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What will your odyssey be? To win? Top two hundred? To finish? To just survive?
Will you, like our hero Homer, stand atop the Otway Ranges come February 18th, muddied but triumphant; a two wheeled warrior, conqueror of 100 kilometres of vertiginous climbs, thick swathes of forest and the odd mud monster clawing out from the ferns?
It’s a story only you will be able to tell after signing up for the Kona Odyssey, a marathon mountain bike journey like no other.
This is the one the mountain bike Gods look to, it’s the one they hold up as the biggest two wheel battlefield of all.
The Kona Odyssey. Ride your way into mountain bike mythology.
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Date Saturday, February 18th, 2012
Location Great Otway National Park, South-West Victoria
Format Kona Odyssey 100km - Apollo Bay to Forrest
Kona Shorty 50km - Forrest to Forrest
Kona Pioneer 15km - Forrest to Forrest
And of course, all good warriors back from battle deserve a good feast and festival – so stash the steed and enjoy plenty of food, entertainment, bike expos, live music and kids’ activities at the finish line.
NOTE: The new Kona Odyssey website is under construction and will be launched by October 21st. All the content on this (old) site is correct but new content, maps and other details will be uploaded soon.
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Starting on the Great Ocean Road in the picturesque town of Apollo Bay and finishing in the iconic MTB township of Forrest, the Otway Odyssey takes riders on an heroic 100km mountain bike journey through a range of wild landscapes in an Odyssey sent from the gods.
This is a race along roller coaster single track so much fun you’ll have a grin from ear to ear; it’s a race up hills so steep you’ll think your heart is going to leap from your chest; it’s a race down flowing fire roads and white knuckle double track that will put tears in your eyes and memories in your mind… and all this is amidst some of the most spectacular countryside you’ll ever see.
There are three course options ready to challenge any level of rider:
- The full 100km Otway Odyssey – starts at Apollo Bay and finishes at Forrest … providing ultimate bragging rights for all finishers!
- The 50km Otway Shorty – starts/finishes in Forrest that includes plenty of sweet single track (New course for 2010).
- The 15km Otway Pioneer – a fun event designed to give kids and beginners to the sport a taste of the action.
The 100km Otway Odyssey is undoubtedly one of Australia’s pinnacle MTB events providing riders with a supreme challenge, enjoyment and reward along some of the best trails in the land. Set yourself the benchmark and join us for a journey you will never forget.
Add to this a massive festival with plenty of food, entertainment, bike stands, live music and other activities at the finish line and this is the Ultimate MTB Marathon.
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Haig retires, minor place battles heat up, and a lesson in riding for the ‘younger’ generation(Posted 17/05/2012)
The time trial Stage Five of the Ingkerreke Commercial Mountain Bike Enduro marked the end of overall second placed Jack Haig’s racing, with yesterday’s shoulder-crunching crash delivering a knockout blow. Considering an overseas schedule of racing in three weeks’ time, and a ginger shoulder not ripe for racing, the Team Torq rider made the decision to retire and did not line up this morning. Click here for full story ...
Hansen scores podium, Blair another win while Haig dashes hopes with a drop(Posted 16/05/2012)
The 77km Stage Four of the Inkgerreke Commercial Mountain Bike Enduro in Alice Springs featured equal parts pain and pleasure today with spills for some and come from behind wins for the more fortunate. Click here for full story ...
Blair and Anset maintain overall Enduro leads with strong Stage Three wins (Posted 15/05/2012)
After being relegated to holding the silverware on Anzac Hill yesterday evening in the sprint stage, yellow jersey wearers Andy Blair and Melissa Anset climbed back onto the premium podium slots this morning with respective wins in the 49km Stage Three ride. Click here for full story ...
Hogarth the hero, Holmes holds court on Anzac Hill sprint*(Posted 15/05/2012)
Day One of the Ingkerreke Commercial Mountain Bike Enduro wrapped up today with a Alice Springs town centre hill sprint that drew crowds armed with ringing cowbells, all cheering on riders as they powered to the top of Anzac Hill, a 300 metre dash that burned legs and lungs to the core. Click here for full story ...
Early confirmation for 2013 Kona Odyssey and Bike Buller MTB Festival dates(Posted 7/05/2012)
The 2013 dates for two of Australia’s most iconic mountain biking events have been confirmed with Rapid Ascent announcing the popular Kona Odyssey will take place on Saturday February 16th 2013, while the Bike Buller Mountain Bike Festival has been locked in for March 9-11th 2013.
Click here for full story ...
