For the second year in a row, Durango Devo presents the Devo Days Bike Festival at Purgatory Resort. Originally scheduled for Aug. 9-11, the Devo Days Bike Festival now goes Friday-Sunday after some bad weather during the original dates. Devo also wanted to give people more time to register.
Durango Devo Executive Director Levi Kurlander is excited for the second Devo Days Bike Festival. He said more people have signed up since the dates were pushed back. Kurlander said the weather is looking great for the fun events Devo Days Bike Festival will have.
Kurlander said Devo started the festival last year because they saw a need for more local junior race opportunities for kids, especially those under 12.
“We wanted to add something during the summer that was really catered toward our junior riders and give them an opportunity to ride,” Kurlander said. “In the spirit of Devo, where racing is kind of an afterthought, as far as our mission and philosophy go, we're throwing in games, costume race competitions, movie night and free skills clinics. We want to make it an all-around more celebration of the bikes at the end of the summer to give kids the opportunity to get out and ride together.”
New to this year’s festival is the dual slalom on Saturday at 3 p.m. Kurlander said it was important the course at Purgatory was ready for this weekend which it is.
He said riders will compete in head-to-head races in a bracket and they will be short, skill-focused, intense races which will be fun to watch.
The festival kicks off on Friday and registration opens at 3:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., there will be a surprise race and athletes should wear a costume. There will be 30 minutes of chill riding and the rest of the details will be available at the start line.
On Saturday, an intermediate skills clinic will start at 10 a.m. Short track races will start from 11 a.m. to noon and beginner and advanced skill clinics will happen after that.
Kurlander said the beginner skill clinic will be for riders who can ride green trails but want to ride blue trails and riders who may have not ridden the bike park. Where the trails are will be discussed in the beginner clinic along with how to load your bike on the lift.
The intermediate skill clinic is for those who want to move up from blue to black trails. The advanced skill clinic is for those who want to get to more expert terrain and work on wheel lifts, jumping and things that’ll get some more style points in the park.
All the skill clinics are open to all ages.
On Sunday, cross-country races will be going all day with men’s and women’s junior races. Different men’s and women’s categories based on how many laps riders want to do around the course.
Durango Olympian Riley Amos will be there on Saturday to sign autographs and to meet fans.
Sunday will close out with some awards. Riders who registered for a race or a clinic will be entered in a raffle with over $2,000 worth of prizes. Osprey packs and Tailwind products will be offered along with other event sponsors’ products.
Awards will be given out to the top three in each race category and the top three in the omnium. To qualify for the omnium, riders need to race at least three of the four events of the weekend.
A more detailed breakdown of the schedule can be found here.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
