Berm Buster
DESCRIPTION
Suzuki Berm Buster is another classic 2 day trail ride event. The event takes place 25 minutes out of Taupo on the Taupo to Napier road (SH5) and it located right next to the Kaimanawa Forest Park (native bush). The trails are more open and flowing than the Suzuki Trail Blazer series with patches of native bush, some hill climbs and a few Expert only sections. However most of the 100 km of trail is still very family and novice friendly with special kids and Novice tracks.
DATE
13-14 November 2010
Yes that's right we are running a 2nd Suzuki Berm Buster for 2010 and what a great venue to finish the trail riding year at!
POSTER
GENERAL INFORMATION 2010
Location: Berm Buster is located 25 minutes East of Taupo off SH5, Napier to Taupo Highway. Turn onto Taharua Road off SH5. Look for Epic Events signs. See map here.
Tracks: Long 46km, Medium 38km, Short 17km, 3km Novice, Senior MX style, Kids forest and Novice kids forest trails. The Medium 38km trail is reserved for Sunday.
Suitable for all abilities 2 and 4 wheelers.
Sign on from 9am. Tracks open 9:30am to 3pm.
Fire extinguishers are compulsory for red arrowed tracks and can be bought on the day for $30.
Food: Food Caravan sells hamburgers, bacon and egg rolls, hot dogs, hot chips, cold drinks and espresso coffee.
Entry: All fees stated apply per day unless stated otherwise. Enter on the day. Pay by cash or cheque. Adults $45. School Kids 18 years or under with Student ID $20. Families of up to 5 people $90. Adult 2 day pass $80 - must be purchased on Saturday.
Safety gear: Helmets, long trousers, long sleeved tops and leather boots that cover the ankle are compulsory. (Gloves, goggles, knee pads, kidney belt and body armour are strongly recommended). Kids on Kids tracks near the base may wear gumboots. Click here for all event safety rules.
Accommodation: There is no camping on site. Taupo has great camping grounds and motels. See http://www.laketauponz.com/
Information: http://www.epicevents.co.nz/ nick "at" epicevents.co.nz 021 983 766
NEWS
Epic Events News #5, 5th May 2010
In this news –
Suzuki Berm Buster
Family fees
Stolen Bike
Pirate Riders
Speeding
Stay on the track
Crank Taupo
Coming events
Suzuki Berm Buster
Ok here we go heading into Suzuki Berm Buster this weekend. This is such a good trail ride with a wide variety of terrain and fast flowing trails. Our team are out over the next few days doing what we call 100 percenting. That is going over every inch of the track to pick up sticks, check all arrowing, trim the odd branch etc. Then on Friday our Safety Manager Andrew Roigard will audit all 100km of trail on his new DRZ 250. The tracks get a final check on Saturday morning at 7am when the first pair of sweep riders re check the tracks to make sure no trees have fallen down overnight.
Here are the fees for the weekend. All listed per day:
Adult $45
Student 18 or under $20
Families $90
Adult 2 day pass $80 (must be purchased on Saturday)
Location is SH5, Taupo to Napier road. Allow 25 minutes from Taupo. Check the map at www.epicevents.co.nz for details.
Tracks include; Long trail 46km, Medium trail 38km, Short trail 17km, Novice 3km, Kids forest, Novice Kids forest and Adult MX. Please note that there are no Kids grass tracks available. The Medium trail is reserved for Sunday only.
Family Fees
At the first Suzuki Trail Blazer we did not offer discounts to families. The reason for this is that the ‘family’ rate was being abused by some people. After receiving some feedback from some families, we have decided to bring back the family rate which for Berm Buster is $90. (thanks to those who e mailed me) We will let you know the Suzuki Trail Blazer family rate soon, but it will be no more than $90. Note that the family rate applies to Parents with their kids and up to a maximum of 5 people. I do apologise for not offering the family fee at Trail Blazer and for not communicating this prior to the ride!
While we are talking about fees, The Suzuki Berm Buster, Pumice Blast and Desert Storm fees are higher than Suzuki Trail Blazer because of the high costs of preparing the tracks for only one event. We are able to charge less at Trail Blazer because we use the trails 3-4 times per year.
Stolen Bike
Some mongrel stole Chris Powers CRF 450. Chris is the Editor of our favourite magazine – Dirt Rider Downunder and an all round good guy. The CRF is pretty blinged out so keep and eye out for someone one a CRF with no helmet, probably doing a wheelie in a place they should not be.
Pirates
The following people have been found riding in Tahorakuri forest without permission and now find themselves banned from Epic Events for one year: William Robert Clerke, Adam Pennett, Daniel Kent, Zane Samon. Illegal riding plain sucks, is dangerous and can stuff up venues for everyone so make sure you only ride with permission from land owners.
Speeding
I always get complaints from some customers about riders speeding in the pits and having near collisions. Anyone caught exceeding 1st gear or 10km per hour will have their ride sticker removed for 2 hours. Anyone going really fast will have their ride sticker removed for the day. This is a safety issue and we take safety very seriously. There is 100km of cool open trail with no speed limit so use 2nd gear and above for outside the pits.
