Rides & Events
2006 Jun 17
bhp Billiton Big Ring Challenge 2006 Race Report
GHORBA would like to announce the success of its 2006 annual fundraiser, the bhp Billiton Big Ring Challenge 2006 mountain bike race. The race was held at the Double Lakes recreation Area in the Sam Houston National Forest May 6 & 7, 2006. This race is one of eight races held around the state of Texas as part of the Texas Mountain Bike Racing Association (TMBRA) Texas Championship Series.
Over 1100 attendees and 450 racers participated in the Big Ring Challenge 2006, again breaking the one-day attendance record for the Double Lake Recreation Area. For the main race on Sunday racers were split into three classes of Beginners, Sport, and Expert/Profession racers.
Family Events
Family focused events held on Saturday included a Kid’s Kup race for children 12 and under, a “Fun Race” that included a slow-race, a bunny-hop race, and a “bike toss.” Family events concluded on Saturday evening with enthusiastic individuals and families participating in Karaoke.
Beginner Racers
GHORBA focused the marketing of the race to first-time and beginner racers in order to grow the sport and reach out to a non-traditional bicyclist racing community. The success of the campaign was evidenced by the record breaking 80 “first-time” racers that participated in the event. GHORBA also promoted the race to the general riding community and beginners in the Houston area through skill’s clinics and non-traditional newspaper ads. Thanks to the generous support of over 15 Houston area sponsors every beginner racer in the event received a prize for their participation through a beginner raffle. Typically only 10-15% of the racers receive prized through a raffle.
Where the money goes
GHORBA is a non-profit corporation whose vision is to establish the greater Houston area as the best off-road biking city in America. Proceeds from the race will be used to implement GHORBA’s mission and support several new trail building projects in the Houston area. GHORBA’s mission is to work with city, county, state, federal agencies, non-profits, community groups, other advocacy groups, and private land owners for to maintain and gain greater access to public and private land for recreational use. GHORBA is a conservation minded corporation that designs, builds, and maintains sustainable, multi-use, natural surface trails for the enjoyment of hikers, walkers, trail-runners, equestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized recreational users. GHORBA offers education programs to teach sustainable trail building, riding skills clinic, bicyclist safety courses, and promotes youth cycling to underprivileged skills through its Sprockids Program.
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By: Veljko
Jun 25