VRD short track mountain bike race series kicks off at 4 Eagle Ranch

The Vail Recreation District's 4 Eagle Ranch Kids 2013 Spring MTB Short Track Race Series continues Wednesday, May 1 at 4 Eagle Ranch near Wolcott.

Race-day activities begin at 4:30 p.m. with day-of registration, which will last until 6:30 p.m. The first race of the event begins at 5:15 p.m. for kids ages six to nine years, followed by a race at 5:30 p.m. for kids ages 10 to 14 years. Adult races will begin at 5:45 p.m. with the Beginner Category and continue with the Sport Category at 6:15 p.m. The final race, for bicyclists in the Expert Category, will begin at 6:45 p.m. Costs to participate in the races are $7 for kids and $15 for adults.

The short track races will take place on a short, dirt loop, with adult participants completing as many laps as possible in 20 minutes with an average lap taking approximately two minutes to finish. The length of time for the children's racers is five minutes for ages six to 10 and 10 minutes for ages 11 to 14.

4 Eagle Ranch 2012 An after party will be held at the 4 Eagle Ranch Grill following the race for all participants and spectators. All racers will have the chance to win raffle prizes and adult racers ages 21 and over will receive a free Bud Light. Unlike this summer's seven-race Athletic Club at the Westin's Vail, Beaver Creek Mountain Bike Race Series, the Spring MTB Short Track Series will not award prizes or points for individual racers or teams.

The Spring MTB Short Track race series will continue May 8 at Maloit Park in Minturn with an after party at Magustos, followed by the final race on May 15 at Beaver Creek with an after party at the The Dusty Boot in Beaver Creek. All races begin at 5:15 p.m.

Sponsors of the 2013 Spring MTB Short Track Series include the Athletic Club at the Westin, East West Resorts, Vail Valley Medical Center, The Dusty Boot, Beaver Creek Resort, Summit Ford, Bud Light, Apex Dental, New York Life/Ryan Van Ness, Central Rockies Mortgage, Primal Cycling Apparel, Drift Innovation, Honey Stinger, Steadman Philippon Research Institute and The Steadman Clinic.

Preregistration for the first MTB Short Track Race as well as information about VRD's action-packed lineup of spring and summer mountain bike activities is available by calling 970-479-2280 or clicking here. For details on all other VRD programs, click here.