Party-goers at Purgatory Resort will surrender to the flow Saturday.
The resort is ready to launch its first Mountain Bike Festival & Flow Trail Race on its Divinity Flow Trail bike course.
The flow trail was built in 2015 with the help of Trails 2000 and U.S. Forest Service, adding to Purgatory Resort’s already immense mountain biking terrain that includes the 1990 World Championship course.
“When we built this flow trail last year, that was kind of our first step in bringing Purgatory back as a hub for mountain biking,” said Purgatory Resort Events Manager Matthew Krichman. “It’s always been a great place for people to go riding, but one thing we didn’t have and town didn’t have was an awesome lift-served downhill flow trail.”
The new flow trail from the top of Lift 4 winds and descends back toward the base area over the course of a little more than a mile. It features jumps and several other features such as berms, boardwalks fly-over sections and much more. The trail can be ridden without pedaling, as the continual downhill trajectory lets gravity do the work. Experienced riders will know how to keep their momentum going, even on a few sections that can be tricky.
Along with free social group rides throughout the mountain’s trails, experienced riders including many from the Ska/Zia/Trek, Durango DEVO and Fort Lewis College teams will be in attendance for the flow trail race, which is scheduled to begin at noon. Three categories will be offered for varying experience levels. Riders competing in the A and B categories will compete without a chain to honor the spirit of what flow trails were built for, while C-category riders will use a chain and be able to propel themselves if desired.
Mechanics will be available at the top and bottom of the course to help those competing without a chain take off and put on their chains.
“Saturday is an event that appeal to everyone,” Krichman said. “We’re not charging money for the morning portion, and we have several groups for the race so riders can find their preference. We’re encouraging people to ride chainless because it turns into more of a cool strategic event, but riding with a chain is totally fine.”
The flow trail will be closed to non-racers from noon to 2 p.m. to accommodate the race, but Lift 4 will turn from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., so riders will be able to take in other trails during that time.
“It’s going to be a bigger event than we originally thought, and we are really excited to celebrate our one-year anniversary of this trail,” Krichman said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
If you go
What:
McDonald’s Mountain Bike Festival & Flow Trail Race
When:
Saturday, Sept. 10
Where:
Purgatory Resort
Cost:
Race entry fee is $10 but will be waived for anyone purchasing a Purgatory Mountain Bike Uplift Ticket for Saturday. An all-day uplift ticket is $40. Single uplift tickets cost $15.
Schedule of events
9:
30–11:30 a.m.: Group rides (meet in base area).
12:
00–2:00 p.m.: Inaugural Flow Trail Race on Purgatory’s Divinity Downhill Flow Trail.
2:
30 p.m.: Awards ceremony and celebration in base area.
