Thredbo Wraps Massive Toyota Cannonball MTB Festival


The Toyota Cannonball MTB Festival returned to Thredbo this weekend, bringing with it some of the world’s best mountain bike riders for a non-stop spectacle of dirt, thrills and spills.

Over the weekend, 470 riders descended on Thredbo, making this the biggest gravity mountain biking event in Australia. The roll call of big name riders included Luca Shaw, Sam Hill, Andrew and Thomas Crimmins, Troy Brosnan, Connor Fearon and Tegan Molloy; all battling it out for the massive prize pool worth over $45,000.

(c) Tim Bardsley-Smith
Top of the Cannonball DH.

On the famous 3.5km Cannonball Downhill track, Troy Brosnan thrashed out the main event, Sunday’s Australian Open Downhill, in a scorching time of 5:04, edging out Connor Fearon and Sam Hill who took home 2nd and 3rd place respectively. The strongly contested event pushed riders to their physical and mental limits, all vying for the biggest prize purse on the Australian Downhill calendar. 

Connor Fearon wins the ODI Whip Wars.
Connor Fearon wins the ODI Whip Wars.

The weekend opened with riders battling it out in the SRAM Dual Compressor, with Blake Neilsen expertly navigating the course’s jumps, berms and rhythm sections to come out on top of the competition’s elimination format. The ROCKSHOX Pump Challenge rounded out the first day of competition on Friday night; young gun Remy Morton didn’t miss a beat, tearing up the new look Pump Track to take home the coveted title. 

(c) Tim Bardsley-Smith
RockShox Pump Track Challenge winner, Remy Morton.
(c) Tim Bardsley-Smith
Dave McMillan on the new Thredbo Pump Track.

The weather was just as spectacular as the riding, with blue sky and sunshine right across the weekend.  The action was big in the ODI Whip Wars with over 100 riders lining up to impress the judges. The flips, old school manoeuvres and massive whips excited the massive hillside crowd.  Connor Fearon was eventually crowned the King of Style.

(c) Tim Bardsley-Smith
ODI Whip Wars with Dave McMillan.

(c) Tim Bardsley-Smith

Playing the long game, local riders Thomas Crimmins and Tegan Molloy used their home track advantage to take out the Maxxis Flow Motion Cup, where the 4.5km track was certainly a test of endurance and stamina. 

Thomas Crimmins winning the Flow Motion Cup.
Thomas Crimmins winning the Flow Motion Cup.

With both sides of the resort enjoying tunes from DJs and live acts, and Thredbo’s stellar offering of bars and restaurants alive and pumping, Thredbo again proved why it’s the ultimate holiday destination for summer. The riding is not just for pros, with a range of new trails to suit all level of riders added to the resort’s already extensive network. Thredbo boasts 25 kilometres of epic riding in the region, including the latest and greatest Thredbo All-Mountain Trail

Troy Brosnan winner Toyota Australian Open Downhill Photo credit Tim Bardsley-Smith
Troy Brosnan winner Toyota Australian Open Downhill.
(c) Tim Bardsley-Smith
Tegan Molloy wins the Toyota Australian Open.
Rock garden on the Cannonball Downhill photo credit Tim Bardsley-Smith
Rock garden on the Cannonball Downhill.

  (c) Tim Bardsley-Smith

International Luca Shaw on the Cannonball Downhill.
International Luca Shaw on the Cannonball Downhill.

To check out Thredbo accommodation packages, please visit Thredbo’s website, call the Thredbo Resort Centre on 1300 020 589, or visitFacebook, Twitter and Instagram

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