How the Taupō Mountain Bike Club is helping to build Taupō’s MTB Future, One Event at a Time
At the heart of Taupō’s thriving mountain bike scene is a passionate club working tirelessly to bring new and exciting events to Craters Mountain Bike Park. It’s been a big ride for the Taupō Mountain Bike Club over the past few months. They’ve been proud to deliver a range of events, from grassroots fun races to national-level competitions. Everything they do is in pursuit of one goal: getting people out on bikes and growing a vibrant riding community in Taupō.
As a club, their mission has always been clear: to promote, facilitate, encourage, and develop mountain biking in the Taupō region. And their vision is one they proudly chase every day, to make Taupō New Zealand’s preferred all-season cross country mountain biking destination.
They’re not just about racing, the club also does the mahi on the trails, helping to maintain and develop our trails for everyone to enjoy.
Every event they host, every social ride they lead, and every rider they support is a step closer to their vision.
Spring Cup
Held in late spring at various MTB parks around Waikato, including Craters. The Spring Cup was a fun XC event for all ages. It's all about participation, fun and good honest racing. There were good natured rivalries and more than a few new friendships formed. It was great to see so many new faces and local families coming out for a taste of racing in a relaxed, supportive environment. The Spring Cup will be back in 2025!
National Cross-Country Series: Racing at the Highest Level
In January, Taupō hosted a round of the MTBNZ National Cross-Country Series, welcoming elite, masters and junior riders from across the country. This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our trails to the national XC community, and to give local riders a chance to line up alongside New Zealand’s best. The course involved a big climb up Snakes and Ladders and a technical descent down Col's, offering a true XC test. We’re proud to play our part in developing the next generation of riders by hosting top-tier events right here in our own backyard. It was fantastic to see so many Taupō riders on the podium!
Summer Series
Running across several weeks in February and March, the Summer Series was a hit once again. Participation was up, largely driven by the option of on the day entries. Designed as short, sharp weeknight races with a social vibe, these events are a chance for riders of all levels to come together. There's no better way to spend a summer Thursday evening in Taupō!
The King’s Enduro
Held over the King’s Birthday weekend, the King’s Enduro was the perfect mix of technical riding and relaxed event vibes. A kids event as well as an easy and hard option meant that there was something for everyone. Racers took on timed descents linked by untimed transitions. They tackled everything from tight corners to steep and loose chutes. The format allowed riders to catch up between stages, swap tips, and cheer each other on. With almost 150 entries, this race proved to be extremely popular and showed many out of towners a side of Craters they hadn't seen before.
Looking Ahead: Matariki Night Cyclocross
Next up is one of their more unique events: the Matariki Night Cyclocross at Spa Park. All bikes are welcome, you can use your MTB if you don't have a cyclocross or gravel bike. It's a great chance to ride something a bit different and soak up the atmosphere. There will be spot prizes and guaranteed good vibes! Enter here
Behind every one of these events is a hard working team of volunteers who love bikes and love riding in Taupō. Events like these aren’t just about competition, they’re about connection and community. They bring people together, create opportunities for young riders to develop, give families something active to do together, and build pride in our local trails and riding culture. We want as many people as possible out there having fun on bikes. That's why they run e-bike categories and they design courses that cater to all ages and abilities. Above all, they aim to create experiences that are fun, accessible, and welcoming to everyone.
Nicole Sattler, President of the Taupō MTB Club would like to thank all who have ridden, volunteered, or cheered from the sidelines at these events, they couldn’t do it without you. If you haven’t been to an event yet, make sure you get along to the next one.
Well done to the Mountain Bike Club! We’re proud to have a partnership with such a dedicated club living and breathing their vision for the Taupo.
