Registration is now open for the Second Annual Gudrun Mountain Bike Festival, a three-day celebration of the Northwoods Trails system that will be held Nov. 13-15.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, preregistration is required. Registration will be online-only until Nov. 12, the day before the event. To register now, visit the new Northwoods website at http://www.northwoodstrails.org, Visit Hot Springs said in a news release.
Competitive events will take place on the Northwoods Trails starting at the Cedar Glades Trailhead, and there will be noncompetitive events in the downtown area, including a "creepy" nighttime Slow Roll Ride through the downtown area on Friday the 13th.
About 500 riders -- some from as far away as Canada -- took part in the initial Gudrun Festival in 2019.
The festival traces its origin to the early days of the Attila the Hun Mountain Bike Race, which began in 1992, where the Northwoods Trails are located today. Following the events of 9/11 in 2001, the race was moved to Charlton Campground on Highway 270 west of Hot Springs and then eventually to Cedar Glades Park where The Attila has been held each year since.
The Attila the Hun competitive race to be held Nov. 15, will be the final race of the season for the 2020 Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series. There will be plenty of places for spectators to see the racers and cheer them on, the release said.
"We are excited to celebrate the second birthday of the Northwoods Trails with the Second Annual Gudrun Mountain Bike Festival," Traci Berry, trails coordinator for VHS, said.
"Hot Springs is all about fun," she said, "so who wouldn't want to put Vikings and bikes together?
"After the year we have had so far in 2020, having fun is much needed. What better way than to be riding bikes? We know we can put on a safe, fun event for all ages following the proper COVID-19 social distancing protocols."
Berry outlined some information about the 2020 Gudrun Festival:
• There will be "mandatory-mask zones" in effect during the festival.
• Events will include the nighttime Slow Roll Ride; the Mini-Enduro race; the Full Enduro race; a Jump Jam competition, and the Attila the Hun XC MTB Race.
• The full and mini-enduros will be facilitated by Slaughter Trail Guides.
The Gudrun Festival was named after a Germanic heroic legend, Berry said.
"Gudrun was a warrior. A Viking! Wife to Attila the Hun and later defeater of the Huns," she said.
For more information, contact Berry at 501-321-2027.