Men in drag join Dipper Dash fun

Photo/Ben Fraser

Local men keen to join the Dipper Dash mountain bike race have been allowed to join the fun - on the small condition they dress in drag.

The annual Dipper Dash Race for women will take part tomorrow along with the inaugural Dipper Drag Race for men.

Event organiser Leisa Tocknell said it was the first time Revolve Rotorua had put on an event for men.

She said they had had many requests around why men could not do the Dipper Dash, and there had been a lot of jokes going around that men would dress up as women in order to take part.

So organisers figured they would run with the idea and created the Dipper Drag Race - with men dressing up in women's clothing.

Mrs Tocknell said the men would not race the Dipper Trail, but would instead do a sprint up the fire road starting from Baker's Hollow, up Pohaturoa Rd and finishing at the entrance to the Dipper.

Rotorua's Neil Coull-Roberts said it was a good excuse to have fun and be part of the biking community.

Mr Coull-Roberts said he thought maintenance of the trail was a good cause.

He biked in the Redwoods a lot and thought it was good to have it sustainable.

His outfit of choice would either be his wife's onesie pyjamas or a dress, saying that could depend on what was more dispensable.

But a dress could be great ventilation while riding and help keep him cool, he said.

He said it was great having a big male and female presence in the forest and he hoped the Dipper Dash event would get more women into riding.

Rotorua's Matt Tocknell is taking part to help a good cause, plus it was a bit of fun.

"Why should the girls have all the fun?"

Revolve Rotorua is a registered charity and its main ethos is to get more women cycling and active.

Tomorrow's two events will raise money for the maintenance of the Dipper Trail.

Mrs Tocknell said it was probably one of the most loved trails.

People can register in person between 2.30pm and 3pm.

Entry is $5 and the race will start at 3.10pm.