Media 2017
Press Release - Rotorua Bike Festival introduces twelve new events
Posted Jan 20, 2017
60 Seconds with Frocks on Bikes Frock and Roll Fashion Show - New Events
Posted Feb 7, 2017
RBF TV 2016
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
Another year and another fine crop of videos for Rotorua Bike Festival, produced by EIVOMEDIA and Fever Pitch Visuals...
Watch, enjoy and look forward to RBF 2017, the 5th edition...
Media 2016
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
The 5th anniversary festival will run from February 10 - 19, 2017...
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
• Events for everyone in our community of bikers - local, regional, national, Australia, the world.
• 10 days of magic...
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
History was made in Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa Forest in the weekend when Australian Jason English won a seventh straight title at the WEMBO World Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships.
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
Immediate release
After 3 years of perfect weather and a record-breaking opening weekend, the Rotorua Bike Festival is being affected by the current heavy rain and strong winds.
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
Weekend 1 saw records smashed at the 4th Rotorua Bike Festival...
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
In good shape...and good hands...
Festival 2016 - It's a Mum's world...
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
This is a man's world. But it wouldn't be nothing, nothing, without a woman or a girl.
James Brown must have foreseen the rise of women at the Rotorua Bike Festival - half of the events have a woman in the driving seat, steering what they hope will be more mums, daughters and BFFs to choose two wheels for socialising and exercise.
MTB Adventure Quest returns...
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
...and a generous offer from an organiser...
The return of the Skyline Sprint Warrior...
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
...and the debut of the Fundy Hundy.
The Fundy Hundy is set to change the shape of mountain bike racing in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Literally.
It will be part of the Skyline Sprint Warrior at the city’s annual Bike Festival in February.
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
Riding one of the smoothest 1.9 kilometres of tarmac in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty sounds easy, right?
Not when the sun has set and the only illumination are landing lights and a big screen conveying the action to a crowd of over 1000 - and with riders hitting over 60 klicks...read on...
Rotorua - a unique biking destination
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
World Championships, IMBA gold status, Crankworx and more...
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
Happy holidays from the Festival team...
Posted by bluedog media Jun 9, 2016
2 months (and a bit) to go, 10 days, 10,000 wheels, Summer sun, serious fun...
RBF TV 2015...
Posted by bluedog media Apr 10, 2015
Remarkable viewing numbers for all the videos shot during the festival week...
from the joyous inclusiveness of Ride the Runway and the drama of the Flying Kilo on opening night, to the passion and power of the National MTB Champs cross country and downhill, hilarious fun at the Bike Speedway and 16" Dual Slalom World Champs (unsanctioned), the brilliant skills at Rotorua BMX's Jump Jam, extravagant costumes, colour and noise at the Redwoods Coast to world champions in action at the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro...
what a week...what a festival...
Thanks to Simon Hunt and the Fever Pitch Visuals crew and John 'the hardest working dude on the hill' Colthorpe for pushing boundaries, delivering to tight deadline and bringing the festival to New Zealand and the world...
Media 2015
Posted by bluedog media Nov 9, 2015
Dateline: Friday, February 13.
It was a glorious eveing in Rotorua for the official launch event of the 2015 Festival.
And the debut of the Runway Project...
Posted by bluedog media Feb 17, 2015
US rider on the start line at the Festival this weekend.
Another world-class mountain biker will race at the Rotorua Bike Festival this weekend.
Richie Rude was the 2013 UCI Junior Men’s World Downhill Champion. The man with one of the best names in international mountain biking was the first American to take that title.
Rotorua Bike Festival – Valentine's Day Twilight Ride...
Posted by bluedog media Feb 12, 2015
When an unexpected gap appears in the programme the Festival team doesn’t take it lightly.
“We always were aware of the significance of Saturday,” said Festival event coordinator, Martin Croft. “So yesterday, when the opportunity came up, we added the Valentine’s Day twilight ride.”
Jared Graves coming to the festival - yeah, nah. Yeah!
Posted by bluedog media Feb 12, 2015
2014 Enduro World Series champion, Jared Graves, from Australia will definitely be riding at the 3rd Rotorua Bike Festival.
“The flights and accommodation are booked and paid for and I’m definitely coming over,” he confirmed in an email to Graeme Simpson, the Festival media coordinator on Monday morning.
Posted by bluedog media Feb 10, 2015
There’s under a week to go till launch day.
The forecast is fine and the Rotorua Bike Festival is ready to roll with 10 days of events that celebrate all things on two wheels.
