Sea Otter Australia unveil festival schedule for Mogo

The pristine trails of Mogo are about to steal the spotlight as the NSW South Coast rolls out its red dirt carpet to welcome riders from across the globe.

Only a two-hour drive from Canberra and a four-hour drive from Sydney, Mogo is ready for the masses. Rocky Trail Entertainment has made a gutsy, game-changing move, securing a 10-year license to bring the globally iconic Sea Otter Festival to Australian shores.

Not a bad backdrop for Sea Otter Australia, eh? And wait until you see the trails!

And really, where better to launch this off-road mega-weekender than the fresh, feisty and fiercely homegrown Mogo Trails, just a 10-minute drive from Batemans Bay?

With the ocean on one side and 125km of hero dirt on the other, this setting couldn’t be more ready.

The festival runs from the 22 to 26 October 2025, stretching across five full days packed with racing, demo zones, tech expos and the good kind of kids’ chaos.

Mark your calendar, dial in your setup and maybe, start railing those turns now!

Make like Lia and start railing those turns because Sea Otter Australia has announced it festival schedule and the line up of events — including some new racing formats.

From Monterey to Mogo: Thinking global, shredding local

Earlier this month, Rocky Trail CEO Juliane Wisata, along with Head of Events Jo Parker and Head of Summit Joe Mullan, made the pilgrimage to California’s Sea Otter Classic — the event that started it all.

They were there to solidify ties and soak up inspiration ahead of the event’s Aussie debut.

“Our presence at the Sea Otter Classic in California this week is a vital step in ensuring the successful launch of Sea Otter Australia and further showcasing the incredible potential of the NSW South Coast as a world-class mountain biking destination,” said Juliane Wisata.

The team behind Rocky Trail (from left to right, Jo Parker, Bob Morris, Martin and Juliane Wisata; not pictured is Joe Mullan) who you will know if you’ve ever done a Super Flow, Academy, the Shimano 100, or the Willo to name a few.

This strategic trip follows the groundwork laid by COO Martin Wisata and the Mogo Trails team, who scoped out the 2024 edition in Monterey. It’s no secret that Sea Otter Australia had two false starts, initially planned for Stromlo in 2021 and 2022. With the Rocky Trail crew at the wheel, they are committed to bringing the festival to the South Coast and have been hard at work to re-build the brand and bring the local industry and riding community on board.

Wandering through the dusty buzz of the festival, Martin was struck by the seamless blend of lycra and baggies, the sheer scale of the event, and the vibrant community atmosphere.

“Don’t go with an agenda, just soak it all in,” he says. “They’ve been running it for over 30 years. It’s a big beast, but what they’ve absolutely nailed is the mix of expo, community and top-level racing.”

He wasn’t only taking notes, he was sketching out how to translate that global energy into something uniquely South Coast.

“Seeing thousands of riders, families and industry professionals come together was inspiring,’ Martin says.

Sea Otter had a couple of false starts here in Australia, but the team at Rocky Trail will be bringing the festival to Mogo in October.

A local team with a big vision

Rocky Trail isn’t some faceless event machine. It’s the passion project of Juliane and Martin Wisata, the duo behind the dream. Who haven’t just built events like Fox Superflow and Rocky Trail Academy, but relocated their lives and business to Batemans Bay.

They’ve embedded themselves into the fabric of the region, cultivating a community-driven mountain bike culture with serious traction.

As Juliane puts it: “We are a local team with a global vision. We’re passionate about creating unforgettable cycling experiences while driving real economic outcomes for our region.”

And that vision is already paying off. In 2024 alone, Rocky Trail’s events pulled over 1,000 athletes to the South Coast, generating more than $650,000 AUD in local revenue for Eurobodalla and Shoalhaven.

Juliane and Martin Wisata have actually moved from Sydney to Mogo, making the trail network the new home of Rocky Trail Entertainment.

And that vision is also about access. One of the most quietly powerful elements of the Mogo build has been a growing focus on adaptive riders.

“The technology for the adaptive rider has come so far, and we’re not dumbing things down anymore. We’re just adjusting ever so slightly to make sure that this group of riders can enjoy as many trails as possible based on their skill.” Martin says.

Now that Sea Otter is locked in, those numbers are about to shift into a whole new gear.

With over 2,000 riders and up to 4,000 visitors expected in its debut year, Sea Otter Australia is poised to make a pretty loud first impression.

