Well, that went faster than a Glenduro finalist on Baywatch! Just like that, the 2024.2025 season at Bike Glendhu is nearly in the books, but not quite yet.
We’re rolling right through to June 2, and there’s still time to squeeze in a few more golden laps before the gates close. With hero dirt in full swing and autumn light doing its thing, the riding’s still all-time.
So before we hang up the party shirts, let’s take a look back at the laps, the laughs, and everything in between that made this season one to remember.
September 28th: Opening Day
You guys know how the start of the season went… so we won’t pause here for long. It was a hard start! That heavy rainfall in October gave us a tricky start to the season, but luckily our team and community pulled out all the stops to repair the trails, keep the good vibes going and communicate the obstacles.
It wasn’t long until we were out the other side of that weather, and could crack on with what we love most – biking!
November was all about community and collaboration as we jumped straight into event season! Spoiler alert, it really didn’t slow down till April, so buckle in!
November 2: Public Planting Day
Volunteers gathered to enhance the park’s natural beauty, planting native flora and reinforcing Bike Glendhu’s commitment to sustainability. As part of our ongoing Planting Promise, we pledge to plant 30,000 New Zealand native plants by 2030, contributing to biodiversity and long-term regeneration of the land we ride on. This event wasn’t just about digging holes, it was about digging deep into our values, and we’re stoked to see our community rally behind a greener future.
Missed a planting day? You can still donate here.
November 9: Business Excellence Award
Bike Glendhu was honored with the Excellence in Visitor Experience award at the Wānaka Business Excellence Awards, recognizing our dedication to providing top-notch adventures.
This award celebrates not just the thrill of our trails, but the care and thought put into every aspect of the rider experience, from sustainable operations and stunning trail design to community engagement and environmental stewardship. It’s a win for the entire BG whānau and the values we ride for.
November 10: BG Run Club Launch
Partnering with Kinisi Running, we introduced the BG Run Club, offering runners scenic routes and a supportive community. We ran the BG Run Club three times throughout the season, with various routes around the park followed by treats and coffee at Velo Cafe and Beer Garden.
November 11: Mons Royale T-Shirt Collab
Our collaboration with Mons Royale brought forth a limited-edition tee, celebrating the trails we love and the community that rides them. This limited edition collab tee is a tribute to biking in Wānaka, featuring design details that highlight some of the local’s favourite spots. 20% of every purchase supports Bike Wānaka and Bike Glendhu’s Women’s Ride Wednesdays!
November 23-24: Rocky Mountain Women’s Ride Camp
In partnership with our ambassador Bri Lobb, the Rocky Mountain Women’s Ride Camp returned for it’s third year, running two camps in November and February. Women riders honed their skills under expert guidance, fostering confidence and camaraderie on the trails and won prizes from businesses such as Smith and B.Effect Brewing Co.
November 27: Women’s Ride Wednesdays Return
Our much loved, and ever popular Women’s Ride Wednesday returned for 12 special evenings across the 2024.25 season. Supported by Mons Royale and Racers Edge, these weekly rides empowered women to connect and ride together as a social night of $10 passes, prizes and Velo food and drink specials.
We were delighted to welcome a massive 150 riders on our opening night, with the healthy numbers continuing throughout the summer.
November 29 -December 20: Rhythm & Bikes
4 events, 4 local artists, 4 epic evenings. In collaboration with Rhythm & Alps, we introduced Friday night rides paired with live music, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
We had Trekkers Hotel, Ryan Caldwell, Nick Munday and Clare Stokes grace Velo Cafe and Beer Garden with their tunes.
Rhythm & Bikes was born to bring locals and holidaymakers together at Bike Glendhu on Friday nights for laps and live tunes from incredible local musicians. Thanks to support from Rhythm & Alps, we offered $10 trail passes to make it accessible for the whole community and brought in some top-tier talent. Soundboks came to the party with a next-level DJ booth and sound system, while Southern Alps kept the vibes flowing with their crisp, ultra low carb beer for the post-ride après.
To top it all off, one lucky rider scored a 2-day GA pass to Rhythm & Alps 2024!
November 30: BGXC
The BGXC, presented by Hampshire Holiday Parks, challenged riders with a cross-country race that tested endurance and skill.
45 riders tackled it solo (with a 3-lap or 5-lap option on a punchy 7km loop) or teamed up for the all-new relay to keep it social!
