An impressive new bike park that includes a skills section and a jump section will open at the Cedar Glades Trailhead of the Northwoods Trail System on Saturday, November 16, as part of the Güdrun three-day mountain bike festival in Hot Springs.
The Güdrun festival will run from November 15 through November 17 and will include a Slow Roll Ride through downtown Hot Springs that includes a ride through the lobby of the Arlington Hotel; a mountain bike expo at the Hot Springs Convention Center; a series of competitive rides on the Northwoods and Cedar Glades Park trails; a bonfire celebration and a drawing for a Salsa Timberjack mountain bike.
The opening of the new bike park will take place at 3 p.m. November 16 and will include a Jump Jam that is free and open to the public.
The Northwoods Bike Park was funded by Garland County, Steuart Walton, Tom Walton and the Walton Family Foundation.
“We are extremely grateful to Tom Walton, Steuart Walton and the Walton Family Foundation for this tremendous addition to Hot Springs,” said Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs.
The park, which has seven wood features, dirt berms and rollers, was constructed by the International Mountain Bike Association and McGill Trail Fabrication Ltd of Colorado.
“Northwoods Bike Park is suitable for beginners through advanced riders,” said Traci Berry, trails coordinator for Visit Hot Springs. “We are excited to show off the new bike park during the Güdrun Mountain Bike Festival’s Jump Jam event, and we invite the public to come watch this exciting event.”
The first ever Güdrun – Northwoods Mountain Bike Festival is dedicated to celebrating the first anniversary of the opening of Hot Springs’ nationally acclaimed new system of mountain bike trails in the northern section of the city.
The Slow Roll Ride through the downtown area, sponsored by Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, will include a trip that travels through the Arlington Hotel at the northern end of Bathhouse Row.
“We will be riding up Central Avenue to Fountain Street, then onto the Arlington veranda, through the front doors into the lobby then out the back valet doors back out onto Central and then make a loop around Whittington Avenue and back to the Bank OZK Arena starting point,” said Traci Berry, trails coordinator for Visit Hot Springs. “Participants in the Slow Roll will be getting some sweet gifts, including a long-sleeve T-shirt, a Specialized [cq] water bottle and DeFeet socks.
“Riders are encouraged to dress in costume and a prize package will be awarded to the best costume.
“We are inviting everyone to join us November 15 – 17 as we celebrate the anniversary of the opening of the Northwoods Trails with a weekend of mountain bike fun for all ages,” Berry said.
“In November 2018, the Northwoods Trails System was opened to the public. Now, with Phase One of the Northwoods complete we have 15.7 miles of trails open, with more planned for subsequent phases of the project.”
THE GUDRUN MTB FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15
• 12 p.m. — Güdrun Registration and Expo opens at the Hot Springs Convention Center (closes at 7 p.m.)
• 2 p.m. — Mini-Enduro Pre-Ride at Waterworks Trailhead
• 7 p.m. — Güdrun Beer Release and Northwoods Birthday Bash at Superior Bathhouse Brewery
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16
• 9 a.m. — Slow Roll registration at Bank OZK Arena back parking lot (closes at 10:30 a.m.)
• 11 a.m. — Slow Roll Downtown from the Bank OZK parking lot through the Historic Arlington Hotel, around Whittington Avenue and back to the starting line at the arena
• 11 a.m. — Vendors Open at Cedar Glades Park
• 12:30 p.m. — Northwoods Trails Birthday Cake at Cedar Glades
• 1 p.m. — Cedar Glades Climbing Wall (closes at 3 p.m.)
• 1 p.m. — Attila the Hun Course pre-ride
• 1 p.m. —- Güdrun Mini-Enduro
• 3 p.m. — Güdrun Jump Jam
• 5 p.m. — Afterparty Bonfire at Cedar Glades with limbo, bunny hops and more
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17
• 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Attila the Hun XC Mountain Bike Race at Cedar Glades Park
• 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. — Güdrun Afterparty at Red Light Roastery Coffee House.
(All Times are subject to change.)
The Salsa Timberjack mountain bike that will be given away was donated by Parkside Cycle and Salsa Bikes. The specs for the bike are: Frame: Aluminum;
Fork: SR Suntour XCR 34 Air 130 mm travel, 15 x 110mm; Drivetrain: Shimano Deore; Brakes: Hydraulic Disc Brakes — Shimano MT201, 180mm front and 160mm rear rotors. Participants in the Gudrun events will be registered for the bike drawing. Register for all Gudrun events at http://gudrunmtbfest.com/
The Güdrun Festival was named after a Germanic heroic legend, Berry said.
“Güdrun was a warrior. A Viking!. Wife to Attila the Hun and later defeater of the Huns,” she said.
When completed, future phases of the Northwoods Trail System will provide 44.6 miles of mountain bike trails that will be among the best in North America, according to Arrison. A starting date on construction of the second phase will be announced later.
For more information contact Traci Berry at 501-321-2027.
