Hallingdal a driving force behind national pumptrack championship

Hallingdal Pumptrack Series joins heavyweights such as Hafjell Bike Park and Trysil Bike Arena to launch the first unofficial Norwegian Pumptrack Cycling Championship for 2021. The "Norwegian Pumptrack Series" will take place over a total of four rounds, with the series opening and closing in Hallingdal.

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Explosive development in popularity

Pumptrack is cycling's answer to the ball pit, and in just a couple of years Norway has gone from having a couple of these paved cycle tracks to almost 50! The name pumptrack comes from the cyclist's "pumping" motion, when using rollers and metered turns to gain speed around the track. Equipment and skill requirements are at a minimum, and a pumptrack takes up very little space - which is one of the reasons why the tracks are now making inroads in both cities and tourist destinations around the country. Pumptrack is also suitable for everyone, from the very youngest on a balance bike to professional cyclists.

Pumptracks is a fantastic showcase for mountain biking. It's speed, excitement and artistry on two wheels, and we can take cycling right into the city center, where a lot of people will have the opportunity to take part in the cycling party.

New competition format

But the compact "bike cages" aren't just home to self-organized fun. Since 2018, the International Cycling Union (UCI) has been organizing pump track world championships, with events all over the world. The format is simple: Who gets around the track the fastest! Now Norway is getting in on the act with the unofficial Norwegian Pumptrack Cycling Championship. "The Norwegian Pumptrack Series is a collaboration between Hallingdal Rides, Hafjell Bike Park and Trysil Bike Arena. In 2020, Hafjell opened Norway's largest pumptrack, which has been a huge hit in its first year of operation. This year, Trysil is building an even bigger, and completely unique, pumptrack.

- "We built our first paved pumptrack in 2016. This has become an epicenter of our cycling facility, a place where everyone starts and ends a cycling day in Trysil. It's become so popular that we now need to build a second pumptrack, on which we can run major competitions. It's therefore gratifying that we're creating a Norwegian pumptrack series together with Hafjell and Hallingdal,"says Olve Norderhaug, manager of Trysil Bike Arena.

Several pumptracks have been built in Hallingdal and last year there was great success with a regional pumptrack series, which will continue in 2021 with the Norwegian Pumptrack Series as the superstructure.

Photo: Hallingdal Pumptrack Series, Lars Storheim

- "Pumptracks is a fantastic showcase for mountain biking. It's speed, excitement and artistry on two wheels, and we can take cycling right into the city center, where a lot of people get the opportunity to take part in the cycling party. Pumptracken is also an arena where cyclists from different branches of mountain biking can cross paths. The events attract participants from BMX, circuit, downhill and enduro cycling, adding an extra dimension to these events. All three partners agreed that pumptrack cycling in Norway deserved an even bigger platform, and that was the start of a collaboration that now culminates in the first ever Norwegian pumptrack series." says Lars W. Jensen of Hallingdal Rides.

What's better than crushing your buddy in a fun and easy cycling competition?

10.000,- in prize money and crowning of "Norwegian champion" in pumptrack

The Norwegian Pumptrack Series consists of a total of 4 series rounds, in Nesbyen, Hafjell Trysil and Geilo - all four of the most competitive mountain bike destinations in the country. The 4 events will be open to all cyclists, regardless of age and ambition level, but it is only in the elite class (from 13 years and up) where points are awarded for the summary and an overall winner is chosen in the series. The winners of each round in the Norwegian Pumptrack Series receive NOK 5,000 in prize money for the men's and women's classes. The overall winner will receive a trophy and the title of winner of Norway's first national pumptrack series.

- "After many fun pumptrack competitions here in Hafjell in recent years, we're now really looking forward to creating a whole series together with our friends in Hallingdal and Trysil! The pumptrack is a fantastic arena for both children and adults to have fun on bikes, and the competitions are always fun! What could be better than beating your friend in a fun and easy cycling competition?", concludes Knut Løkås of Hafjell Bike Park.

Photo: Lars Storheim

Bridging on regional series

Last week, Hallingdal launched a new season of the Hallingdal Pumptrack Series. Two of the regional series rounds in Hallingdal - Nesbyen on June 26 and Geilo on September 25 - now have the status of national series rounds in the elite class, while the rounds at Gol and Flå are carried out at full speed with the same schedule and prizes as the national rounds - but without the participants being able to collect points for the overall victory. Lars W. Jensen of Hallingdal Rides is delighted with the addition of the national series.

- "Here we just add, without subtracting anything. For children, young people and those who just ride for fun, the program will be completely unchanged from last year, with full focus on the social aspect. For the elite class, there will now be even more to strive for. We hope this will increase interest, registration and the level of the elite class - which in turn will result in an even better bike show for everyone who turns up to watch. In addition, it's always inspiring to come up with joint initiatives with Hafjell and Trysil, which are leading cycling destinations in Scandinavia.

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About Norwegian Pumptrack Series 2021:

• The series consists of a total of 4 rounds:

  • Nesbyen, Saturday, June 26

  • Hafjell, Friday, August 6

  • Trysil, Saturday, August 28

  • Geilo, Saturday, September 25

• The first prize in the elite class is 5.000,- for men and women respectively for each series round.

• In the elite class, the same points system is used as the UCI World Cup

• "Norwegian Pumptrack Series" is a collaboration between Hallingdal Rides, Hafjell Bike Park and Trysil Bike Arena.

• More info at www.pumptrackseries.no