🌟🚵‍♂️ WHAKA WEEKLY 🚵‍♂️🌟 27 March 2025

🌤️ Weather: Another sunny week of 20°C weather every day….yawn….love it tho! 😎☀️🌱 Dirt: Dryer than a moth sandwich. 🏜️🐛

Mokopuna

Looking its best with lots of work over the last few weeks to get it tippy top! Cheers to all the crew who have got stuck in and got the work done 💪, and thanks so much for all the people who gave them the thumbs up 👍 and said thank you as they walked past—it really means a lot! ❤️

Mad If You Don't & Be Rude Not To

Well this adopter heard the shout-out loud and clear! 📢 It’s drains season! Woohoo! 💦 Thanks so much for getting out there and doing the hard mahi, you are a legend! 🏆👊

Corridor Top Jumps

Drains and blowing…still can’t quite clear that step up though! 😅🚀

Titokorangi

Drains and blowing…still pretty rough out in the open but until we get more rain 🌧️, there’s not too much we can do about it…..without just creating a dust bowl! 🌪️💨

Katore Jumps

Blowing the trail keeps the line fast and clear so you can (hopefully) clear all the jumps! Woohoo! 🎉💥

Double Down

Getting some great feedback from people loving the rebuild! 🤩 If you haven't given it a look yet, be sure to check it out! 👀🚴‍♂️

Pig Track & Piglet

The ahhhhh maaaazzzing 🤩 trail adopter has done some beautiful work out there, tickling up the vege 🥦 and opening up some drains… but no poem this time! So, just so that you all know—I refuse to compose, A poem about "Pig"? That’s not how this goes! While I’m up for writing of shovels and drainage and grit, I don’t do rhyming, and rhythm and—oh wait.....ah, dang it. 🙄✋🐷

Grinder

The awesome crew at Nduro Events, who are responsible for some of the most amazing events in the forest, are just the best ever! 🏆 Not only do they run the events, but they also do a lot of trail work before and after the events! Always leaving the trails in better condition than before, the community greatly appreciates your ethos. Thank you so very much! 🙏💙

Events 🚴🔥

The Volcanic Epic is a five-day mountain bike stage race taking place from Wednesday, March 26, to Sunday, March 30, 2025, in the Rotorua and Taupo regions of New Zealand's North Island. 🌋🚵‍♂️ This event offers riders a unique opportunity to experience diverse terrains, including geothermal areas, native forests, and world-class singletracks. 🌳🔥

🏁 Stage Breakdown

📅 Wednesday, March 26 – Stage 1: Prologue

📍 Location: Te Putake O Tawa Carpark, Tarawera Road, Rotorua📏 Distance: 21.2 km⛰️ Elevation Gain: 836 m📝 Details: The prologue sets the scene for the upcoming stages, allowing riders to familiarize themselves with the course and establish seeding for subsequent races.

🏆 Scott Taylor, aka “The Punter” aka “Barry Battler,” is leading the event! WOOHOO!!!

🎉🔥

📅 Thursday, March 27 – Stage 2

📍 Location: Te Putake O Tawa Carpark, Tarawera Road, Rotorua📏 Distance: 52.7 km⛰️ Elevation Gain: 1,911 m📝 Details: This looped stage offers flowing singletracks and challenging hills within the Whakarewarewa Forest, renowned for its world-class trails. 🌲💨

📅 Friday, March 28 – Stage 3

📍 Start Location: Lake Rotoiti Rugby Club📍 Finish Location: Te Putake O Tawa Carpark, Tarawera Road, Rotorua📝 Details: Specific details about the distance and elevation for Stage 3 are not provided, but it promises a scenic route connecting Lake Rotoiti to Rotorua.

🌅🚵

📅 Saturday, March 29 – Stage 4

📍 Location: Te Puia, Rotorua📝 Details: Stage 4 brings riders back to Rotorua's epic landscapes, featuring geothermal areas and native forests. The route includes the singletracks of Whakarewarewa Forest and the volcanic Sulphur Flats. 🌋🌳 No shuttle is needed to reach the start line.

📅 Sunday, March 30 – Stage 5

📍 Location: Government Gardens, Rotorua📝 Details: The final stage concludes the race through Rotorua's scenic terrains, offering a memorable finish at the Government Gardens in the city center. 🏁🏆

For more detailed information and updates, check out the official Volcanic Epic website! 🌐🚵‍♀️

🚴 Support the Trails!

The forest is free to access and love, but it costs A LOT to maintain. 💰 Please, please donate so we can keep the forest beautiful for everyone:

🌲💚 www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz

🙏 Thank you so much! ❤️