Indigenous rider blazes new trail in mountain biking enduro(Posted 5/04/2012)
A young Alice Spring Indigenous athlete is blazing a new trail as a role model in a sport not usually known for attracting interest in the broader Aboriginal community. Twenty year-old Hayden Jude will be the first ever Indigenous youth to participate in the Ingkerreke Commercial Mountain Bike Enduro, a multi day stage bike race that covers 251km over five days of racing, 14-18May, 2012. Click here for full story ...
Rapid Ascent launches the ‘HTFU Australian Coast to Coast’ as the ultimate physical challenge(Posted 1/04/2012)
Rapid Ascent is excited to launch today ‘The HTFU Australian Coast to Coast’ as the ultimate physical challenge and asks you; are you up to the HTFU challenge? Already known for setting tough courses at all their races, Rapid Ascent have upped the ante big time with the HTFU Australian Coast to Coast being surely the toughest multi discipline event ever created as it crosses the entire Australian continent in a huge West to East traverse. Click here for full story ...
VIDEO: Ingkerreke Commercial MTB Enduro heats up(Posted 30/03/2012)
It's only two months until the Ingkerreke Commercial MTB Enduro kicks up some dust and smashes some Red Centre singletrack, with riders rolling into action May 14-18. They will enjoy five days of unforgettable riding in seven stage that mixes it up between long enduro distances, a night ride to a short hill climb sprint with the Alice Springs crowds cheering you on up Anzac Hill. Here's a little taste of what awaits - book your ticket and accommodation now! Click here for full story ...
A Master Class in mountain biking the Red Centre(Posted 22/03/2012)
There are some mountain bike riders who deserve a little more kudos than most. These riders defy conventions of age and expectation, and bring to the saddle a little more maturity than most, an asset that sees them in general execute a more refined riding style, but one that’s just as gritty and determined as the next. And they’re decently quick, too. Click here for full story ...
Jackson and Anset reigning Bike Buller MTB Festival Champions(Posted 12/03/2012)
f there was a trophy for consistency at the long weekend’s Bike Buller MTB Festival presented by Giant, Adrian Jackson would be the shoe-in. The Team Merdia Flightcentre rider rode consistently fast while others around him dropped in and out of competition due to injury concerns and missing out on stages due to late entry. Jackson, who won the Stage One 50km XC race, recorded the fastest cumulative time across the three Premier Category races, to claim his first Bike Buller Mountain Bike Festiva Click here for full story ...
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Otway Odyssey familiarisation ride - 2012 date to be confirmed
The familiarisation day ride for the 2012 Otway Odyssey will be held on Saturday January 21st (this is a TENTATIVE DATE and will be confirmed nearer the time) and will be conducted by the Forrest Mountain Bike Club and is open to all riders to attend. The familiarisation day is conducted in a friendly, non competitive environment and provides the opportunity for riders to be lead over parts of the course used for either the 100km or 50km Otway Odyssey races. Members of the Forrest Mountain Bike Club will provide leadership for those attending the famil day and show you where the course goes and provide a few tips and ideas on how best to prepare for the race itself. There will be a $15 attendance fee per rider and that will go towards the Forrest MTB Club and will also cover the costs of a lunch time BBQ available to all famil riders once you have finished. All riders are asked to meet at the Forrest Brewery on the main street and be ready to ride at 8:45am when we will conduct a short briefing before departing on bikes at 9:00am. Please bring everything else you need to ride for 2-4 hours including water, food, spare tubes, pump and bike tools. Further details and an online registration form (so we have an idea of numbers) can be found on the Otway Odyssey event website here or call Norm Douglas for more info on (03) 5236-6424. MTBSkills.com will be running a MTB skills session on the Sunday following the familiarisation day (Jan 22nd) with Norm and Jess Douglas conducting a specialised clinic for up to 20 riders on how to ride the Odyssey trails with maximum efficiency and flow. Visit their website at www.MTBSkills.com.au for more details.
Please register if you think you will be attending by filling out the small registration box above and then we'll have an idea of who and how many people will be there on the day.
MTB Bike Skills Clinics
If you want a guided ride around the Forrest trails in your own time, added with some expert advice and riding skills sessions then look no further than MTB Bike Skills Clinics. Norm and Jess live locally in Forrest and know the trails inside out as well as how to pass on crucial skills for turning any rider into a confident / fast rider over any terrain. Check them out at www.mtbskills.com.au
Otway Expeditions Mountain Bike Tours
In addition, Otway Expeditions Mountain Bike Tours provide custom mountain bike tours out of Apollo Bay, e-mail Mike at otwayexpeditions@hotmail.com
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