By STEWART GOODWIN
Above average rainfall has left many mountain bike trails damaged and debris covered, worrying race organizers who host dozens of mountain bike race events in Utah each year.
Utah is home to dozens of annual mountain bike race events that provide riders an opportunity to compete and hone their skills on some of the most challenging terrain in the country. But foul weather creates many challenges for mountain bikers and race promoters.
?Mountain bike racing is awesome, but it is so hard to ride when the rain makes the trails so wet and muddy,? said Mike Allen, a local mountain biker. ?You hate to see people ride after it rains because it leaves huge marks on the trails that make it sometimes dangerous to ride on when they dry.?
Euclid Outdoors and Sundance Ski Resort, who team up each year to sponsor a weekly mountain bike race series for riders of all abilities, were forced to cancel the season opener May 11 at Soldier Hollow due to the overly wet weather conditions.
?The course was in good shape a few weeks ago, but now it is slow and muddy,? race organizer Kip Apostol said.
He said trail conditions should improve quickly with a little sunshine.
Thanks to a few days of warm weather, trails had dried out enough to hold the annual Intermountain Cup Race Event at Soldier Hollow on May 14. Ed Chauner, the Intermountain Cup Race organizer, asked riders to stay off the trail until race day to avoid damaging the course.
Due to the excessive rain and poor weather lately, however, Sundance and Soldier Hollow have cancelled three out of four races, setting the weekly race series nearly a month and a half behind schedule. The trails are in decent shape overall in both locations, but due to some riders who mountain bike despite the rain, there are sections of single track and steep descents that have been scarred by riding in the mud.
Promoters and race organizers of the race series are encouraging riders everywhere to stay off the trails until they dry out to avoid creating further damage and to avoid potential injury as a result of crashing in sections that have been torn apart already.
Co-race promoter and racer Josey Apostol encourages riders and racers to use caution and common sense when riding on wet and muddy trails.
?It can be frustrating when you really want to ride, but you also have to keep in mind that riding in bad conditions not only can ruin trails but do significant damage to your bike,? Josey said.
Riders need to remember that extreme weather brings extreme circumstances. Fallen debris, flooded trail heads and broken up trails can create problems for even the nicest bikes and toughest riders. Riders should prepare by taking sufficient food and water with them as well as tools and extra tubes or patch kits.
