With a mix of uphill, downhill, serious competition and family fun, the Annual Wilmington Whiteface Bike Fest is set for June 14-17, 2012. The weekend’s free family-friendly events begin with “Fun not Fear” mountain bike instruction for beginners at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 14. In addition to the many free family-oriented events, the weekend also includes a freestyle bike-jumping event, and three sanctioned competitions including the a qualifier for the Leadville Trail 100.
On Friday, spectators will enjoy incredible stunts, jumps and tricks at the Kyle Ebbett and Friends Jump Jam and Trials exhibition at the Wilmington Bike Park from 6:00-8:00 p.m., followed by the welcome party at Steinhoff’s Sportsman’s Inn, featuring live entertainment, a raffle, prizes and the “Best Calves of Wilmington” contest.

Saturday, June 16 features the 11th Annual Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race beginning at 8:00 a.m. The race is part of the BUMPS (Bike Up the Mountain Point) series that comprises ten races on mountains of the Northeast, on courses of varying lengths and pitches.

The Uphill Bike Race will be followed by the Whiteface downhill dual slalom races, which begin at noon. At 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, a parade of costumed riders and decorated bikes will participate in the “Brainless not Chainless Gravity Ride” from Santa’s Workshop downhill to Lake Everest in Wilmington, where the BikeFest Beach Party begins at 5:00 p.m. with music, vendors, a pro rider exhibition, family games, and awards for the Gravity Rides best costume and best decorated bike.

Sunday’s action includes the Pro GRT Whiteface 7th Annual 5k Down Hill. This event is expected to draw approximately 200 professional and amateur racers.

And the 2nd Annual Wilmington/Whiteface 100k Race takes place with a shotgun start at 7:00 a.m. The 100k race is a qualifier for the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race.

For mountain bikers who like high elevation racing on the most rugged of terrain, the Leadville Trail 100 is the holy grail. As one of the most well-known mountain bike races, getting into the Leadville Trail 100 has always been difficult.One way to get in is by racing in one of the six 2012 LT100 Qualifiers across the country, each offering 100 total qualifying starting positions.

The race will start and finish at Whiteface Mountain, home of the 1980 Olympic alpine competitions, and weave its way through jeep roads, back country tails, Jay and Saddleback mountains and through the towns of Wilmington, Jay, Lewis, Elizabethtown and Keene before a grueling 2,501-feet climb awaits the racers at Whiteface ahead of the finish line.

“There’s something there for everyone,” said the LT 100 qualifying series technical director David Weins, a six-time LT 100 champion. “From single track, rugged back country roads, gravel and dirt roads, not to mention the climbs and descents, this course is going to offer a significant challenge. Perhaps similar to the LT 100 itself.”

For more information about the weekend’s events, and to register contact the Whiteface Region Business & Tourism Center at 518.946.2255 or email info@whitefaceregion.com.

Photos: 2011 Whiteface/Wilmington 100k racers and winners of the 2011 Brainless not Chainless Gravity Ride.