Posted by bluedog media Feb 10, 2015
Julian Dean is swapping his bike for a microphone at a unique event that will launch the 3rd Rotorua Bike Festival this Friday.
One of New Zealand’s most celebrated cyclists will commentate on the Flying Kilo, part of
the Runway Project.
Posted by bluedog media Feb 7, 2015
Rotorua mountain biker, Lance Tavinor was all those things and more when he took on the solo category in the 24 hours of Nduro in the Whakarewarewa Forest over the weekend.
With $5 from every entry going to Kidney Health New Zealand, he was riding for a cause close to his heart.
National Cross-Country Championships - epic battles coming up
Posted by bluedog media Jan 29, 2015
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A head to battle between New Zealand’s top mountain bikers that may run till the Rio Olympics will be a feature of the 3rd Rotorua Bike Festival in two weeks.
At the 2014 New Zealand National Mountain Bike cross-country championships, Te Awamutu’s Sam Gaze just edged 2012 Junior World Champion, Anton Cooper from Christchurch. It was an epic race as the two tracked each other on a challenging course in Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa Forest, on a very hot summer’s day. |
New events to feature at the Rotorua Bike Festival in February.
Posted by bluedog media Jan 28, 2015
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Monday January 26 (NZST)
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A diverse range of new events will feature at the 3rd Rotorua Bike Festival in New Zealand in February. “It’s a real illustration of the strength of biking in our town,” said Festival event coordinator, Martin Croft. “There are 30 events in total, again, with the whole range of ages, skill levels and different types of bikes represented.” |
Posted by bluedog media Jan 16, 2015
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A unique new event will officially launch the 3rd Rotorua Bike Festival in four weeks on the evening of Friday February 13. The Runway Project will open Rotorua Airport’s runway to the public after 7.30PM. There’ll also be a 4-kilometre scratch race open to all-comers, on any bike. |
Posted by Main User Jan 11, 2015
A matching set of Enduro World Champions will be in Rotorua, New Zealand, for the Bike Festival in February.
Tracy Moseley from the United Kingdom won the Enduro World Series in 2014 after a season long battle with another mountain biking legend, Anne Caroline Chausson of France.
Moseley will arrive in Rotorua during the Festival and Men’s Enduro world champion, Australia’s Jared Graves, is hoping to join her.
Posted by bluedog media Jan 11, 2015
It will be the Clash of the Tandems at the Rotorua Bike Festival in February.
The Redwoods Coast was a hit at the first two Festivals with big spectator crowds and it is returning in 2015.
Supporting a good cause in 2015...
Posted by bluedog media Dec 30, 2014
Brother, can you spare a dime?
“Devastated and angry.”
That’s how Lance Tavinor felt when his older brother was diagnosed with end stage kidney failure, earlier this year, and would need constant dialysis to replace the function of his kidneys.
Posted by bluedog media Dec 22, 2014
Gunna Gotta Go. Again.
And the winner is…
“When I got the call I couldn't believe it. I was on location doing a photo shoot and I ran around whooping and high fiving. My hand still hurts, but in a good way.”
Enduro World Series Champ, Jared Graves in the house...
Posted by bluedog media Dec 9, 2014
One of the success stories of the first two Rotorua Bike Festivals will be back in 2015.
The Giant 2W Gravity Enduro will be a feature of the second weekend of the Rotorua Bike Festival on Saturday February 21.
And 2014 Enduro World Series champion, Jared Graves from Australia, hopes to be on the start line.
A picture tells a thousand words...
Posted by bluedog media Dec 1, 2014
A picture tells a thousand words.
It's an old saying.
However like most old sayings, it’s true, especially with the work of Rotorua photographer, Graeme Murray.
He’s documented the growth of mountain biking in the city since the mid-1990s when he was also active in the early downhill racing scene.
Not just wheels turning at the Festival...
Posted by bluedog media Dec 1, 2014
At the Rotorua Bike Festival, it's not just wheels turning.
The Festival is using a full range of communications to tell the story of biking in Rotorua and to promote all the individual events at the 10-day annual Festival that starts on Black Friday February 13.
The latest member of the media team is local digital producer, Dabhand.
They are building a smartphone app that will help get information out before and during the Festival.
Posted by bluedog media Dec 1, 2014
With three months to go, the Rotorua Bike Festival is as well rested, healthy and ready to go as Sonny Bill Williams in Chicago.
The 3rd annual Festival starts on Black Friday February 13 with another expansive range of events and a great line-up of event organisers.
