Mount Snow to host new festival

The inaugural Mount Snow Mountain Bike Festival, scheduled for August 7-9 in Vermont, will include 50 racing and non-competitive events. Racing highlights will include rounds of the US ProXCT series, the Kenda Downhill series and the Trek Women's Triathlon series. There will also be a Bicycle Limbo Skid Contest, Tire Toss, a dozen led rides, fireworks and live music.

"When coming up with this activity schedule, we focused on there being something for everyone," said Vinnie Lewis, Mount Snow's events and public relations manager. "Whether you are an avid biker or a family looking for something fun to do on a weekend, we feel there is enough to keep everyone entertained."

Jeff Lenosky will entertain festival-goers with his signature brand of trials stunts.

The festival expo - in conjunction with Racer Row - will be open throughout each day for people wandering about in search of ways to improve their ride through the savvy offerings by exhibitors like Kenda, Specialized, Gary Fisher, Subaru, Sho-Air, Princeton Tec, Longs Cycle, Jamis, Giant, and Fox Racing Shox.

Mother Nature may have bullied the East Coast with more wet weather this year than usual but Mount Snow's trail care crew, along with the US Forest Service, has sculpted sustainable trails that shed water with the least amount of erosion. Unlike some past regional mountain bike festivals, where the trail system and venue would have to rise up out of virtually nothing in the days prior to the event, Mount Snow's trail system has been thoughtfully designed and constructed over time.

Last year, Mount Snow hosted the US National Championships, where Adam Craig and Mary McConneloug won their respective cross country races.

Parking for the daily festival fee is US$10, and all activities are free. For more information, visit www.mountsnow.com.