WWW.EPICEVENTS.CO.NZ | SAND BLAST


SUZUKI Sand Blast


Suzuki Sand Blast is a 2 day trail ride held in Waiouru on the Eastern side of the Desert Road. First run in December 2005, the event is based around the Rangipo Desert and includes a unique sand hill riding experience.

Suzuki Sand Blast does not have a set date for 2007. We are applying to run this event with the New Zealand Army and will keep you posted with the progress.










SUZUKI Sand Blast Media 4 - REPORT - Wed 21 December - By Nick Reader

Following is an e mail sent to me from a Father and Son team who took part in the Suzuki Sand Blast Trail Ride 17-18 December 2005 Waiouru. The report sums up the experience I hoped to create for the riders.
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Where do I start?

After a miserable drive down from Auckland in the rain, leaving at 7.00am, we nearly did not bother on Saturday and thought about watching TV in our Motel at Turangi.

Decided to press on and the closer we got to Waiouru the better it looked, until blue skies welcomed us.

Fantastic base for the event with easy access to parking, which can often be a hassle with low skirts on some cars.

The 30km loop was great and my son and I did two laps before heading back to Turangi.

The fast grass runs were magic with the hills and "air" just like a scramble.

Sunday was even better with a 9-30 start and we managed the 60km loop and another lap on the 30km.

My only comment, when at one of the higher points on Ruapehu, was that this must be one of the best trail rides in the world!

Best part, riding down that 2 metre deep gully / half pipe, high up on Ruapehu, with the "wall of death" corners!

We left for home just before the big down pour with the touch of hail!

Thank you for a well organised event, some amazing scenery, an unbelievable variety of riding terrain, two deep stream crossings and a sprained thumb following an off in the tussock.

Damaged gear, a broken front brake lever and a bent one, not bad!

Great support from all your crew of helpers and sweepers.

Will be back for more and appreciate the time that must go into getting the permits for the events.

Event Facts
• Event held on NZ Defence Force land – Army Training Group - Waiouru
• Saturday 303 riders
• Sunday 311 riders
• Stay tuned for news on Suzuki Alpine Express and Desert Storm

SUZUKI Sand Blast Media 3-By Nick Reader

At Epic Events we strive to deliver the best trail rides in NZ. That’s why the rides are called ‘Epic’. The best rides start with the best venues which are very difficult to obtain. There are increasing issues of personal risk, land fees, insurance, liability and legal requirements that are making it even harder to gain top notch trail riding venues. Land owners no longer just say ‘no worries mate, you can use my land’.

The venues we use are negotiated on a year by year basis and that is why the rides are often only confirmed 90 days prior to the event. There are no fixed term lease deals.

There is no guarantee that the extremely popular Suzuki Alpine Express and Suzuki Desert Storm rides will occur in 2006. Currently Winstone Pulp International (managers of the Desert Storm venue) are consulting with their lawyers as to whether Epic Events Ltd will be granted a permit to run Desert Storm. And if Suzuki Desert Storm does occur in 2006, there is no guarantee that the NZ Defence Force Desert will be included as has been the case for the past 2 years.

The latest Epic Event Suzuki Sand Blast follows the theme of Epic Events trail ride venues. It has been really hard to secure the NZ Defence Force lands, but the trade off is that the riding is exceptional and truly unique.

Suzuki Sand Blast takes riders on an Epic journey through farm land, tussock trails, mountain edge, creek crossing, shingle hills and sandy dry creek beds all in a fun and flowing way.

Suzuki Sand Blast also takes riders right by a film set from Lord of the Rings. The set is called Helms Deep (in the movie it was a big scrap between good and evil).

I rode the zones last week and was blown away by the sandy bermy dry creek beds, the undulating tussock country, the ruggedness of Mount Ruapehu and the views across Desert.

So the moral of this story is;
Suzuki Sand Blast might be the only chance to ride the army training area for some time.

• Suzuki Sand Blast 17-18 December 2005
• Entry forms and new photos are at www.epicevents.co.nz
• Or phone Nick Reader at 021 983 766

SUZUKI Sand Blast Media 2 - Monday 5 December 2005 - By Nick Reader

Just over 2 weeks until the new Suzuki Sand Blast trail ride kicks off so here are a few updates...
Attached are some pictures of the Epic Events team making the cool kids forest track that is right by the base so Parents can see their kids in action. There will also be a cool kids grass track marked out. Both kids tracks will be supervised by Epic Events staff.
The other 2 pics are of the view from the camp/pits looking out onto the grass farm tracks and the impressive Mount Ruapehu. Yes you ride right up to the base of the mountain!
Also a clarification from the event poster. The 30km track is open on the Saturday and the 60km track is open on the Sunday only.
We are going to run the 'Trail Sprint' race against the clock at around 5:30pm on the Saturday night on the kids bush track. This is an exciting taste of Enduro riding that is great to either race or watch.

Also attached is a poster promoting the bike hire available from Darryl August Motorcycles. Hiring a bike is a great option for Suzuki Sand Blast and all other Epic Events trail rides.

Because it's close to Christmas, we are going to have a lolly scramble for the kids too.

Entries are rolling in and the cabins are booking out fast. So if you haven't already entered Sand Blast then download an entry form of www.epicevents.co.nz today.

Suzuki Sand Blast takes place 17-18 December 2005 at Waiouru.


SUZUKI Sand Blast Media 1 - 10 November 2005 - By Nick Reader

Demanding work deadlines, eating fruit pies and endless cups of tea with the inlaws, throw them all aside for while for an awesome new trail ride just before Christmas.

Epic Events and Suzuki have come up with a brand new trail ride called Suzuki Sand Blast taking place 17-18 December 2005 near Waiouru.

Here's how the ride goes… 5 km of rolling grass land with humps, bumps and jumps, one km of pine trees, 10 km of tussocky tank track trails, across a sandy wasteland then up and around the foothills of Mount Ruapehu, around Ghost Bush, over and across about 10 waddies (dry creek beds), You think you are riding in a Motocross movie filmed in California, back down through the Rangipo Desert, then back through the tussock land winding along the bank of the Whangaehu River to strike another 5 clicks of rolling grass land… In for a quick drink then do it all again!

If this presses your buttons then you need to be a part of Suzuki Sand Blast.

Saturday the 17th will be a half day ride starting just after mid day involving half the main trail. Saturday evening will have a DJ on entertainment and usual quiet refreshments. On Sunday the full 60 km circuit will be opened up for everyone to enjoy. A supervised Suzuki kids grass track will operate both days.

The event base is the Waiouru Military camp called Helwan which is located just 2 km North of Waiouru. The camp has cabins, toilets, hot showers and a main hall for gatherings. By pre booking you can score a cabin for you and your mates or family or get into summer mode and camp. A full entry form will be out by the 28th of November.