PRESS RELEASE: Sea Otter Classic and Truvativ are pleased to announce a comprehensive makeover for Sea Otter’s current downhill course. Bike park builders Momentum Trail Concepts will author and implement course renovations with the collaborative project slated for the spring of 2011.
Sea Otter serves as cycling’s opening event each year, kicking off the riding season by offering racing in nearly every mountain bike discipline, the festival features downhill (DH) as one of its premier competitions, drawing competitors and journalists from around the world. Located on the Laguna Seca Recreational Area in the Monterey County Parks system, the existing course is exhibiting signs that it’s been well loved with the resulting wear and tear causing impacts to the course’s flow.
“Truvativ’s parent company SRAM has never failed to creatively add to the event – for over a decade their partnership has made Sea Otter a better experience for attendees and competitors alike,” offers Sea Otter president and CEO Frank Yohannan, “Their contribution on the downhill course project and the high bar they’ve established for what success looks like maintains that tradition. Their efforts will make the 2011 course better for athletes in all categories.”
Late last year Truvativ’s Benny Cruickshank, Morgan Meredith and Tyler Morland approached Sea Otter’s operations team with a proposal designed to enhance the quality, sustainability and fun factor for the track. The project gained momentum with the addition of established bike park builders, professional gravity riders and trail builders Momentum Trails Concepts (MTC).
“We love what the festival has come to mean to the cycling community and we’re exited that we’ve been able to help coordinate the DH course project,” states Truvativ’s Tyler Morland, “We wanted to make an impact on the gravity side of the event that would benefit everyone. To Sea Otter’s credit, they were in 100% agreement. The addition of Momentum Trail Concepts provided us with a partner that understood the history and the issues, yet brought practical-minded solutions to address them.”
A joint site visit with all three partners resulted in a master document outlining changes and upgrades to be performed by MTC in advance of the 2011 festival. Truvativ’s assistance comes in the form of a trail maintenance grant with the brand helping underwrite significant course upgrades including;
1. An emphasis placed on sustainability throughout the design and build process.
2. That the course become more accessible and more importantly, more fun for riders of all levels.
3. That rider safety is addressed through thoughtful design and meticulous building practices.
“We all know what Sea Otter means to the cycling community,” says Momentum Trail Concepts’ Matt Thompson, “We’re excited to add to its legacy by helping to implement changes that will stand the test of time, enhance flow and provide more fun for riders of all abilities.”
The two-week course build is slated to begin on April 3rd. A complete list of course changes can be found on Sea Otter’s Facebook page, with an open-to-the-public online chat featuring Truvativ’s Tyler Morland and MTC’s Matt Thompson slated for the week of March 14, 2001 on the page. In keeping with Truvativ’s “Every ride has a story” philosophy, they’ll document the build with a series of videos to be published on the SRAM blog and Facebook page in addition to select online media outlets.
In related news, two other changes are on deck for this year, although both take place off-course. The first is a dedicated spectator shuttle with service between the expo area and downhill finish. The second? Ice-cold Sierra Nevada served at the finish in the new beer garden.
