The best time of year.

After a stunning summer the days are getting shorter and the night getting longer, which can only mean one thing……………Round 1 of the H & J Outdoor Winter series for 2018 

This has to be the greatest race series held in NZ, we will be running all the usual categories and online entries are open again this year, you can take advantage of this option and save on queues on the day, by going to the website Click here and register now. By registering early, you will be guaranteed to get the 2018 race plate that you can use for the entire series. You also still have time to sort out your bike if it has been stored away since last winter, get in touch with Roly and the team at H & J Outdoor and they will sort you out with anything you need to make the series as enjoyable as they can. We thank H & J Outdoor for their generous sponsorship again and look forward to the series ahead.

 Southland Commercial and Car Painters Winter Solstice 2018

This incredible event is happening again this year and is set for Saturday the 16th of June. This is just over a month away so get on to organising your teams and start some serious training (or not as long as you have fun). Enter Here.We will bring you more details shortly on this event.  

Southland MTB AGM 

This was held on Tuesday the 10th of April. With a lot of familiar faces and some new ones to the meeting we are looking forward to the year ahead.

President Lawrence Kees 021 222 7339 president@southlandmtbclub.co.nz  

Vice President Matt McLaren 027 590 6914 

Secretary Analise Wilson  info@southlandmtbclub.co.nz  

Treasurer Jamie Cross 0272017376 

Web page Craig Holland 0274907578 

A huge thanks also goes to Brett McIntyre our past president who held the position for 5 years, and Barbara Carlaw our secretary of 2 years. Under Brett and Barbara we’ve seen record numbers at the Winter Series, an expansion and development of tracks at Bluff, as well as keeping the club in good order for a strong future.  Thanks very much for all of your efforts.

We can extend that gratitude to thank all of those who turned up and worked behind the scenes to make the club and mountainbike scene run so smoothly, helping out setting up and running events, and maintaining and digging our network of tracks.

Lend a Hand

Winter is a great time of year to get the trails in good shape for summer, so keep an eye out for notices on the Facebook page that trail work is occurring at Sandy Point and Bluff, and give the trails a bit of time after the maintenance to settle, pack down and keep in good shape for longer.  Anyone is welcome on a dig day, so if you want to get involved keep an eye on the SMTBC Facebook page. If you’ve got some suggestions for what you want to ride don’t hesitate to contact us, or come along to a monthly meeting on the second Tuesday of the month.

Club Meeting 

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday the 8th of May, 7.30 pm in the Sport Southland meeting room at the SIT Zero fees Velodrome. Look forward to seeing you there. 

Memberships 2017-2018 

As mentioned in the last newsletter these are now due for the 2018-2019 year. We have some good numbers coming in but every member helps. Please click  Here to join the club for this year. Not only are you helping with funding options you will qualify for race day savings. 

Sporty App 

If you download the sporty app on your smartphone and search for the southland mountain bike club link you will receive all info and updates direct to your phone. 

ICC Cycling Strategy

Invercargill City Council has proposed a Cycling Strategy for Invercargill. The SMTBC made a submission to ICC thanking them for the good relationship that the council and club has, especially in relation to the access to ICC land at Bluff and Sandy Point.  We put forward the necessity and club support for improving cycling road safety promotion, improvement of amenities at the Bluff MTB track car park, establishing kids cycling routes through Invercargill, and better road marking on the cycleway along Dunns Road to Sandy Point. There are probably many more things that we can work with the council on, so if you have an idea get in touch with your ICC councillor of choice, or put the idea forward through the club.

2017/2018 ILT Southland Sports Awards

The SMTBC was stoked to be able to put forward Josh Burnett in the Junior Sports Person category of this year’s awards.  Josh's consistent high performance and podium results at national and international events are backed by a disciplined mature approach to his sport. Josh gives back by sharing his knowledge gained through 10 years of racing BMX by coaching younger riders coming through the ranks. He also supports the wider mountain bike community by volunteering in track building and maintenance days at Sandy Point and Bluff Hill. At a young age Josh has contributed to the sport in a significant way, and the Southland Mountainbike Club looks forward to Josh's further success at the Lenzerheide World Champs in Switzerland. Go Josh! Good luck for making it through to the finals, we are behind you 100%.

Enjoy your riding, and we’ll see you on the trails.

Lawrence, Matt and the Committee