2010 Fall Tilt in Telluride 1

September 14, 2010 (Mountain Village, Colo.) – The leaves are turning, the days are shorter, and the air is a bit cooler. This all translates to one thing: it’s fall time in the mountains, and the end of bike season. For those who aren’t quite ready to put their bikes away just yet, Mountain Village has you covered. The second annual Fall Tilt in Telluride returns to the San Juan Mountains, September 24 and September 25. 

“We expect to see some of the region’s best and toughest riders participate in Fall Tilt, and showcase their endurance and strength,” said Mountain Village Community Relations Manager Nichole Zangara. “After talking to riders who participated in the Mountain States Cup Series event, Full Tilt, the San Juan backdrop is pretty unbeatable. I can’t think of a better way to end one’s bike season than riding killer terrain while soaking in some of the most jaw-dropping scenery imaginable. We are expecting a solid turnout for this event, and some of the fastest speeds ever.”

As far as the race goes, it works like this: The race is capped at 75 on-course riders, which translates to over 100 competitors on race day. There will be mandatory practice Friday and race day is Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; riders will utilize the gondola both days. The winners of each class and category are determined by the total number of laps completed in a 12-hour period. There are no ties. CJ Sports Timing will time every lap of every rider to determine the winners just in case there is a tie in the number of laps. Riding after dark will require the use of approved front-mounted bike lights. If a rider intends to run the last hours of the race and doesn’t have an adequate lighting system, they won’t be allowed on the course. 

Currently, Fall Tilt registration is available online at BikeReg.com, and it will end Thursday, September 23 at 6 p.m. After that, a $20 on-site registration fee will apply. Participation fees range from $75 to $175, and include event registration, race plate, on-site hospitality, event after-party, and a guaranteed good time. Classes and categories include open and amateur solo and duo teams. Team class is based on best-rider-on-team skill level and only one rider per duo team is allowed on the course at any given time. As for that pretty cash purse, it stands at $2,000 minimum, and that amount will only move north as open class registration numbers increase. Cash will be paid to top finishers – first, second and third – in the open class and for all categories. The top amateurs from each category will walk away with a new riding ensemble, courtesy of DAKINE. And last, but not least, at the awards ceremony every rider will have the opportunity to win a raffle prize, compliments of the event’s sponsors. 

The Fall Tilt race course, all within the Mountain Village Bike Park, is comprised of four adjacent downhill trails that will be utilized simultaneously from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Terrain will vary from rocky, technical riding on the World Cup course to flowing, slower riding on a “recovery” trail or two. It is up to the rider’s discretion as to which trail they will use for each downhill lap. To keep the course safe for the riders and spectators, the race course will be taped and marked, closed to the general public, and patrolled and marshaled. Tech support tents and support staff will be available near the vicinity of the finish line; riders are responsible for their own repair and equipment replacement. 

This single blue, three-foot wide, 1.5-mile trail runs from the top of the Mountain Village Bike Park to the bottom with an average grade of 12%. Expect smooth, rolling, curvy cruising.

This double blue, singletrack trail cuts off from the No-Brainer Trail and reconnects after 0.3 miles. T-Bone is a good introduction to singletrack turns through the trees.

This brand new single black trail runs 0.5-miles long and branches off of No-Brainer 0.3 miles below the Mountain Village Bike Park entrance. This trail features numerous meticulously crafted berms that flow in and out of the trees adjacent to the World Cup Trail. There are plenty of opportunities for air on Pan-Coaster.

Part of the original 2002 World Cup downhill race course, this double black, rocky singletrack forks off Pan-Coaster 0.5 miles from the entrance of the Mountain Village Bike Park, and stretches 0.75 miles long. It also incorporates log jumps, steep drops and berms … a potpourri of expert downhill features.

The festivities begin Friday afternoon and continue through Saturday night with the Fall Tilt After-party.

• 6 p.m. - Online Registration Closes 

• 12 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - On-Site Registration, Packet Pick-Up, Mandatory Practice

• 8 p.m. - Mandatory Fall Tilt Riders Meeting

• 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. - Packet Pick-up, NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION RACE DAY

• 7:45 a.m. - Fall Tilt Race Briefing

• 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Fall Tilt in Telluride 12-Hour Endurance Downhill Mountain Bike Race at the Mountain Village Bike Park 

• 8:30 p.m. - Awards Ceremony and Raffle

• 10 p.m. - Fall Tilt After-Party

• Platinum – BootDoctors & Paragon, Capella Telluride, CJ Sports Timing, Dakine, Mountain Village Bike Park, San Miguel Bike Alliance, SUNRISE, Inc., Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association, Town of Mountain Village, Tracks Café and Bar

• Gold – Floradora Saloon, Honga’s Lotus Petal Restaurant, Hotel Columbia, The Last Dollar Saloon, Wells Fargo 

• Silver – American National Bank, Cosmopolitan, Grassroots Cycles, New Sheridan Hotel and Bar, The Llama, Wine Mine  

For more information regarding the race, registration and lodging, please check out the details at www.falltiltintelluride.com. To volunteer as a course marshal Friday or Saturday, call (970) 369-8236.

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Mountain Village, situated in the heart of the breathtaking San Juan Mountains, was incorporated in 1995 as a home rule municipality.  Its founders envisioned a European-style ski-in/ski-out, pedestrian-friendly destination resort that would complement the historic mining town of Telluride. A three-stage gondola transportation system connects the Town of Mountain Village with the Town of Telluride. Situated at 9,500 feet, Mountain Village is comparably a world apart from other resorts: it is innately spectacular, beautifully orchestrated and planned, and overflowing with style, charm and sophistication. For more information, please visit us on the Web at www.townofmountainvillage.com.