Kona Odyssey MTB Marathon Changes Course

News Release / 16.10.2012

Now headed into its seventh edition, Australia’s toughest mountain bike marathon - the legendary Kona Odyssey - has OPENED FOR ENTRIES with news that the 100km event will feature a new loop course starting and finishing in the iconic MTB village of Forrest, in Victoria.

With a view to re-invigorating the often sold-out event, organisers have decided that the 16^th February 2013 edition will feature anew loop course making logistics easier for competitors while providing more singletrack than the Apollo Bay to Forrest course of past years.

“The new format starting and finishing in the same place will not only make race day organisation much easier for competitors,” says Rapid Ascent General Manager, Sam Maffett, “The change has also given us the opportunity to inject some fresh interest – and challenge – into the race.

“The 100km Kona Odyssey marathonhas always been equally renowned for being one of the toughest marathons in Australia; for the sense of journey the course provides;for the ancient forest landscapes it travels through; and for the quantity and quality of the single track along its length. This new course does nothing but magnify all of those aspects and makes it a better ride for everyone,” says Maffett.

The all-new start location and early course kilometres will give riders ample opportunity to self seed, but organisers warn that thecourse has by no means been geared down.

“There are still plenty of thigh busting hills,” says Maffett. “In fact, this course could be considered hillier, although the early 'unrideable' hills in the original course have disappeared, reducing the congestion factor.”

Having started in 2007, the Kona Odyssey weekend is regarded as one of Australia’s landmark mountain biking eventsknown for attracting the nation’s top riders along with up to 2,000 weekend warriors, all attempting to ride out their own mountain biking legend (or myth as it may later become around the post-race barbeque).

Date:                    Saturday, 16 February, 2013
Location:             Forrest, Otway National Park, Victoria
Distances:         100km Kona Odyssey, Forrest to Forrest
                              50km Kona Shorty, Forrest
                              15km Kona Pioneer, Forrest
Festival:               Finish your quest with a feast at the bike, food and entertainment expo

Entries are now open at www.konaodyssey.com.au.