Our sister publication Mountain Biking UK is offering one lucky UK-based rider the chance to take part in the Mega Avalanche endurance race on Reunion Island, just off the east coast of Africa. The lucky winner will also bag an Iron Horse MK III Comp X bike, worth £1,799.
So, what's the Mega Avalanche all about, I hear you ask? MBUK’s Andrew Dodd explains all…
Every summer, hundreds of riders make the pilgrimage to one of the most extreme mountain bike events ever dreamt up – the Mega Avalanche. It’s the original mass-start race from the very top of Alp d’Huez in France, where competitors flood the slopes for an hour of energy sapping madness that has adrenaline racing through your veins.
But there are two other Mega Avalanches that not so many people know about – one in Peru and one in the French colonised Reunion Island, which is the destination for our amazing competition to ‘Win The Ride Of Your Life’.
Situated off the east coast of Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean, Reunion Island is a tropical island that has many similarities to Hawaii and houses two active volcanoes. One of these, the Piton Des Neiges, is among the most active in the world and has had more than 100 eruptions since 1640 – although thankfully none while the race has been going on.
About 160 competitors get the privilege of entering this amazing race which takes place in late November each year and attracts some of the best riders in the world. In 2008 Remy Absalon, Fabien Barel and Danny Hart were just some of the top names who took part. However, with 98 per cent French competitors, and many of them being enduro specialists, the challenge is ultra tough. Reckon you could hack it?
What does a Mega Avalanche involve?
To ride a Mega Avalanche event, you must be fit, strong and a good bike handler – as well as having balls of steel and plenty of stamina. You’re allowed plenty of time to practise sections of track, and given that you’re descending for a good hour, you need to know about hidden dangers and fast lines. But you don’t want to overdo it in practice or you’ll be fried come the mass start – the smaller Reunion event sees a 160-man start for those who qualify, whereas the monster Alp d’Huez event sees nearly 400 people battling it out. First man down takes the win.
Let the energy-sapping madness commence
Mega Events
The organisers of the Mega Avalanche series don’t just run the zany Mega races, there are lots of other events, all based around an enduro format.
Other events include the Avalanche Cup, the Avalanche Enduro, the Avalanche Maxi and the incredibly tough epic Transvesubienne. Check out the Avalanche website for details of their exciting events.
Win the ride of your life!
To win this amazing prize won't be a walk in the park; it’s going to be hard work. What we’re looking for is the most suitable rider to tackle the most demanding terrain in the world.
The winner of this competition will need to be fit, strong and able to thrash a bike for an hour on physically demanding terrain alongside 39 other riders. To pick this winner, we’ll be holding four heats to analyse and test your riding.
In these heats you’ll be briefed by Iron Horse professional riders Rob Lee and Ben Reid, and will be shown a variety of techniques to help you on your way.
You’re there to push your riding, and to show us why you’re better than those you’re up against.
How to enter
We want to know what kind of rider you are, where you ride, how you ride, the skills you want to learn – and to see you in action.
So get your friends together and make a video CV documenting you and your riding, and we’ll take care of the rest. It only needs to be a couple of minutes long – but remember that first impressions count.
First Place
An Iron Horse Mk III Comp X, worth £1,799, and a trip to Reunion Island to take place in the Mega Avalanche event (flights, race entry, accommodation and transfers included). You’ll also be featured in MBUK magazine, showing our readers what you’re made of.
Second Place
A pair of Northwave SPD shoes worth £79.99
Third Place
A pair of Continental tyres worth £60
Entry form
Print out this form and post it with your video CV to:
The MBUK/Iron Horse Enduro Avalanche Challenge, MBUK, Future Publishing, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, BA1 2BW.
Yes! I’m a serious rider who fancies themselves as a bit handy, both up and down, on, off and over. I’m ready to drop everything and roll up for the Enduro Challenge
Name: ..............................................................
Age: .................................................................
Address: .........................................................
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E-mail: .............................................................
Phone (day-time): .........................................
Signature: ......................................................
Type of bike I ride mostly: ...........................
Main types of riding I do:
Downhill Cross-country Enduro Freeride Jumping Urban
Terms and Conditions
By entering the competition, I hereby acknowledge and agree that:
- I am familiar with the nature of the mountain biking activity that I wish to undertake, I am a competent rider and acknowledge the risks involved.
- I declare that I am in good health and that I am not suffering from any other medical condition or disability which is likely to adversely affect my normal bike control or which might make it unsafe for me to ride.
- I accept that I shall be solely responsible for any decision as to my fitness to participate in any activity and as to whether to continue to ride at any time. I understand that Future Publishing Limited may require me to undertake a riding assessment before participating in the event and reserves the right to prevent me riding at its discretion.
- I, the undersigned, hereby declare that I fully understand that mountain biking can be dangerous; I understand that I am obliged to obey any instruction given to me during the course of the event.
- In the event of any accident I hereby agree to hold harmless and keep indemnified Future plc and Future Publishing Limited, their staff, officials, representatives, agents, sub-contractors and members, each and every one of them from and against all actions, costs, expenses, claims and demands in respect of injury, loss or damage, to person or property of myself or my guests accompanying me, however caused or arising out of in connection with my entry or to my taking part in the event.
- Entrants must be over 18.
- Entrants must be able to make their own way to the UK departure airport.
- Dates of flights and departure airport will be decided by Future and are not negotiable.
- Closing date 25 March, 2009