Cyclists can test their skills as well as new bikes on the terrain near Hurricane, Utah, at the Hurricane Mountain Bike Festival. (Hurricane Mountain Bike Festival)
Over the Edge Sports is hosting the sixth annual Hurricane Mountain Bike Festival March 18 through 20 in Hurricane, Utah. Bikes and gear from 21 companies are available to participants of the event.
DJ Morisette, the festival's director and part owner of Over the Edge Sports, said 'world class riding trails' and 'the best bikes in the industry' draw participants to the festival.
Morisette said last year's event brought riders from Israel, Australia and Germany.
For a $55 admission fee, riders have access to a variety of high-end bicycles, shuttle rides to the trails and perks such as attending skill clinics and a dutch oven dinner during the three-day event. Daily passes are $35 and give participants access to the demo and shuttles for the day.
For those looking for a little bit of a different adventure, a pump track will also be available at the event. Riders 'pump' their bikes up and down on a series of mounds to get around the track with minimal pedaling.
Cyclists gathered in the desert of southern Utah during last year's Hurricane Mountain Bike Festival. (Hurricane Mountain Bike Festival)
Bryce King, recreation director for Hurricane city, said southern Utah is growing in popularity with mountain bikers. He said events like this bring more business to the city's restaurants and hotels.
'The City of Hurricane is one of the big sponsors as well as the Washington County Tourism Center,' Morisette said. 'They recognize that mountain biking is huge in this area and that it's great for the economy. And, they are definitely behind us all the way and want to see this event continue to be successful and grow.'
King suggested that people who can't make this weekend's event keep an eye out for next year's, which will probably be scheduled for the second or third week of March.
King also said the city hosts a variety of outdoor events such as the annual Peach Days Festival, the Hurricane Triathlon and the Hurricane Half-Marathon.