLENGE
Some things remain the same though. On the second weekend of March for the 11th year running the Berghaus Polaris Challenge is on again. The event is only 3 weeks away (March 10-11) which means that next Friday we release the detailed location beyond the approx ‘2.5hrs from Sydney, 9hrs from Melbourne’’ guide. The name of the event centre should ensure fine weather (remember Sunny Corner in 2000 and Pretty Beach in 2004?) and the theme should allow you (and us) to run riot. We’ve even made the map just a little big bigger this year so you can cover even more ground if you desire!
Entries are open on the website. If you still haven’t sorted out a partner for the weekend then check out our Need a Partner Section on http://www.wildhorizons.com.au/events/partner.htmlJOIN THE DARK SIDE
And if you’re not riding then we’d love to have you on the Dark Side for the Berghaus Polaris Challenge. If you can join us then fill out the form on http://www.wildhorizons.com.au/events/volunteerform.htmlPRE-POLARIS BIKE CHECK UP AT KOM CYCLERY
Our retail sponsor, King of the Mountain Cyclery in Neutral Bay have a great offer to Polaris entrants to ensure your bike is in perfect health for the event. Their ‘deluxe’’ service, normally $120, is available between now and 7 March for a special price of $80 plus parts. KOM will also provide limited emergency mechanical repairs on the Friday night before the race from 4-10pm, they will also have parts for sale at this location. get yourself to KOM, 178 Military Road, Neutral Bay, Tel 02 9908 1745BERGHAUS POLARIS CHALLENGE INFORMATION NIGHT – 1ST MARCH
Also at KOM Cyclery there is an information night on theThursday 1st March at 7pm. There’ll be information on map reading, nutrition, essential equipment and packing skills. With previous winners in the event included in the staff, these guys know what they’re talking about.WANTED – WEB DESIGNER
If you’re a keen outdoors person who works in web design and would be interested in working on the Wild Horizons site and others we are involved with then we’d love to hear from you. We are revamping our site and looking at the way we do things. Contact Huw Kingston on huw@wildhorizons.com.au or Tel 02 4883 6509WINGELLO STATE FOREST – TENTATIVE TRACKBUILDING DATES
We will be continuing to build more singletrack in Wingello State Forest in the Southern Highlands of NSW. The next working bees are tentatively planned for the following dates:
- 26-27 April, 26 May, 28-29 JulyWILD HORIZONS R4 MAPBOARD $95
Don't forget that by ordering one of our mapboards (see http://www.wildhorizons.com.au/gear/mapboard.html) on your Berghaus Polaris Challenge entry form, you get to save the $5 postage. We will also be having a price rise on the R4 from March 31st so another reason to get the best mapboard available in Australia now.
Looking forward to seeing many of you at the Berghaus Polaris Challenge, the last event of our ‘season’.
CheersHuw and the Wild Horizons Team
