ATHLETIC CLUB AT THE WESTIN MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE SERIES CONTINUES WEDNESDAY WITH BEAVER CREEK BLAST RACE
(Vail, Colo.) - The Vail Recreation District's Athletic Club at the Westin Mountain Bike Race Series will wrap up the summer season of racing on Wednesday, August 24 with the Beaver Creek Blast. The Beaver Creek Blast is the final race of the seven-race series, which is presented by Athletic Club at the Westin, East West Destination Hospitality, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and The Dusty Boot.

Following the race, an after-party will be hosted by the Beaver Creek Resort Company and The Dusty Boot and the much anticipated announcement of both individual category and team winners of the series will take place. Click here to view current standings for adults, youth and teams. 

Individual races cost $26 for preregistration or $37 on race day. Registration is available online and preregistration for individual races ends at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Day-of registration will end at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. All riders are welcome and racers do not need to be registered in the full series to participate in this race.

The races will begin underneath the Buckaroo Express Gondola near the Park Hyatt. The Athletic Club at the Westin adult series will kickoff the race, followed by the Larkburger Youth Series, with details as follows:
  • Men's Pro, Expert and Vet Expert will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by Men's Single Speed, and Master Expert at 5:30:30 p.m. and Women's Pro and Expert at 5:31 p.m. These categories will race one long loop for a 16-mile distance.
  • Women's Vet Expert and Single Speed will take place at 5:40 p.m., followed by Men's Sport at 5:40:30 p.m., Men's Vet Sport at 5:41 p.m., Men's Master Sport, Clydesdale and Legends at 5:41:30 p.m. and Women's Sports, Vet Sport and Master Sport will follow at 5:42 p.m. These categories will race one medium loop for a 13.5-mile distance.
  • Men's Beginner and Juniors will start at 5:42:30 p.m. and Women's Beginner at 5:43 p.m. will race one short loop for 6.7 miles.
  • The Larkburger Youth Series kicks off at 5:44 p.m. with Sport Boys 11-14 and Beginner Boys 15-16, followed by Sport Girls 11-14 and Beginner Girls 15-16 at 5:44:30 p.m. These categories will race two kids loops for 3.4 miles. 
  • At 5:45 p.m. the Beginner Boys 11-14 and Sport Boys 8-10 will start, followed by the Beginner Girls 11-14 and Sport Girls 8-10 at 5:45:30 p.m. Beginner Boys 8-10 will take off at 5:46 p.m. and Beginner Girls 8-10 at 5:46:30 p.m. These categories will race one kids loop for 2 miles.
The race will include an after-party at The Dusty Boot in Beaver Creek with a free keg of beer provided by New Belgium Brewing Company and dinner provided by the Beaver Creek Resort Company. In addition to series prizes, prizes also will be presented after the race to the top three finishers of each category, as well as a huge end-of-season raffle blowout featuring products from race sponsors, area merchants and national companies. 

Parking will be available at the Ford Hall or Villa Montane parking structures on a first-come, first-served basis. Once parking fills, racers and spectators will park at the bottom of the mountain and either ride up to the start area or take the free shuttle to the top. Racers are encouraged to arrive early to leave time for parking. Venture Sports, the official bike shop of the Beaver Creek Blast, will be on-site to provide neutral support for racers with last-minute mechanical issues.

Following the Beaver Creek Blast, the VRD will host two cyclocross races in September. Cyclocross races will take place Sept. 7 at Maloit Park in Minturn and Sept. 14 at the Eagle County Fairgrounds. 

In addition to the Athletic Club at the Westin, East West Destination Hospitality, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and The Dusty Boot, sponsors of the 2016 race series include Vail Valley Medical Center, Town of Eagle, The Steadman Philippon Research Institute, The Steadman Clinic, Central Rockies Mortgage, Vail Resorts, Beaver Creek, Apex Dental, New Belgium Brewing Company, POC, Avon Liquor, 808 Distillery, Optic Nerve, Outdoor Tech, Yellowbelly, Yetis Grind, Honey Stinger, Venture Sports, The Kind Bikes and Skis, Mountain Pedaler, Pedal Power and KZYR 97.7. The 2016 Youth Series is presented by Larkburger and KidSPORT.

For more information on all VRD sports offerings, go to www.vailrec.com or call 970-479-2280.

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About the Vail Recreation District
The Vail Recreation District's mission is to offer diverse and exceptional recreation opportunities that enhance the physical, social and emotional well-being of all its residents and guests. The VRD aims to help Vail Valley residents and visitors pursue their recreational passions by providing the following outlets for competition in summer and winter via a running and a mountain bike race series, numerous tournaments and/or leagues for hockey, volleyball, lacrosse, softball, golf, tennis, soccer, flag football, broomball, figure skating and rugby; venues like Dobson Ice Arena, Vail Golf Club, Vail Nordic Center, Vail Gymnastics Center, Vail Nature Center, Vail Skatepark, Vail Tennis Center, Community Programming, Vail's Imagination Station and use of additional gyms, playing fields and the surrounding White River National Forest via collaboration with local entities; sports classes and camps for youth, adults and families; and opportunities to learn about and appreciate our Rocky Mountain environment through guided activities, classes and camps. 
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