To cater for the growing number of mountain bike riders and their varying skill levels,  Enduro organisers have added two entry level 10km and 20km MTB events and a 50km Goat’s Knob fire road race.

These events complement the Enduro’s traditional free kids events, Tuff 20km, Filthy 50km and King Nelba 100 single track races.

Entries to the Tathra MTB Enduro are now open on the event website www.mountain biking.com.au/tathraenduro, with entry prices fixed for the third year running.

Race organiser Stacey George said it was decided to run Have-a-Go 10km and 20m races on Saturday, to encourage new riders to Have-a-Go at single track racing in a low key environment.

“The “Have-a-Go” races are lap races around the 4.5km Bundadung Schools Track, which is a great introductory single track, with only a few hills and obstacle challenges,” George said.

“The track is also ideal, as it laps back to the main event hub, so riders are never very far from home if they run out of puff and want to take a breather.”

George said the schools track offers potential racers the chance to go out and practice on it before the April Enduro.

The third new event to the 2014 mountain bike menu is a fast 50km fire road race, to cater for bike riders who like a challenge, but don’t have the inclination to ride pure single track.

The race is to be staged on fire roads north of Tathra, but it’s by no means an easy ride. 

It features over 1200 metres of climbing over 46km – and it takes riders from sea level to Dr George Mountain via Goat’s Knob and Quarry Roads. 

There’s also some other steep pinches on the return journey.

“This event will be a real challenge,” George said. 

“There’s some great descents, but there’s also some very hefty uphill. Some hard core hill training is essential for this event.”  

Meanwhile, preparations are in full swing for the fourth Enduro – with organisers revealing there will be over 10km of new trails included in the 50km and 100km events. 

“We hope new tracks and new events will keep people coming back for a new Tathra adventure,” George said .

 “We’ve also been fortunate to have National Parks provide access to some old logging trails. This opens up the southern area for us and gives different riding experience.”

Organisers are hoping for an entry field of 400 across all the events, with a good mix of locals and out of town riders.

“We’ve kept entry fees on par with the first Enduro, and our date is the opening weekend of the school holidays, so hopefully that makes us an attractive proposition for riders,” George said.

“We would also like a reasonable field, as the event raises funds for local community organisations and renewable energy projects.”

In the past two years funds raised by the Tathra Enduro have enabled all local community buildings to be powered by renewable energy.

In 2014 event funds will go towards the IMAGINE community solar farm at the Tathra sewer works. 

Under the scheme, money from the Enduro will help fund the construction of a solar farm – with the council purchasing the “clean energy” to power its sewage treatment plant. 

The farm will be 50 metres long, 14 metres wide, with the solar panels spelling out the word IMAGINE – when viewed from the air. The Bega Valley Shire Council has also committed $25,000 to the project.

For full race and entry details for the 2014 Tathra MTB Enduro visit www.mountainbiking .com.au/tathraenduro.