MOUNTAINBIKING
Rotorua should get ready for an Aussie invasion on fat tyres.
That's the feelings of Australian Mountain Bike magazine editor Chris Southward, who loved the region so much, he devoted his magazine's latest cover to Rotorua The World's Best Trails.
The cover included a rapid local, 52-year-old Gary Sullivan, ripping it up as the main picture.
Inside is a 10-page spread on all the goodness that is the Rotorua trail network and the riding and other offerings of nearby Whirinaki and Taupo. Sullivan, a well-known Kiwi cycling identity, and his bike are also profiled on another two pages.
The Australian Mountain Bike magazine crew have ridden all over the world and, according to Southward, they considered Rotorua the best because of the quality and varied trails, just five minutes from the city centre.
"There's not many places in the world that can boast that ... The quality of the trails, the flow and construction and the community around it just makes [Rotorua] a special place," he told The Daily Post from Sydney.
With a readership of some 75,000 across the Ditch, and about double that riding off road, the publicity is certain to help promote Rotorua as a mountainbiking destination for Ockers.
Southward said there was already a "buzz" ahead of the article, which was the result of a five-day excursion to Rotorua before the Regional Airport went international.
"Prior to the article and since people started to catch wind to the fact we were doing it, I can't believe how many people have been e-mailing or calling and asking questions for recommendations of where to stay and what tyres to run, all that sort of stuff," Southward said.
"I know lots and lots of groups of guys who have headed or are heading over.
"Just in amongst my friends, I personally know of four groups going over in the next two to three months.
"So it's definitely got a real buzz around it ... there's definitely going to be a hell of a lot more [Australian travellers]," Southward said.
"Especially people from Sydney and you'll probably see more people from more capital cities coming too, especially if Air New Zealand does start flying services out of Melbourne and Brisbane - it'll be hell for leather."
Southward will be returning later this year to take in mountainbiking's World Single Speed Championships which are being held in Rotorua on October 23.
Meanwhile, Rotorua business Kiwibikes has come on board as naming sponsor for the single speed championships.
Jeff Anderson of Kiwibikes said: "Bikes and Rotorua are a great combination"
"The Rotorua Singlespeed Society did a fantastic job getting the Singlespeed Worlds to our town."
For Anderson it was an easy decision to get behind the event. "I'm really excited to be part of an event like this, bringing riders and supporters from New Zealand and overseas here for the week."
Aussies offer rave review of bike trails
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