Graeme Simpson: Busy time for mountain biking

Slopestyle happens tomorrow. Photo/Clint Trahan

These columns are very easy to write at the moment. There's so much on.

For starters, it's the final weekend of Crankworx Rotorua part 3. The weather has been unco-operative on and off since New Year, including this week. However, the next couple of days are looking settled. I'm media-accredited. However, I've also bought a VIP pass for Slopestyle Sunday. It really was a case of why not. It is a special occasion. You can get tickets here for the weekend: www.crankworx.com/rotorua/tickets-vip/. Treat yourself to a VIP pass!

On from 7pm tonight is the Mountain Bikers Ball at The Blue Baths supported by Crankworx. Paula Alexander is one of the organisers of the ball, along with Philly Angus, Susan Brown, Carol Tew, Sophie Gimblett and James Alexander.

"It's a chance for everyone, non-mountain bikers and mountain bikers to come together under one roof, let their hair down and support a very important cause," says Paula.

The ball committee wants to bring awareness to suicide prevention and the importance of post-concussion recovery. All the funds raised from the event will go towards local mental health services and the Rotorua Mountain Bike Club First Response Unit.

"Rotorua has the second highest increase in suicide year on year after Canterbury. It is so sad," Paula says. "Many people are affected, not only the ones suffering from mental illness but, also those left behind. We want to make a difference."

You can help. Get your tickets from the What's On page at www.bluebaths.co.nz/.
There is also entry at The Blue Baths, today and tonight.

Cyclezone are hosting an E-Bike Info Morning, on Thursday at 10am, at 1299 Fenton St.

"It's a chance to ask any questions you may have on E-Bikes, find out how they can benefit your riding and even try a couple in our car park in a relaxed and friendly environment," says Philly Angus from Cyclezone. "E-bikes allow people to ride with injury, recover from illness, improve fitness and ride further ... and they're fun."

Please RSVP to Philly at admin@cyclezone.co.nz - to make sure there's enough coffee and cake.

The 15th XTERRA Rotorua Festival is on next Saturday. There are walking and running events, a mountain bike race and the main event, the off-road triathlon. I've marshalled at all but one of these and love it. Deputy mayor Dave Donaldson helps design the course and wrangles the MTB marshalling team. You can still enter: www.xterra.co.nz.

And entries go live, today, for the 2017 Singlespeed World Championships on November 18: sswc2017rotorua.nz. This is open to anyone. You don't even have to be a singlespeeder. Back in 2010 when Rotorua hosted the event for the first time, a large number of the 1000 riders singlespeeded their bikes for the day. It's worth it to be part of a very entertaining event.