Registration opens today for the Third Annual Gudrun Mountain Bike Festival, a three-day celebration of the Northwoods Trails system that will take place Nov. 12-14, according to a Visit Hot Springs news release.
Competitive events will take place on the Northwoods Trails starting at the Cedar Glades Trailhead.
There will be noncompetitive events in the downtown area, including a Biking and Running Expo, a nighttime Slow Roll Ride on Central Avenue along Bathhouse Row and the Whittington Park area on Nov. 12, ending with the opening night party at 420eats Food Court, 420 Malvern Ave.
Five hundred riders are expected to take part in this year's Gudrun Festival.
"We are stoked to once again celebrate the birthday of the Northwoods Trails with the Third Annual Gudrun Mountain Bike Festival," VHS Trails Coordinator Traci Berry said in the release. "Our trail system has been such a valuable addition to our community, there's no better way to celebrate such an amazing recreational space than to combine biking with Vikings."
Gudrun was a Viking, the wife of Attila the Hun.
The Gudrun 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.
The 2021 Attila the Hun competitive race to be held Nov. 14, will be the final race of the season for the 2021 Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series. There will be areas for spectators to see the racers and cheer them on. COVID-19 safety guidelines established by the State of Arkansas will be in effect.
Registration for this year's Gudrun Festival will be online only.
Events will include Biking/Running Expo; nighttime Slow Roll Ride; opening night party; the Mini-Enduro race; the Full Enduro race; a Jump Jam competition; the Attila the Hun XC MTB Race and other activities.
The full and mini-enduros will once again be facilitated by Slaughter Trail Guides.
The Attila the Hun XC Mountain Bike Race, now in its 29th year, is one of the longest continuously held mountain bike races in Arkansas. Bruce and Jann Hubbard, owners of Parkside Cycle, have been affiliated with the race since its early days. Starting this year the Hubbards will pass the leadership torch to Hot Springs' International Mountain Bike Association chapter, the Trail Advocacy Coalition of the Ouachitas, or TACO.
"We will continue to support the race and other activities on our trails," Jann Hubbard said. "Our trail system continues to get better every year. With almost 30 miles of trail, Hot Springs is a destination for mountain bikers across the country. We are happy to be a part of it."
"Our cycling community is lucky to have such a solid cycling foundation that started with people like Jann and Bruce," Berry said. "They have done so much for our community over the past 29-plus years and I'm glad they will now be able to sit back and relax a little while they enjoy watching the race that they helped establish. We are excited to be working with TACO moving forward in making this event bigger and better each year."
"While our role and responsibilities as an organization continue to evolve, our purpose to enhance and maintain an exceptional experience for trail users remains the same," TACO Chair Bucky Monreal said. "We appreciate all that Parkside Cycle has done with Attila the Hun over the years and are excited about the opportunity to manage this mountain bike race. We look forward to continuing to provide the high-quality event to which area racers have grown accustomed."
Registration will be online-only until Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. for the Gudrun Slow Roll, Enduros and Jump Jam. The early bird registration for these events will be open until 8 p.m. on June 12. The first 100 registrations will be entered in a drawing for a Gudrun Northwoods MTB Festival Package.
The Attila the Hun Cross Country Mountain Bike Race Registration will be open until 7 p.m. on Nov. 12. To register for any of the festival events, sign up to volunteer, secure a vendor space or be an event sponsor go to https://www.gudrunmtbfest.org.