Sunday, July 13. Packer Saddle to Downieville. 5,333' descent / 1,010' ascent.
Dropping 5,000 vertical feet in 17 miles from Packer Saddle to Downieville, the Downieville Downhill is the longest and most demanding downhill mountain bike race in the nation. This prestigious race course follows the paths of the Sunrise Trail, Butcher Ranch Trail, Third Divide Trail and First Divide Trail. It's big, it's bad and it's beautiful.
Sunrise Trail is a newly constructed trail, located mostly on private land at the top of Packer Saddle (elevation 7100'). It was designed and built by the staff at Yuba Expeditions and by volunteers working with the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship. Described by some as a Pump Track, the Sunrise Trail proudly features banked turns, reverse grades, rolling dips and even a few G-outs. It is an action-packed, adrenaline-rushing, heart-pounding two miles of trail, and it's only the beginning. The 2 mile trail stretches back and forth across the hillside connecting Butcher Ranch Trail.
Butcher Ranch Trail is the trail that made Downieville famous for singletrack, and it's for good reason - this trail rocks! Butcher starts as a steep, 40+mph doubletrack with two-wheel drifty corners and big, smooth table-top jumps. Fun if you're fresh, nerve racking if you're fatigued. After a little more than a mile, Butcher narrows down to a tightly forested, rocky singletrack. The trail is fast, it's slow, it's smooth, it's rocky as hell; metaphorically speaking, Butcher Ranch Trail has it all, including a 700' climb midway to the Third Divide trailhead. This painstaking climb is where the Downieville Downhill can be won or lost. Racers either stand up and pin it, or lower their head in exhaustion and defeat. Which will you be?
The Third Divide Trail is 3 miles of Sierra singletrack bliss, and despite being the fastest section of the course, it's where racers must find a way to relax and regain some composure after the climb. Third Divide drops into the Lavezzola Creek drainage and eventually hooks-up with First Divide Trail, a 2.5 mile roller coaster where the real pedal work starts. It's also another section of the course that can make you or break you. Following First Divide is a 1.5 mile sprint down Main Street to the finish line. The Downieville Downhill is the Ironman of mountain bike downhill events and we're proud to be able to bring it to you.
DOWNHILL REGISTRATION DETAILS:
The Downieville Downhill is limited to 200 participants.
Pre-registration is a MUST.
Active.com REGISTRATION LINK
Downieville Downhill Race, July 13th
http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1572126
Pre-Registration: $100.00
Online starting April 21st at 8:00pm.
On-Site Registration Friday July 11:
3:00-7:00pm in Downieville at the Community Hall.
Packet and number pick-up for XC and DH.
Saturday July 12 in Downieville at Community Hall:
5:00-6:00pm Packet and number pick-up.
SundayJuly 13 on Packer Saddle:
Please note that it takes approximately one hour to reach Packer Saddle from Downieville, so give yourself plenty of time to get to the race start.
7:00-9:00am Packet and number pick-up.
9:00am Racer Registration CLOSES. No exceptions.
9:30am Start of Downieville Downhill Race.
START TIMES / CATEGORY:
Race start is at 9:30am. Riders depart from Packer Saddle in one minute intervals.
Category 1: Pro
Category 2: Expert
Category 3: Sport
$15 of each race entry fee will go directly to the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, to be used for trail maintenance and restoration work on the Downieville Trail System. Fees also include; insurance, accurate computerized timing, EMT support, aid stations with refreshments, catered lunch, shuttle service from Downieville to Packer Saddle following the event, event socks, pint glass filled with cold beer at the finish, grab bag- properly equipped, Downieville School kitchen rental, Downieville Community Hall rental, Sierra County Special Use fees, US Government Special Use fees, including surveys of reproductive pattern of California Spotted Owl territory S1057 / Northern Goshawk territory D53T13, and a whole mess of porta-potties, garbage cans and recycling receptacles. THIS IS NOT A NORBA EVENT. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PURCHASE A MEMBERSHIP OR ADDITIONAL INSURANCE.
GETTING TO THE DH START AT PACKER SADDLE:
Racers must get themselves to the race start. Complimentary racer shuttles will return riders to Packer Saddle following the race. Leaving from Downieville it will take you approximately one hour to get to Packer Saddle. Take Hwy 49 heading east through Sierra City to Bassetts. Turn left onto Gold Lake Hwy. Go for 1 mile and turn left heading towards Sardine Lake. Take the first right turn and follow it to Packer Lake. Follow the signs to the saddle.
PARKING AND RACER SHUTTLE:
We encourage you to arrive early. Parking will be available at Packer Saddle, as well as at Packer Lake. Be sure that your vehicle is completely off the road surface or it may be towed at your expense.
Return shuttles will be running to Packer Saddle from 11:00am - 3:00pm, departing on the hour.
Note: If you are being dropped off at Packer Saddle by a friend- parking in Downieville is limited to the following areas: Hwy 49, both north and south of Downieville, the USFS Downieville Ranger Station, located across the bridge from the Pizzeria, and at Cannon Point, which is approximately 100 yards west of town on Hwy 49.
Special Note: nothing makes the local CHP happier than writing mountain bikers tickets. Don't give him the pleasure, please be smart about where you park, especially in town, or you will be ticketed and towed!
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