Calling all intermediate and secondary school riders!

The Schools MTB Fest is your chance to ride, race and hang out with other students who love mountain biking.

Over two action-packed days you can test yourself in cross-country (XCO), enduro (END) and downhill (DH) on a huge range of purpose-built mountain bike trails. Whether you’re chasing a podium spot or just keen to ride with your mates, it’s all about good trails, good vibes and great racing.

MINIMUM and MAXIMUM AGES

• The minimum age a rider shall be is 11 in the year of the race (age is calculated as at 31 December in the year of the race) and enrolled in Year 7.

• If a rider who does not meet this requirement wishes to compete they MUST first contact the organisers prior to entering the event. The event organiser will consider evidence provided to support the riders ability to complete the event and may impose additional support requirements, such as having an adult accompany the rider. Please email [email protected].
• The maximum age a rider shall be is 19 in the year of the race (age is calculated as at 31 December in the year of the race).

Trails and distances may change before the event. Any updates will be communicated via this website and social media platforms, and an updated event manual will be issued.

Event manual – filled with heaps of information

Timing

All times are subject to change.

Follow the Schools MTB Fest Facebook page for updates

Entry Fees

Online entry closes at 5pm on 17 April 2026. Entries received by 5 pm 2 April 2026 will get a personalised race plate with their name on it. All registered riders can access the free shuttles on Friday 17 April.

Ages are as of 31 December 2026.

Entry fees

Rules & Course Details

Cross-Country – XC

Trails and distances may change before the event. Any updates will be communicated via the event website and social media platforms, as well as by issuing an updated event manual.

The XCO event will be run over Grade 2 and 3 trails, starting with a gravel road climb before entering the trail network.

Ages are as of 31 December 2026.

Lap Guidelines

Enduro

Trails and distances may change before the event. Any updates will be communicated via the event website and social media platforms, and an updated event manual will be issued.

Description: Enduro will consist of the accumulated time to complete Enduro stages. Untimed transitions to the start of the next stage must be unassisted, i.e. NO SHUTTLING.

Easy or Hard? Please select when you enter. You can change on the day.

Seeding: Riders will need to self-seed within their age/gender groups.

Riders will be released from the start of each stage at 30-second intervals.

Courses: Easy (4 stages), Hard (5 stages)

Age Groups: (ages are as of 31st December 2026) U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U20

Categories: Girls, Boys.

Course and uphill routes: The trails for the Enduro stages are described in the following map sections. Riders will need to ride up the MTB trail network to get to the start points. The shuttle may be operating for other park users. As such, the shuttle road will not be closed for the event.

To avoid issues with timing, the course will remain closed until riders have completed their race.

There will be no re-runs except under exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the Race Director. Exceptional circumstances may be a rider unable to complete a stage due to a medical emergency or a rider helping an injured rider. More information on re-runs is available in the event manual.

Downhill

Ages are as of 31 December 2026.

The DH event will be run over Grades 3, 4 and 5 trails. A starting date platform will be near the container hub between upper and lower Foo Fighter.

Riders can choose which course they want to run on the day.

The time allocation for both the ‘seeding run’ and ‘race run’ allows 150 riders to be run at 30-second intervals, with a 15-minute contingency for injuries, sweeping the course, and resetting between runs.

After runs, riders will be shuttled back to the container hub at the top of the park.

The following courses are from 2025. The 2026 courses will be updated as soon as they are available.

Equipment Requirements

For equipment requirements, please refer to the MTB Protection Policy in the MTBNZ Technical Regulations. Items of note include:

Downhill

Junior – (includes U13, U14, U15, U16, U17)

Mandatory

Full-face helmet—A helmet with chin bar and meeting Safety Certification as per Enduro above.

If you are unsure whether your particular helmet meets the required standard, please consult the information provided by your helmet manufacturer.

Neck brace – Leatt (leatt.com) or similar to work with the Full Face Helmet. It is compulsory to wear either a neck brace or spinal protection and it is highly recommended to wear both.

Elbows/forearm protection – Regardless of the length of the shirt, elbow/forearm protection with the following properties:

• Self-fastening does not require auxiliary fastening devices to secure to the body.
• Elbow protectors can be stand-alone or part of a protective suit, such as a full-body, half-body, or vest.
• Can be elbow-only or combined elbow/forearm protection.

Knee/shin protection – regardless of the length of shorts/pants, knee/shin protection with the following properties:

• Self-fastening does not require auxiliary fastening devices to secure to the body.
• Can be one-piece knee/shin protectors or separate knee and shin padding.

Highly recommended

Spinal protection:

• Self-fastening does not require auxiliary fastening devices to secure to the body.
• Cover full length of back (spine) from between shoulder blades to tailbone.
• Can be fully, partially or non-articulated in design.
• They can be standalone back protectors or part of a protective suit, such as a full-body, half-body, or vest.
• It is compulsory to wear either a neck brace or spinal protection and it is highly recommended to wear both.

Motocross-style “roost guards” are NOT PERMITTED unless they have a specific back protector, not just a rear roost deflector.

Shoulder protection:

• Self-fastening does not require auxiliary fastening devices to secure to the body.
• Outer shells should be constructed of a solid material e.g. Hard Shell Plastic.
• Can be standalone shoulder protectors or part of a protective suit e.g. full body, half body or vest.

Hand protection

Full-fingered gloves are highly recommended.

Downhill

Seniors – U20

The regulations for U20 vary slightly to the Junior grade. Please refer to the MTBNZ Technical Regulations for full details. It is recommended that you comply with the regulations for the Junior grades.

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