It was fast, fun, and probably the best XC race this side of the Cook Strait (no bias, promise).
December was the month of elevation and exploration, the Upper Mountain opened and we started to get that ‘school’s out’ feeling as we moved towards the festive period.
December 3: Upper Mountain Opens
Riders enjoyed the fruits of our trail builders as the Upper Mountain trails opened, offering new terrains and breathtaking views.
February was the month of celebrations and the start of our busy event season!
February 8: 5th Birthday Bash
We celebrated five years of Bike Glendhu with cake (of course), a face painter, live music from Juno and Velo food specials. It was a great chance to get the community together to celebrate 5 epic years of Bike Glendhu, in the sunshine.
February 13: Pretty Sweet Thursdays Return
Our pals over at Pretty Sweet Lighting and Electrical brought back our $10 evening pass event, Pretty Sweet Thursdays! Evenings of social rides, tunes, and good vibes made Thursdays a weekly highlight.
Live DJ sessions, food specials, limited edition merch and discounted evening passes make Pretty Sweet Thursdays a crowd pleaser year after year.
February 26: Women’s Funduro
This fun, pressure-free enduro event marked the season’s final Women’s Ride Wednesday, celebrating female riders and giving our local women a chance to try out Enduro racing, stress free, ahead of our Glenduro.
Thanks to our pals Racers Edge and Mons Royale for helping support such an epic community evening.
The fun didn’t stop there! March was full of thrills and fast-paced, gravity defying skills.
March 22: Racers Edge Glenduro
Enduro enthusiasts tackled challenging trails, showcasing grit and determination.
The Racers Edge Glenduro was our flagship enduro event, serving up a mix of epic trails and terrain to test your skills (and your legs). With 4- and 5(ish)-stage course options, there’s something for everyone, from the laid-back “Chill AF” crew to the full-send “Serious AF” racers. ebikers, youth, and groms are all part of the action too.
We were pumped to have Racers Edge on board as our new title sponsor, alongside awesome support from b.effect brewing co., Trek, Mons Royale, and Kai Whakapai.
It was great to see the community show up, throw down and clean up the prizes.
March 23: Midpoint Jump Jam
Once a year we open up our legendary Midpoint pro lines for a community focused jump jam with spot prizes, music and good vibes.
Riders showcased their aerial skills, turning the park into a spectacle of jumps and tricks for riders and spectators alike, before heading down to Base for a good ol’ apres party.
April brought us lots of new things, like the opening of the Boneyard and the arrival of our Dharco custom party shirt.
April 5: Boneyard Skills Area Opens
Supported by Outside Sports and Bike It Now, this new addition provided riders with a dedicated space to hone their skills and build confidence. From those wanting to nail drops and features, to riders wanting to focus on berms and balance, the new Skills Area has given our community the chance to train without hitting the hills to access the trails.
Season Highlights: Beyond the Trails
Merch Madness:
From the BG Custom Party Shirt to baby onesies and socks, our new merchandise line had something for everyone.
Community Spotlights:
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Victoria Sheridan’s Bike Skit: Wanaka’s own comedian brought laughter to the trails with her hilarious new video.
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Jack Howatson’s Journey: Highlighting adaptive mountain biking, Jack’s story inspired many.
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Sophie Piearcey’s First Ride: Sophie embraced mountain biking, sharing her experience and encouraging others to try
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Environmental Commitment:
Operations Manager, Kelsi, sheds light on our sustainability goals, emphasizing our dedication to preserving nature.
At Bike Glendhu, we’re all about creating epic riding experiences while taking care of the land that makes it all possible. Our entire operation runs off-grid, powered by the sun. We’re on a mission to plant 30,000 native plants by 2025 through our Planting Promise, and we’re proud to protect and enhance the natural biodiversity of our kānuka-covered hills, wetlands, and rivers.
Sustainability is baked into everything we do, from how we build our trails to how we collaborate with our community and partners. For us, it’s not just about great riding, it’s about building a future where outdoor adventure and environmental care go hand in hand.
Team Adventure:
Our staff bonded and challenged themselves with an exhilarating trip to Wild Wire.
But it’s not over yet! Come down for some autumnal laps and chase that hero dirt before we roll into our season finale Ender Bender on May 31! See ya there for some party laps!
As we reflect on a season filled with growth, community, and unforgettable rides, we extend our gratitude to everyone who made it possible. Here’s to more adventures ahead at Bike Glendhu!
