Home » Southwest KyMBA and Our Annual Trail Fest Fundraiser

Southwest KyMBA and Our Annual Trail Fest Fundraiser

SW KyMBA began in 2010 by MTB’ers who were tired of driving far to find quality trail to ride. Southwest Kentucky Mountain Bike Association is a 501c3 non-profit organization and a Chapter of IMBA whose mission is to create, enhance and preserve great trail experiences in our region of Kentucky.
Link to Join SW KyMBA:
www.imba.com/join/chapter/skymba
Our Current Area Trails
1) Rudy Mines Trail, Ben Hawes Park, Owensboro, KY
2) Low Hollow Trail, Riverfront Bike Park, Bowling Green, KY
3) Big Hollow Trail, Mammoth Cave National Park
4) Brier Creek Trail System, Nolin Lake State Park
5) Grapevine Trail System, Madisonville, KY
6) Twisted Oliver Trail, Port Oliver, Barren River lake
7) Cave Creek Trail, Rough River Lake
8) Pennyrile MTB Trails, Pennyrile Forest State Park
9) Mammoth Cave Gravel Grinder, Mammoth Cave National Park
10) Highlander Trail, Barren River Lake – 4 mile War Hammer Loop is complete and opened to the public on Sat 8/19/23 at the “Highlander Grand Opening Trail Fest.”
New Projects Underway
1) Long Fall Trail, Nolin River Lake – Nearly 10 miles are flagged for 3 stacked XC Loops
2) Riverfront Bike Park Bowling Green, KY: Warren County Project includes a Dual Slalom Course, Hollow Riders Skills Loop & a Dual Slalom Return Climb. City Project includes a paved pump track for adults, a smaller Tot Pump Track for the little ones, and a progressive Bicycle Skills Course.

 

The 2024 (12th Annual) Trail Fest is Sat 8/17 is at the Highlander Trail (Just 10 mins down the road from Twisted Oliver).


With friends, trail runs, & mountain bike races, you don’t want to miss out on this year’s event.

On August 13, 2022 – SWKMBA hosted the 10th annual Trail fest at Port Oliver, Barren River Lake in Kentucky.t.

 

Registration is here: https://tinyurl.com/HighlanderTrailFest

Our 2024 12th Annual Trail Fest Sponsors are:

 

  1. Graves Gilbert Clinic – Title Sponsor
  2. SW KyMBA – Event Organizer
  3. Brian Macy Sports Medicine
  4. Howard’s Cycle and Fitness
  5. Nats Outdoor Sports
  6. Compton Orthodontics
  7. Blue Moon Port A Pot
  8. Fee Family Foundation
  9. Stephen Lee Ogden Design Company
  10. Crowell Service Group
  11. Eubanks World Championship Karate
  12. WKU ORAC
  13. Covington Dental
  14. Bowling Green Running Club
  15. USACE BRL

 

Registration & Check-in booth opens at 7am. We will kick off with the 6k Trail running race at 8:00 am. The first MTB event will begin at 10:00am. See the schedule of events below for more details.

You may enter an individual event or save money and register for the King/ Queen of the Trail competition which is the combined fastest time for all 3 main events (5k run, MTB A & MTB TT).

Prizes will be awarded to Age group and overall winners in the 5k and in Overall competitions for the MTB A, B & TT races, respectfully. Event T-Shirts are included in with your registration on a first come first serve basis. Thus the first 215 shirts are provided while supplies last so register early to secure your Trail Fest T-Shirt.

Both events are Non sanctioned (no license required) but will follow RRCA & USA Cycling rules respectively.

 

Highlander Grand Opening Trail Fest Schedule of events (All Times are Central Time)

7:00am – Registration and Check-In Opens

 8:00am – 6K Trail Run STARTS (1 hr time limit)

 9:05am – Kids 1 Lap Fun Run STARTS

 9:35am – Running Awards

10:00am – MTB 1 or 2 Lap Kids Race STARTS

10:30am – Kids Strider Race STARTS

10:45am – MTB “A” 4 Lap Race STARTS (2 hr time limit)

 1:00pm – MTB “B” 2 Lap Race & MTB Jr 1 Lap STARTS (1.5 hr time limit)

 2:45pm – MTB Time Trial Starts (10 seconds apart; A riders > B riders > Jr riders)

4:00pm – MTB Awards

Notes:

  • E-Bikers will Race with “B” Riders and will start 1 minute before “B” Riders
  • Women’s & Jr waves will start 1 minute after the men’s wave, respectfully
  • 6K Trail Run – 1 Lap: Kids MTB – 1 or 2 Laps; MTB A – 4 Laps; MTB B – 2 Laps; MTB E-Bike – 2 Laps; MTB Jr -1 Lap
  • Time Trial – 1 Lap Opposite Direction Course

RACE COURSE MAPS

 

2023 Trail Fest Safety and Weather Plan

All participants, spectators, volunteers and staff should only attend if they are well and do not have a temperature.

For participant safety and the sustainability of the trail the Trail Fest Race Director and staff will closely monitor weather and trail conditions leading up to the race. It is our goal to give the participant as much notice as possible should there be any need for an hour delay or rescheduling to another day. Please be on the lookout for Trail Fest weather updates emailed to your address on file or from our postings on the Highlander Trail Fest & Southwest KyMBA Facebook pages.

An electrical storm within the race course area within 30 mins of the start time should be considered potentially life threatening to runners and cyclists. A determination will be made at the time as to whether the race should be continued as scheduled, delayed until the storm has passed or postponed to a backup date. The Race Director will monitor the weather and make a decision if any action will be taken to modify the race.

Possible changes include: Altering the start time or in the most extreme situations, postponement of the event to a backup date. Send runners/cyclists home if there is not adequate safe shelter for everyone to wait out the storm. Remember, trees are not safe shelter and lightning can strike up to 10 miles away. Visible lightning will cause the race to be postponed for a minimum of 30 minutes after the last strike is heard. Additional sightings or rumblings of thunder will continue to delay the race in 30-minute increments. Muddy trail conditions may warrant a postponement. In the event a participant cannot make their race due to a postponement the participant is still fully eligible to receive their race packet and T-Shirt.

Note: Southwest KyMBA Volunteers have many hours of personal time and money invested in the Highlander Trail.

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