Downhill Racing at CBMR

 

Friday, June 27 - OMNIUM EVENT #1 | DOWNHILL RACING AT CRESTED BUTTE MOUNTAIN RESORT

Event details below have been most recently updated on May 26 for the 2025 festival. This information is subject to change based on weather and/or other unforeseen logistics. There are NO REFUNDS if this event needs to be cancelled by Crested Butte Mountain Resort due to lightning or other inclement weather conditions. Rider safety is our top priority.

The Junior Bike Week Downhill race is supported by Oakley, Hand Up, and Troy Lee Designs.

  • Lift tickets are not included in race registration. Discounted athlete and spectator tickets will be available at the yurt located near the Silver Queen Lift at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base area for $30 (regular price is $62) and $35 (regular price is $70), respectively. This ticket window will be open from 8:30 am - 4 pm on Thursday for practice and 8:30 am-noon on Friday for race day. Please have your Downhill registration confirmation available for discounted athlete tickets. Additionally, discounted lift tickets will only be available on Thursday and Friday.

  • Race fee for all categories is $60/participant (registration fees in 2025 will all be PRE-TARIFF PRICING with no increase up to the online registration deadline at midnight on Tuesday, June 24) and includes one complimentary mocktail, course marshals, medical response, custom race plate with chip timing, Junior Bike Week custom socks, and a Junior Bike Week | Orange Seal MiiR pint glass. Registration and race fee must be completed/paid online where you will submit electronic waivers for all Junior Bike Week events.

  • Race categories for the Downhill event will be the same as the Short Track and Junior Wildflower Classic XC races on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, to keep things consistent for the OMNIUM COMPETITION. These categories are 8-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, and 17-18. There will be awards for the top-3 finishers in each category for male and female participants.

  • The minimum racer age for this event is eight-years-old, NO EXCEPTIONS, please. In the interest of rider safety and risk management, we feel this is an appropriate decision given the technical difficulty of the trail. We will have a “friendly” Pump Track Challenge for younger riders at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base area, at 4 pm on Saturday, June 28.

  • Avery trail will be open for practice on Thursday, June 26. If you are not familiar with the trails, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that ALL COMPETITORS pre-ride before race day. Please note that this will be an open course and your very best trail etiquette is appreciated. This is the time for parents to ride with their children as parents/coaches will not be allowed to use the “race lane” on Friday morning during official race day practice.

    Race Day Schedule (Short Version)

    9:00-10:30 am | 8-10 and 11-12 category practice

    10:30-12:00 pm | 13-14, 15-16, 17-18 category practice

    12:15 pm RACE START, run order will be: 8-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18

  • 8:00-9:00 am: Late athlete plate pick-up at CB Devo/Junior Bike Week tent on the Jose’s patio located at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base area, near the Red Lady Lift.

  • On race day, June 27, there will be a three-hour SPLIT practice window from 9 am-noon before the first rider drops at approximately 12:15 pm. The course will be closed to the public during this official practice window. Practice will be open to 8-10 and 11-12 race categories ONLY from 9-10:30 am and for 13-14, 15-16, and 17-18 race categories ONLY from 10:30-noon. During practice ONLY, riders will use a designated “RACER LANE” to load the Red Lady Lift. It is the athlete’s responsibility to allow enough time to get to his/her race start, using the PUBLIC LIFT LINE. Riders MUST make the start during their race category window or will not be allowed a race run.

  • All lines will be open, including the go-arounds that will likely be used by many younger racers to navigate the more technical sections. Racers must stay on course as cutting any switchbacks will result in disqualification.

  • With this race being held at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, and the support of four members of bike patrol, we are not requiring our 8-10 category riders to have an adult ride with them as we have in previous years on backcountry stages. No parents will be allowed on course EXCEPT sweeps who will have a “SWEEP” plate. Riders will be disqualified if we see/hear reports of parents riding with their child. If your child is too young to be on course alone, he/she is likely too young to be racing - please be patient and trust the process.

  • Parents are welcome to pedal up to the mountain or drive to the base area to ride/hike up USING UP AND AWAY, NOT THE SERVICE ROAD to the race finish at the exit of the Lower Avery rock garden. We want to keep all spectator traffic on the trail and off the road so ski patrol has quick emergency access. In an effort to reduce congestion, we will be asking all riders and parents to clear out of the finish coral for safety considerations. There will be fencing in place to keep ALL BIKES OUT OF THE ROAD so that ski patrol has unobstructed access to this road for their operations, including emergency response.

  • More information, along with start times, will be shared with registrants as we get closer to the event.

  • We STRONGLY RECOMMEND knee pads, gloves, and chest protector. A downhill mountain biking specific full face helmet is REQUIRED for this race.

  • There is NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION for the Junior Bike Week Downhill race! Online registration closes at midnight on Tuesday, June 24 so we have plenty of time to get start lists race ready. If you missed the early rider check-in on Thursday evening, please come to the CB Devo/Junior Bike Week tent, located on the Jose’s patio at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base area, at 8 am to grab your race plate. Participants registered for all three race events - Downhill, Short Track, and Cross-Country, will automatically be entered in the Junior Bike Week OMNIUM COMPETITION and will use the same plate for chip timing for all three races.

  • Neutral support will be provided by Elevate Bike Shop, located at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base area in the Elevation Hotel & Spa.

  • Riders will compete in their respective age-group based on their official racing age determined on December 31, 2025. This is consistent with USA Cycling and we hope this alleviates some confusion for those who participate in USAC events. Categories that are consistent with our OMNIUM COMPETITION are 8-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, and 17-18. We will offer a “friendly” Pump Track Challenge event for riders under eight-years-old.

  • Awards for this race will be held at the CB Devo/Junior Bike Week tent located at the base of the Silver Queen lift at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base area at approximately 5 pm. We’ll keep you updated on our timing on the Junior Bike Week Team App.

  • The Junior Bike Week Downhill is operating under a Special Use Permit on the GMUG National Forest.