Proud locals representing the Rotorua Bike Festival...
Posted by bluedog media Jan 30, 2015
He's New Zealand's most celebrated cyclist - among a brilliant crop of talent over the years.
Multiple Tours de France and the other two grand tours, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta Espana.
Olympics. World Championships.
He did it all over a long and illustrious career that started on the BMX track in Waihi.
Rotorua is the full-time home for Julian his wonderful family (wife, Carole and two young sons, Val and Tanner) and was their summer base when Julian was racing.
As a coach for Orica/GreenEdge, Julian still spends lots of time on the road during the Northern Hemisphere summer. It's great to have him here for longer these days.
Dean, Julian Dean...cyclist...
Proud Local: Sarah Pitcher-Campbell
Posted by bluedog media Jan 22, 2015
It's brilliant having Sarah on board.
Triathlon? Road? Mountain Bike? Singlespeed (in costume)? Cyclocross?
She does them all...
In many ways SPC sums up the diversity of the festival and biking in Rotorua.
Like many others, she participates in a wide range of events (in her case as a fierce, Amazonian weekend warrior - she's tall!) and at the same time just loves the simple joy of jumping on a bike and getting out in the forest or on the roads - both so accessible in our town...
Sarah is our weekend warrior!
Posted by bluedog media Jan 20, 2015
Connor pretty much grew up in the forest.
With his older brother, Louis, he's become a world-class downhill racer. He finished the 2014 season 
with an outstanding 5th place in the Junior Men's Downhill at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Hafjell in Norway.
It's a family 'business'. Mum and Dad, Gerry and Dave, are also mountain bikers and important parts of the local downhill community. Dave helps run Descend Rotorua and will be race director of the Triple D at the Bike Festival on Sunday 14.02...
Go Connor. Go the Hamiltons!
Posted by bluedog media Jan 19, 2015
Katie is one of the fine, young cross-country riders who
have based themselves in Rotorua because of the facilities, the support and those magnificent 150 kilometres of mountain bike trails.
She raced at national and international level for her country and the NZXC Racing team, with support from Giant Bikes, Waiariki Sports Academy and Red Stag Timber.
Now riding, mainly for fun.
We are very proud to have her as one of the Festival's Proud Locals.
Her enthusiasm is unbeatable!
Posted by bluedog media Jan 17, 2015
Some say he's synonomous with mountain biking in Rotorua and New Zealand. 
That he was instrumental in bringing the 2006 UCI Worlds and the 2009 UCI Trials World Cup round to our town.
And that he's a Rotorua Charitable Bike Festival Charitable Trust board member and an important part of the Crankworx Rotorua board.
And, in his spare time, he's our city's Deputy Mayor.
When he's not riding his beloved trails in the Whakarewarewa Forest...
We just know him as Dave D...
Posted by bluedog media Jan 17, 2015
Gaz is a Rotorua legend.
With partner, Glen Anderson, he moved to town in the late 1990s to set up icon clothing brand, Nzo.
They have been integral and important cogs in the Rotorua biking scene ever since and involved in all our major MTB events, including the 2006 UCI World Championships and 2010 Singlespeed Worlds.
He designed the websites for those events, for Ride Rotorua and also this one.
Gaz puts in a huge amount of time promoting Rotorua MTB - often just for the love of the sport.
In January, Nzo returned to a retail space in a new shop in town.
As Gaz once famously said: "the only thing I miss about Auckland is going to Rotorua for the weekend."
Media 2014
6 home grown world champs - from 7 to 60 plus
Posted by bluedog media Feb 5, 2014
Media release, February 5.
There is homegrown talent with world titles to their names lining up at the Rotorua Bike Festival in the heart of New Zealand’s North Island, starting on Friday February 14.
Yeah Boi Sick 2: the sequel...
Posted by bluedog media Feb 5, 2014
Media release.
An event with an unusual name and a heart of gold will be one of the highlights of the 2nd Rotorua Bike Festival in February.
Posted by bluedog media Jan 22, 2014
Media release: January 22.
It’s the Rotorua Bike Festival tourism trifecta.
Three events on three consecutive evenings at three of the city’s leading tourism venues - all during Rotorua’s 10-day annual celebration of cycling.
Numbers up with 1 month to go...
Posted by bluedog media Jan 16, 2014
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Media release: January 7
With the 2nd Rotorua Bike Festival just over a month away entry numbers are already well up on 2013 and one event has all but sold out.