Stay on the track
It is critical that you stay on the marked trails. In fact that is one of our 10 critical rules formed after we had a major accident at Suzuki Desert Storm some years back. Occasionally when riding, you will miss an arrow and have to return back down the trail to rejoin the track. If you do this, you must stay extreme left until you can rejoin the trail safely. Otherwise you risk a head on. Also remember to ride the arrowed track, not the bull dozed track or the track the rider in front of you has taken.
Leatt Crank Taupo
We have a brand new Mountain bike event coming up 22 May involving Cross Country and Downhill. There is also an ‘All Mountain’ category. Check our website if you are keen.
Rory Meade
Rory is a super fast rider currently giving world Extreme Enduros a nudge. He is hoping to take on a lot more international events this year and needs some financial support. Have a look on our website in the news section to see what Rory is up to.
Coming events;
8-9 May – Suzuki Berm Buster
22 May – Leatt Crank Taupo (Mountain Bikes)
13 June – Suzuki Trail Blazer North Achilles Road.
11 July – Brooks Off Road Half marathon, Taupo
17-18 July – Suzuki Trail Blazer 2 day. Saturday at Te Toke Rd, Sunday at Achilles Road.
21 August – Suzuki 4 hour
We have a trail ride planned for the 2nd weekend from August to November and will announce these events as soon as the land access is secured.
See you on Saturday at Suzuki Berm Buster.
EPIC EVENTS NEWS 4 MARCH 2010
June sees us running one of my favourite rides - Suzuki Berm Buster located on SH5, the Taupo to Napier road next to the Kaimanawa Forest park. Our first 2 day event of the year has historically had the misfortune of being plagued by rain each time we have held it hence numbers have been a bit low (about 400 per day). However the people who take part reckon it is one of their favourite venues. Berm Buster includes the traditional epic events mix of flowing bush tracks, fast open firebreaks and some challenging Expert sections.
ACCOMMODATION
Just a note on accommodation. About 5 minutes from the event is a place called Sika Lodge. The lodge sleeps 30. Sleeping bag required. There is also a fully self contained two bedroom cottage available. Contact phone 073780621 or email bandvk "at" xtra.co.nz. A good option in Taupo is the Top Ten Holiday Park. 080033-2121 http://www.taupotop10.co.nz/ The top ten is right beside the AC baths hot pools so makes a good option if you need a soak.
PHOTOS
Pumice berms everywhere!
You are riding on the edge of the Kaimanawa Forest Park.
Jumps in the small pines
FEEDBACK
Just sending you some feedback from today's ride. Even though me and my old man only did the middle trail because that's all we had time to do it was worth it. Looking forward to the next Epic Events ride.
Pumice is always good and the rain probably improved it. I really appreciate the arrows on your rides. If there are down arrows then watch out, otherwise, go hard. Did you close the 'expert only' section of the 40km loop during the day? I missed it on my second lap.
I look forward to your next epic event.
Wanted to say a big congrats on another epic event. I thought you may also be interested in some GPS info on the Berm Buster event. Have a look at this pathing information I recorded on Saturday on the 55km loop. Unfortunately my batteries died halfway around, will carry spares next time!
Congratulations to you and your team for another great event.
I ummed and aahed before I left home yesterday because of the weather. But very pleased I decided to go.
Great tracks, minimal road sections, some good snotty bits and a few challenges. Well done. How great it would be to do it all again in summer time.
Fantastic event, Cold, Wet and fantastic trails.
Thanks for all your efforts with the ride last weekend. A group of twelve of us from all over the North Island have met up at all your two day rides this year.
six two wheelers and six Quads.
Those of us on Quads have learnt to get on the big loops first before they get rutted and the surface on the 55k was awesome ,Loved the dark forest parts ,Really appreciated having lights.
A big thank you to your man on the grizzly for giving us a push out in the afternoon.
So when do you think you could encourage enough Quads to turn up for a Quad only ride.???.
Just to add to the comments already made. We rode berm buster on the Sunday. We rode from 9:30 till just before 4pm and only stopped for food and fuel. I rode berm buster last year in the dry and it was epic, I rode it in the wet this year and it was just as awesome. Please don't shorten the long loop. The more track you have the less condensed the bikes are. If anything make it longer, more tracks like fire break and ridge line. You can always have short cuts for those that can't handle it or have small fuel tanks.
Ill be back, regardless of when it is.
Hey nick, just some feedback on the day/track, this was my first trail ride and loved it.
Thanks for a great couple of days and see you on the 10th of aug,
We traveled down from Auckland early Sat morning, We did the 55km loop twice and the 20 once. After then we decided to stay and have a crack at the new 40km loop. We found great accommodation, had a awesome evening, arrived early for Sun, did 2 40kms loops which I reckon was the pic of the weekend.
Weather aside I would personally give the event a 9.5/10. The only comment I could suggest is sign on a hour earlier if possible as I'm sure keen riders such as ourselves would be rearing to go at a earlier time thus allowing a early escape back home. Riders not in a rush would still turn up whenever.
Thanks again and look forward to the next event