San Juan Howler Emerging Mountain Bike Action Scene Central America

San Juan Howler Mountain Bike Race (http://www.sanjuanhowler.com) third annual race on December 11, 2010. Based in San Juan del Sur on Nicaragua's south west Pacific coastline.

The last stop of the National Championship series for 2010. The categories running are: Elite, Open, Master A, Master B and CT.

What's it like to race Howler? "Being from the Midwest where longer, steep climbs are rare, the climbs gut me every time. However, being a very solid technical rider and an extremely competent downhill rider, I have a blast on the more technical parts of the trail and the screaming downhills." replies Howler's successful world-class mountain bike main course designer Anthony Ippolito. Who has competed in the World Solo 24-Hour Championships and U.S. Solo 24-Hour National Championships several times for each ultra event.

"The Feb 2010 Howler Nicaragua - Some words from the riders". (http://vimeo.com/10741580) from david kalani larkins on Vimeo.

How Anthony Crafted Howler's Course

1. Mixing up the elements. "The challenge is to incorporate elements like rocks, ridges and stream beds without making it too difficult for anyone," he says.

2. Going with the flow. Anthony tries to envision how the trail will flow with the terrain. To result in not having too much of one element for long stretches. Such as riders not climbing for 10K, then downhilling the next 10K on to the end. "You need to mix it up so riders are using all of their skills frequently," he advises.

3. Challenging rider talents. Anthony strives to not play up any one kind of rider talent. For example, "a course with a lot of dirt road climbs favors riders who are good climbers. A course with lots of rocks and fallen trees favors riders with good technical skills. I try to keep it mixed so no one type of rider has the advantage," he tells us.

Why Howler's MTB Course is Special

4. Jaw-dropping Vistas. "The entire course is up in the mountains, less than a mile from the ocean. There are three different volcanoes visible along the course. The mountains of Costa Rica are very visible to the south, too. Views of the sea, bays, mountains, beaches and volcanoes, below and in the distance, and around every bend are-jaw dropping! I always wonder how racers from elsewhere feel, in wanting to stop and look at the view every second of the ride," muses Bob "Bomber" Bombardier, co-designer of the Howler course.

5. International competitors. Last year, over ten countries were represented in this young world-class mountain bike race. Howler just keeps getting better every year because, "everything is new, fresh and exciting," says Bomber.

6. "Real mountain biking," is how former U.S. pro racer Billy Molina sees it. While on race day Howler will be abuzz with human activities, Billy has experienced some weird goings-on. Such as gawking at 400-500 pound pigs and attacked by a goose while changing a flat. "This is a true off-course adventure," he laughs.

Howler is Unique to Central America

"Howler offers up a bit of everything, so riders really have to use all of their skills. The course has grinding uphills, fast bomber downhills, technical rocky sections, nice flowing sections and some undulating sections with nice rock drop-offs. All this-in a gorgeous tropical forest with howler monkeys cheering you on. How cool is that?!"
 
Don't wish for it to be over. Enjoy every minute. Even embrace the pain because it lets you know you are alive. And make sure to eat and drink regularly so you don't bonk.

~ Susan Haywood, Professional Mountain Bike Racer for Team Trek/Volkswagen
2007 El Reto del Quetzal Participant, Guatemala
2006 24-Hour Women's World MTB Champion

Dream, act and never give up!
Be kind to others as everyone is fighting a hard battle.

~ Manny Prado; Winner, 2009 La Ruta de los Conquistadores
Team Sho-Air/Specialized
 
Join us for more Central American mountain bike action (http://bit.ly/ct1Wem)! La Ruta (http://www.adventurerace.com) happening now! San Juan Howler, (http://www.facebook.com/SanJuanHowler) December 11, 2010.

Media Contact:
Brian Richter
mountainbikeaction@whereintheworldareyou.com
phone: 011-505-8880-8792