With the 20th annual Pedalfest Mountain Bike Race returning to Deer Valley Resort next Saturday, race organizers are praying for warmer temperatures.
With the above-average snowfall over the winter, Deer Valley communications manager Emily Summers said the course will be manipulated a little bit but, according to crews at the resort, will be pretty similar to that of years past. Summers said crews have been working overtime to get the tracks ready for the annual race.
“The race will still be located on the lower Snow Park area,” Summers said. “But there will be snow on parts of the course.”
The race is part of the Intermountain Cup Series and Ed Chauner, the owner and director of the series, said no matter the time of the year, mountain-biking events don’t like to give weather the upper hand.
“We just have to start breaking up the snow on the trail,” he said, laughing. “It’s been a challenge this year. It’s kind of funny when you’re shoveling snow in June for a mountain-bike race.”
Chauner said he looks forward to the Pedalfest race every year because of the enthusiasm for mountain biking in Park City.
“Park City is kind of the hotbed of mountain biking now,” he said.
“It’s a very good challenging course that utilizes the great trails Park City has,” Chauner said. “It really tests the abilities of the mountain bikers. It has strenuous climbs and a technical downhill.”
He said he believes if warm weather holds throughout the weekend and into early next week, the course should be in good shape. But he said the wet and heavy winter has loomed large in the series so far this year in the series’ six previous races.
“There have been kinks all season long,” he said.
To learn more about the Pedalfest race or register online, go to www.intermountaincup.com or www.deervalley.com .