Red Bull Pump Track World Championship highlights weekend of biking events

The Red Bull Pump Track World Championship event highlights a series of biking related events around Leavenworth on Memorial Day weekend. The Red Bull Pump Track World Championship takes place on Saturday, May 26, in Leavenworth.
Meg Zapalowski, owner of Infinity Cycling in Leavenworth, has created some other biking events to coincide withe Red Bull event over the weekend.
“The Bavarian Battle of the Bikes celebration of everything involving two wheels, specifically bicycles. The concept was developed around the Red Bull Pump Track World Championship event coming to Leavenworth,” Zapalowski said. “I met with the Blue Lotus Foundation, which helped bring the event to town and proposed an idea on creating events around the Red Bull Pump Track event. Let’s create some additional events that celebrate the use of a bicycle.”
The idea was to have a bike related film festival on Friday, May 25 and then a criterion bike race at Ski Hill on Sunday, May 27. Zapalowski said the main focus for these events in year one would fundraising and giving back to the community.
“I wanted to create events that would bring people and that would help support current foundations and organizations in our community that we would like to see grow and flourish. That’s why I chose Icicle Bicycle youth mountain bike development program for the Trails in Motion Mountain Bike film fest,” Zapalowski said.
The Trails in Motion film will be presented at the Festehalle, with the doors opening at 6 p.m. and the film at 7 p.m. The event on Sunday is called the Dirt Digger Criterion. The event at Ski Hill would benefit the Leavenworth Winter Sports Club, she said.
“That will require five loops in waves of people to see how face they can do a .08 mile loop on flat bar bikes. They can have to have either a mountain bike or fat bike in order to compete. A Dirt Digger Crit is designed as a fun event, not highly competitive. It’s something that gets people together,” Zapalowski said.
The Dirt Digger Crit starts at 8 a.m. and last all day. There will be food, beer and music. To get the word out, Zapalowski said it has mainly been social media, but also emails and some direct cycling contacts in Seattle and central Washington.
“Lots of grass roots marketing. It’s been really cool. The biggest thing for me, being new to town, I am overwhelmed and grateful for the amount of support and trust and excited that this community has already embraced. I couldn’t be more excited,” Zapalowski said.
The main event of the weekend is the Red Bull Pump Track World Championship which will attract pro athletes from all over the country. Amateurs are also welcome to participate.
“There will be two participants at one time. We are the qualifying event for Switzerland. First place for men and women get all expenses paid trip to Switzerland for the championship event. Second, third and fourth also qualify, but they do not get the financial assistance,” she said.
There are currently 77 registered riders from all over the country. Zapalowski said they expect that number to go up.
“It’s open to anyone to give it a shot. People think this is a bunch of Red Bull sponsored riders that are coming to race, but anyone can enter,” she said.
Of course, parking is limited at Enchantment Park, where the pump track is located. Zapalowski said they have been posting on social media about parking.
“The great thing about being a bike festival is we are encouraging people to ride their bikes. Hopefully, individuals coming to the event will want to ride your bike,” she said. “We have tons of volunteers that will help with traffic and parking. We’re making sure we are mindful of the community and people who live near the park.”
There has been a parking plan worked out with the city, she said, which encourages people to ride their bikes to the event. There will be concessions at all three events plus other amenities.
“We’re having an expo style where bike brands, gear and food can all be available for people to look at. It’s going to be great for not just the participants but also the spectators,” Zapalowski said.
You can sign up for the events through social media, www.facebook.com/bavarianbattleofthebikes/. For info on the Red Bull event, go to
www.redbull.com/us-en/red-bull-pump-track-world-championship-on-tour.
Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.