Outdoor event specialists No Fuss Events (Fort William) launched their 2009 programme this week featuring some of Scotland's most loved mountain biking events, exciting endurance challenges and possibly the world's craziest water sport.
With nine events across the length and breadth of Scotland there's more than enough opportunities to: Get out more! Get on your bike! Get fitter, healthier and happier!
Highlights include:
7 March 2009 The Wee Triathlon - Make twice the effort over half the distance!
The Benromach Three Tens Series - The epic 10 under the Ben (30 May) is again joined by 10 at Kirroughtree (11 July) and 10 More in Moray (22 August) as the much loved cross country mountain bike endurance series grows in stature
18 July 2009 Glen Nevis River Race, Fort William - A wet and wild waterfall jumping, rapid rafting swim and scramble
01 August 2009 The Hope Endurance Downhill, Fort William - What goes up must come down…. again and again; as riders tackle the Fort William World Championship Downhill Mountain bike track as many times as they can handle.
19 September The Big Ben Nevis and the Half Big Ben Nevis triathlon
29 September Gallup and Grind Duathlon
10 -11 October 2009 Relentless 24 - A day long cross country mountain biking marathon
No Fuss Events do exactly what it says on the tin. Great courses and a fun and friendly atmosphere attract competitors of all ages and abilities. Every No Fuss event is geared towards both participants and families, with entertainment and music for all and an après event party for those who can still summon up the energy!
The full programme for 2009:
Saturday 7 March 2009 - The Wee Triathlon, Lochaber
Kick start your year with a half triathlon in the Outdoor Capital of the UK. Competitors from 15 to 50+ will tackle a 400m swim, a 10 mile mountain bike ride and a 3 mile cross country run finishing in Fort William. Run in association with Off Beat Bikes the course is limited to 72 participants across four different categories attracting young and old alike. Would you believe it; The Wee Triathlon is fully booked and there is a waiting list of 17. If this reaches 35 No Fuss will run a second Wee Triathlon on Sunday 8th March. Watch the website for any announcements.
The Benromach Three Tens Series 2009
The three races are run on an endurance format with teams and individuals competing to see who can complete the most laps in the 10 hours. Participants can compete as a solo or in relay teams of two, three or four. All events are a real family day out with entertainment and music for all. For each event race registration and pre race party commence on the Friday evening, with the race scheduled to start at 0900 on Saturday; and an après race party going on late into Saturday night for those who have the energy!
Saturday 30 May 2009 - 10 Under the Ben, Fort William
Now in its fifth year 10 Under the Ben is a must do for all mountain bike enthusiasts. 10 Under the Ben is the first of the three tens event series, an opportunity for recreational riders, racers, off road riders and weekend warriors to get out and get on their bikes. Riders will again be treated to an awesome course incorporating sections of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships cross country course as well as some stunning sections of singletrack and fire roads in the shadow of the north face of the UK's highest mountain, Ben Nevis.
Saturday 11 July 2009 -10 at Kirroughtree, Newton Stewart
Galloway Forest Park is the venue for the second of the Three Tens event series. This venue, tucked away in the South West of Scotland, which is famous for its fast flowing singletrack and superb mountain bike trails, proved its reputation in 2007 & 2008 and the No fuss team expect record numbers to race in 2009. No Fuss has been working with Forestry Commission to ensure that some new natural sections of trail will make this event even better than last year.
Saturday 22 August 2009 - 10 More in Moray, Fochabers
Number three of The Three Tens Event Series sees the No Fuss Team set up camp in the North East of Scotland. 10 More in Moray is based at Milne's High School in Fochabers. Ordequish Woods provides an excellent environment for this event; the climbs are just enough of a test and the excitement of the singletrack trails like the Haggis and the Soup dragon will put a smile on the face of any off road rider.
Saturday 18 July 2009 - Glen Nevis River Race, Fort William
Re introduced to the Lochaber calendar for 2008, this event enjoyed a high profile in the past as a spectacle and as a good fundraising event (funds raised going to Lochaber Mountain Rescue, the UK's busiest mountain rescue team) and fits in exactly with the current profile of Lochaber as the Outdoor Capital of the UK. The river race involves participants negotiating a 2-mile stretch of the River Nevis on an air-bed (Lilo), navigating the Gurgling Gorge, the Leg Breaker and the Lower Falls Leap!
Saturday 01 August 2009 - The Hope Endurance Downhill, Fort William
The most extreme downhill mountain biking endurance race in the UK, perhaps the World, will be staged on the internationally renowned downhill track at Nevis Range near Fort William - home to the 2007 Mountain Bike World Championships. As one of the longest and most physically demanding courses on the international mountain bike race circuit, riders of this gruelling event will need physical strength, quick reflexes, superb bike control and an unerring eye for the right line as they speed down the 2.82km track. They will also need huge amounts of stamina in order to ride the track as many times as possible in six hours!
Saturday 19 September 2009 - The Big Ben Nevis Triathlon, Fort William
The Big Ben Nevis Triathlon will offer competitors the opportunity to test their skills, stamina and endurance away from smooth, predictable tarmac and calm inland waters of other, more traditional 'tri' events. This triathlon will pit entrants against the choppy waters of a freezing cold highland sea loch, the long, loose climbs and fast singletrack descents of Glen Nevis, and the final, monster challenge - a hill run, up (and then back down) Ben Nevis, The UK's highest and most feared mountain. The Half Big Ben Nevis Triathlon which runs in conjunction with the Big One has nominally be awarded the inaugural Offroad Triathlon Championship status by Triathlon Scotland.
Saturday 26 September 2009 - Gallup and Grind, Fort William
Gallup and Grind is a fourteen-mile duathlon - a three and a half mile run, jog or walk followed by a nine-mile cycle (any combination counts!) - on some of the most scenic trails and roads in the Outdoor Capital of the UK - in aid of Highland cancer care. All sponsor money raised will be split between both the Belford Hospital, Fort William and the Oncology Ward 2c at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.
Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 October 2009 Relentless 24
(24 hour cross country mountain bike marathon)
The Relentless 24 will take place on the world renowned Witch's Trail and recently constructed UCI Mountain Bike World Championships courses in Forestry Commission Scotland's Leanachan Forest with the event hub being based at Nevis Range, Fort William. Beginning with a Le Mans style racing start, more than 400 mountain bike riders from across the UK and beyond will battle it out on world-class trails, from Saturday lunchtime deep into the night, with the event concluding at 12 noon on Sunday 11 October.
For more details, prices and booking details go to
www.nofussevents.co.uk
