Junior Bike Week this weekend

Hundreds of young shredders to hit the area

By Than Acuff

You may have noticed the onslaught of young bikers and their families rolling into town recently. They’re here for the annual Junior Bike Week presented by Shimano and put on by Crested Butte Devo Wednesday through Sunday, June 26-30, based behind the Crested Butte Community School.

It’s the eighth year for the kid-centric bike festival and while plenty of racing is on tap the event includes plenty more for both visitors and locals alike.

The festival kicked off Wednesday with some work on the Crested Butte Bike Park and kicks into gear on Thursday, June 27 with the festival opening party presented by Orange and the Avery trail at Crested Butte Mountain Resort open for training laps for the start of racing on Friday.

Race fans and hotrodders will then line up Friday, June 28 for the first of three racing events throughout the festival, the Downhill on Avery supported by Oakley, Hand Up and Troy Lee designs. It’s the first year Junior Bike Week is hosting a downhill race with kids ages 8-18 years old bombing down the track from 9-11 a.m. for training runs and the racing begins at 11:15 a.m. 

Remaining in the spirit of Junior Bike Week, there are other activities for kids and families with the Ritual Film Tour coming to the Center for the Arts Friday night. It’s a collection of bike films—the evening includes a raffle and it’s open to the public. Doors open at 6 p.m. and show starts at 7 p.m. with proceeds benefitting Crested Butte Devo.

Saturday, June 29 is one of those days when the festival aspect of the whole event really kicks in and it’s all based out of event headquarters behind the community school.

There are skills clinics, a pump track challenge for riders under eight years old and a Foot Down competition supported by Ride Concepts. The main event will be Short-Track racing presented by Orange Seal, Oakley and 7iDP following a course in and around the gravel pit and Tommy V Field from 9-11 a.m. Short-Track racing is also new to the Junior Bike Week line up of competitive events and is nonstop, spectator friendly excitement.

Junior Bike Week concludes on Sunday, June 30 with the event that started it all, the Junior Wildflower Classic presented by Berkshire-Hathaway HomeSevices, Osprey Packs and ESI Grips. This cross-country race has been the staple of Junior Bike Week and all the action starts at 8:30 a.m. with a collection of courses utilizing the Lupine Trail system, Lower Loop and Woods Walk. Gunnison Valley Orthopedics will be out and about to provide medical support for the race.

For more information check out juniorbikeweek.com.