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Posted by bluedog media Dec 19, 2013
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Media release: December 16 The 2nd Rotorua Bike Festival, February 2014
The best Christmas present ever. That’s how Australian mountain biker, Mitchell Ho, described winning return airfares for two to Rotorua for the Bike Festival in February. |
Road races a big part of the festival...
Posted by bluedog media Dec 14, 2013
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Media release: December 4. One of the North Island’s favourite cycle challenges will headline some top road cycling action at the 2nd Rotorua Bike Festival, in February. |
From Road to BMX to Mountain and most things in between...
Posted by bluedog media Dec 14, 2013
Media release: November 19.
The 2nd Rotorua Bike Festival in February will have a full range of events to appeal to cyclists of all shapes, sizes and ages and all at the height of summer in New Zealand...
Yeah Boi Sick 2: the sequel...
Posted by bluedog media Oct 9, 2013
The 1st Yeah Boi Sick race was run in the Whakarewarewa Forest, Christmas week, 2012...It was a celebration of James 'Dodzy' Dodds and a fundraiser for a Jumps Park being built in his name...
YBS will be back as part of the 2014 Rotorua Bike Festival...
New Zealand Mountain Biker magazine - Skyline Sprint Warrior
Posted by bluedog media Jul 17, 2013
One of the highlights of the Festival in 2013 was the Skyline Sprint Warrior - when mountain biking returned to the slopes of Mount Ngongotaha for the first time since the 2006 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships...
New Zealand Mountain Biker magazine - Oddball 3...
Posted by bluedog media Jul 17, 2013
Some of the more left-field events at the Featured featured in New Zealand Mountain Biker magazine's coverage...
Australian Mountain Bike was in town for RBF13
Posted by bluedog media Jun 29, 2013
Huw Kingston from Australian Mountaun Bike magazine came to Rotorua for the Festival in 2013 and went away as a confirmed Rotorua fan.
He filed a 6 page report on the event...
2013: TV3 and Crowd Goes Wild were here...
Posted by bluedog media Jun 29, 2013
Ash Tulloch covered the 2nd weekend of RBF13 for TV3, featuring BMX, the National MTB Champs DH and XCO and the 2W Gravity Enduro...and Crowd Goes Wild also covered the Festival earlier in the week...
Successful first Festival 2013...
Posted by bluedog media Mar 2, 2013
Glorious weather and thousands of happy bikers of all sorts.
The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival is over and planning is underway for a bigger, brighter event in 2014.
Some history...
September, 2004 in Les Gets in France - a magic week for New Zealand Mountain Biking...
Posted by bluedog media Aug 6, 2014
Rotorua was awarded the 2006 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships in late 2003.
In September 2004, a small group from the organising committee were privileged to be at that year's World Championships in Les Get in the French Haut-Savoie...and to witness one of the most momentous days in New Zealand MTB history...
Media 2013
World Champs in action in Mountain Bike National Champs...
Posted by bluedog media Feb 18, 2013
Sunday 17/02
Brilliant day on The Taniwha!
McDonald, Laird claim to national mountain bike downhill honours...
Posted by bluedog media Feb 18, 2013
Shaw thing home in Enduro debut
February 17 2013
Rotorua's Sam Shaw drew the curtains on a magnificent 10 days of cycling with a popular home-town win in the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro mountain biking race today.
World class racing in the Whakarewarewa Forest...
Posted by bluedog media Feb 18, 2013
Saturday 17/02
Cooper, Hanlen crowned national cross country mountain bike titles
World junior champion Anton Cooper recovered from a crash on the final lap to edge out home town rider Dirk Peters to win the BikeNZ national cross country mountain bike title in Rotorua today.
Posted by bluedog media Feb 15, 2013
Media release: February 13
The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival 2013 – a big 2nd and final weekend...
Two times Elite Women’s Downhill World Champion, Emmeline Ragot, will take on the Taniwha in Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa Forest, this Sunday.
words: Graeme Simpson
2W Gravity Enduro - stars come out to play...
Posted by bluedog media Feb 11, 2013
Weekend warriors and local thrashers will rub shoulders with world champions, Olympians and former international stars in this week's inaugural Giant 2W Gravity Enduro mountain bike event in Rotorua.
Festival to continue in 2014...
Posted by bluedog media Feb 8, 2013
Media release: February 8
The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival, February 2013 – the future of the festival confirmed…
On the eve of the 1st Rotorua Bike Festival clicking into high gear, the event has financial backing for 2014.
Return to Skyline - mountain biking is back!
