Henniker, NH, April 23, 2012 – PATS PEAK in Henniker, NH will host the 11th Annual PATS PEAK Mountain Bike Festival the weekend of June 9 & 10, 2012. The weekend is presented by PATS PEAK along with S&W Sports, USA Cycling, Root 66 Northeast XC Race Series and the Eastern States Cup Downhill Race Series.

Bicycle riders from all over New England come to PATS PEAK to participate in this exhilarating mountain bike weekend. The Mountain Bike Festival features 24-Hour, 12-Hour, 6-Hour, X-Country Challenge and Downhill Thrill races. Riders will be competing for over $4,000 in cash and prizes.

Riders for the 24/12/6 Hours of PATS PEAK may ride solo, in two person teams, in four person teams or in five person teams. The 24/12/6 Hours of PATS PEAK races will kick off at 12:00pm on Saturday, June 9. This is an endurance competition held on a circuit course consisting of wooded trails, fields, unpaved roads, obstacles consisting of roots, rocks, streams, steep inclines and descents testing a racer strength and technical ability.

The X-Country Challenge on Sunday, June 10 is part of the Northeast Root 66 XC Race Series, a series of cross-country mountain bike races held at different venues throughout New England. The series offers fun and competitive mountain bike racing with reasonable entry fees, timely results and series scoring. The series is in its ninth year and is made up of races presented by racers, their clubs, and bike shops dedicated to quality mountain bike racing throughout New England. For a listing of the Root 66 Series schedule go to www.root66raceseries.com . The X-Country Challenge has many categories from Beginner to Pro. The X-Country Challenge will use the same course as the 24/12/6 race. The X-Country Challenge race consists of a certain number of laps to complete and the winner is the one that completes it in the quickest time.

The bike course for the 24/12/6 Hours of PATS PEAK and the X-Country Challenge will be open for riding sometime in May. There is no charge to pre-ride the course. All participants and everyone alike are encouraged to ride the course. Please practice common courtesy if a wedding ceremony or other activity is taking place in the Base Area.

The Downhill racers will take the chair lift up to the top of the mountain and race down the course one at a time against the clock for the quickest time to the bottom of the course. They will take two runs each and the best of the two runs will be recorded. Bicycles used in the downhill have up to nine inches of suspension front and rear to help absorb the extreme terrain passing beneath them with speeds up to 40mph. The Downhill race starts at 11:30am on Sunday, June 10 with many age categories. The Downhill course is only available for pre-riding on Saturday, June 9 for paid entrants only.

The Downhill race is part of the Eastern States Cup (ESC) USA Cycling Regional Championship Downhill Mountain Bike Race Series. The Series is in its third year and includes eight venues with nine series races plus the state finals and the series finals. This multi-championship series includes Pats Peak, NH; Attitash, NH; Killington, VT; Mount Snow, VT; Plattekill, NY; Windham Mountain, NY; Jiminy Peak, MA; and Mountain Creek, NJ. The ESC Downhill race provides high-level racing, multiple USAC Championships at great venues. Within the ESC, five separate USAC State Championships will be contested. For a listing of the ESC schedule, rules and more information go online to www.easternstatescup.com .

Other weekend events include a Kids Race on Saturday and Sunday. The Sled Pub will be open with food and beverage available. On Saturday night, there is Live Band from 5pm to 10pm.

Overnight camping at PATS PEAK is available. Camping and registration opens at 3pm on Friday, June 8, 2012. Family, friends, and non-riders are welcome. Whether you’re a spectator or plan to race, you’re sure to have a great time.

In order to continue to make this event a success, volunteers are needed to help in the Scoring Tent for the 24/12/6 Hours of PATS PEAK races, water stations and in other positions. All volunteers will receive a food voucher, t-shirt, a lift ticket for skiing/riding at Pats Peak Ski Area. If you are interested or know someone who is interested in volunteering, please email lori@patspeak.com.

“We are excited to host this Mountain Bike Festival for the 11th year in a row. Every year it gets bigger and better. The event started with just the endurance races then a few years ago we added a X-Country and Downhill component to the weekend. Having the X-Country and Downhill races part of a series adds another level of excitement to the weekend”, says Jim Wall, PATS PEAK Mountain Bike Festival Event Coordinator.