Posted by bluedog media Feb 5, 2013
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Media release: February 5 The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival, February 2013 – Return to Skyline…
The trail is fast and flowing and runs through Redwoods. It’s typical of Rotorua mountain biking with views out to the city and the lake. |
Street Crit action in the heart of downtown...
Posted by bluedog media Jan 29, 2013
Media release: January 29
The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival, February 2013 – Road racing in the heart of the city…
Street criterium: short course, road cycling on the very edge.
World Champ Anton Cooper to race...
Posted by bluedog media Jan 26, 2013
The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival, February 2013 – headlined by Mountain Bike National Championships.
World champ excited about racing in Rotorua in 2013.
Junior World Mountain bike champion, Anton Cooper will bring his rainbow jersey and gold medal to Rotorua in February.
Local bike builders on show at Bike Expo...
Posted by bluedog media Jan 21, 2013
Media release: January 22
The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival, 8-17February 2013 – Local is best…
Steel bikes. Carbon Fibre bikes. Bamboo bikes. Even a bike made from local Radiata Pine.
They’ll all be on show at the MoreFM BikeExpo on February 15 & 16, part of a busy second weekend of the Rotorua Bike Festival.
White Water Slalom star in new race...
Posted by bluedog media Jan 18, 2013
He’s more used to blasting down rapids and dodging slalom poles but former New Zealand kayaking star Johann Roozenburg will be chasing a different form of adrenaline next month when he races the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro at the Rotorua Bike Festival...
Posted by bluedog media Jan 17, 2013
Media release: January 17
The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival, February 2013 – The 1st Shweeb Worlds
It’s a unique feature of the Rotorua cycling scene.
Posted by bluedog media Jan 15, 2013
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Media release: January 15 The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival, February 2013 – BMX is a big part of the festival schedule... Some of the classiest BMX riders in the world will be at the 1st Rotorua Bike Festival in February. |
Posted by bluedog media Jan 8, 2013
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Media release: January 4 The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival, February 2013 – planning for 2014 already underway…
The first Rotorua Bike Festival from February 8 to 17, 2013 won’t be the last. With a full schedule for the 10-day celebration of cycling the Festival team are already looking to 2014. |
New race the perfect trail recipe
Posted by bluedog media Jan 7, 2013
Take one magic forest. Pour in some of the best mountain biking trails on the planet. Add to the mixture unlimited shuttle passes, a killer atmosphere and a group of your mates. Finally, dial up as much competitive juice as you desire.
Olympian, Rosara Joseph to race at Festival...
Posted by bluedog media Dec 5, 2012
Media release: UPDATED January 24
The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival, February 2013 – Mountain Bike Olympian to race.
Olympian Rosara Joseph will race at the Rotorua Bike Festival in February.
One of New Zealand’s outstanding cross-country mountain bikers of the last decade will take on a brand new event, the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro on Sunday February 17.
Supporting the Home of Cycling
Posted by bluedog media Nov 27, 2012
Media release: November 23
The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival, February 2013 – Rotorua, a key ingredient in the Home of Cycling.
A single board of timber has become a symbol of the Rotorua Bike Festival’s commitment to the new Home of Cycling’s Avantidrome in Cambridge.
Posted by bluedog media Nov 25, 2012
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Media release: November 19, 2012 The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival, February 2013 – supported by the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust. The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival is all charged up and ready to go after the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust and MoreFM announced major support for the event. |
Posted by blue dog media... Oct 31, 2012
Astronauts have been using shuttles to overcome earth’s pull for years but organisers of the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro in Rotorua have taken it one step further.
The brand new mountain biking event is set to debut in Rotorua on February 17, as a key component of the inaugural ten-day Rotorua Bike Festival.
words: Jamie Trougton
Posted by bluedog media Oct 24, 2012
Media release: October 23
The 1st Rotorua Bike Festival, 8-17 February 2013
Pedals? Schmedals! You don’t have to pedal to have fun on a bike.
2W Gravity Enduro - brand new event to debut at Rotorua Bike Festival
Posted by bluedog media Oct 6, 2012
Fancy yourself as a downhill demon, a weekend warrior or just a keen bike rider eager to sample some of the best trails in the world?
A brand new mountain biking event set to debut in Rotorua on February 17 could be just the ticket, with organisers announcing the creation of the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro.
words: Jamie Trougton
September 2012 - the Festival is coming!
Posted by bluedog media Sep 27, 2012
The first media release for the first Rotorua Bike Festival...