For more information go online to www.patspeak.com or call PATS PEAK at 1-888-PATS PEAK (1-888-728-7732).

Online Registration is available through http://www.bikereg.com under the event title of PATS PEAK Mountain Bike Festival (https://www.bikereg.com/14935).

PATS PEAK Mountain Bike Festival Weekend Schedule
(Subject to changes)

Friday, June 8
3pm: Camping opens for participants and guests

3pm-7pm: Registration: 24/12/6 Hours of PATS PEAK; ESC Downhill Race; X-Country Challenge

Saturday, June 9
7am-10am: Cafeteria Open with Full Breakfast Menu available for purchase.

8am-10am: Registration: 24/12/6 Hours of PATS PEAK; ESC Downhill Race; X-Country Challenge
9am-4pm: Lift Rides available for $5 per ride

9am-4pm: ESC Downhill Thrill Practice

10am-3pm: Cafeteria Open with Lunch Menu available for purchase.

10:30am: 24/12/6 Hours Riders Meeting (mandatory)

11am-11pm: Sled Pub Open. Pub Fare available for purchase from 3pm-9pm.

12pm: 24/12/6 Hours Begins

1pm: Kids Race (Under 12 years old; Helmet mandatory)

5pm-10pm: Live Band

6pm: 6 Hours Ends, Awards Following

8:30pm: Riders must start using lights

11pm-5am: Quiet Hours

Sunday, June 10
12am: 12 Hours Ends, Awards 9:30am-Sled Pub

5am: Riders are permitted to ride without lights at this point in the race.

7am-10am: Cafeteria Open with Full Breakfast Menu available for purchase.

7am-9am: Registration: ESC Downhill Thrill

7am-1:30pm: Registration: X-Country Challenge

9am: X-Country Challenge Cat 3 Race Begins; Awards Following-Sled Pub

9:30am: 12 Hours Awards-Sled Pub

9am-11am: ESC Downhill Thrill Practice

9am-4pm: Lift Rides available for $5.00 per ride

10am-4pm: Cafeteria Open with Lunch Menu available for purchase.

11am-Close: Sled Pub Open

11am: Kids Race (Under 12 years old; Helmet mandatory)

11:15am: ESC Downhill Thrill Riders Meeting – At Summit (mandatory)

11:30am: ESC Downhill Thrill Race Begins (2 runs each, Best of 2), Awards Following-Sled Pub

11:30am: X-Country Challenge Cat 2 and Cat 2 Single Speed Open Begins;
Awards Following-Sled Pub

12pm: 24 Hours Ends, Awards Following-Sled Pub

1:30pm: X-Country Challenge Pro/Cat 1 Open, Cat 1 Single Speed Open,
Cat 1 Begins; Awards Following-Sled Pub

For additional information on the PATS PEAK Mountain Bike Festival, please visit patspeak.com .

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More about PATS PEAK:

PATS PEAK recently completed its 49th consecutive ski and snowboard season under the Patenaude family ownership. PATS PEAK has 22 well-groomed trails for day and night skiing/riding, 7 gladed areas, 3 terrain parks, a snowtubing park, 10 high-capacity lifts, 100 percent snowmaking, and some of the most challenging skiing in Southern New Hampshire.

PATS PEAK has a Weekday Learn to Ski and Snowboard Program for more than 8,000 kids from over 100 local schools and a Weekend Learn to Ski and Snowboard Program for adults and children. There are more than 70 Adult/Corporate Racing teams in the Adult/Corporate Racing League . Many adults participate in the weekday Adult Ski & Snowboard Clinics for all ability levels. PATS PEAK has 100% of its trails lit for night skiing/riding and is one of the state’s most accessible learn-to-ski-and-snowboard mountains , with three separate beginner areas.

During the “Other Season of PATS PEAK”, PATS PEAK Banquet Center is the perfect location for wedding receptions, parties, company meetings, company outings, or any social gathering!

PATS PEAK is located in Henniker, NH, just twenty minutes from Concord, forty minutes from Manchester, and ninety minutes from Boston. The latest information, snow conditions, photos and events are available at www.patspeak.com or call 1-888-PATS PEAK (1-888-728-7732).