The Rocky Trail team have big goals for the inaugural Sea Otter Australia and we can’t wait to see what they have cooked up in Mogo.

The festival schedule is LIVE. And trust us, it’s stacked.

Let’s talk about what’s on offer. This isn’t just a race weekend. It’s a five-day bike culture immersion!

“We want Sea Otter to offer a ride or race for every rider, every day,” Martin says. “Gravel, XC, gravity, whatever you’re into—there’s something for you, and the schedule’s built around that idea.”

Sea Otter is for everyone and will have events for school kids, roadies, CX and gravel, e-MTBs and, of course, some of Rocky Trail’s best-known formats.

The festival officially kicks off on the 23rd of October with the Sea Otter Schools Champs, offering cross-country and gravity challenges to the future generation of Australian MTB.

Then, from October 24 – 26, the main festival begins. Expect high-energy racing across Gravity Enduro, Superflow and Marathon formats, including guided social rides both on- and off-road that showcase the best gems of the South Coast.

Martin shared one of the crown jewels of the trail network, starting from the top of Mt Wandera and finishing at the beach — there will be a guided ride on this yet-to-be-opened adventure trail, and even at the nearby Narooma trail network, too!

Sea Otter is even offering ride experiences at nearby trail networks like Narooma.

“It’s an almost 30-kilometre one-way track from a 600-metre point that overlooks the entire area,” he says.

“It’s truly immersive. You stop and look around, listen to the sounds, and capture the smells of that area. It’s very special, and you feel like you’re the only person out there,” says Wisata.

Over at the Event Hub at the Hanging Rock Sports Precinct, just a short pedal from Corrigans Beach, you’ll find over 150 brands featuring the latest in cycling tech, gear and bikes.

Based on some of the trail building we’ve seen around Mogo, we can’t wait to see what they’ve cooked up for this new E-Otter MX format.

Hot off the line-up are two new race formats: the E-Otter MX and a sand-slinging cyclocross showdown.

E-Otter MX will see four riders race head-to-head on e-MTBs, on a 500-meter course, with features said to be designed to make it just about impossible to hit the 25kph pedal assist cutoff.

The CX race will see a mass start event with riders pit against a 400m stretch on the beach before weaving through the Event Village — get your rubber chickens and your beer hand-ups ready this is going to be as much fun for the spectators as the folks who decide to pin on a number.

There are some lovely culinary delights in Mogo, but the festival will also have a full lineup of food and drink, live music and more.

Mix that with some live tunes and local eats, and it’s shaping up to be a cycling fiesta with a coastal flavour.

And if you’re more into spectating, chilling, and sipping coffee while watching someone else do the suffering—don’t worry, there’s plenty of room for that too.

Let’s cut to the chase, Mogo’s trails slap

After the devastation of the 2019-2020 bushfires, this region could’ve gone quiet. But instead, it roared back to life.

With Next Level MTB crafting the trails and Rocky Trail steering the vision since late 2021, Mogo has exploded onto the scene as one of Australia’s most exciting trail networks.

The trails in Mogo are a ball of fun, and there is more soon to open, just in time for the festival! Stay tuned, as we’ll be heading back to Mogo soon to cover what’s coming.

There’s already over 100km of singletrack woven through the landscape. And, if you haven’t ridden it yet, expect quirky tech, endless flow and that signature, South Coast soil.

When it comes to naming favourites, Martin Wisata is like a proud parent at school pick-up, unable to choose between his extensive, trail family.

“Some of them are brats,” he laughs. “But, some are absolutely amazing and really nice. Then you realise you’ve spent too much time with one, so you move along and play with the next child a little more.”

The man himself, for Martin Wisata, trying to choose his favourite trails is a bit like picking your favourite child.

Mogo is calling, and the countdown is already ticking

Before October hits, the trails will get their first real shake-down with Mogo Mania, a two-day teaser rolling out in July 2025. It’s the ultimate tune-up and chance to prime the legs, dial in the flow and catch a taste of what’s to come.

After that? It’s all eyes on October.

Whether you’re there to send it, cheer from the sidelines, or just soak up the vibes with the scenic views, Sea Otter Australia 2025 is going to be one for the books. Registration for the events and experiences will open soon, head over to the Sea Otter Australia website for more info.

Sea Otter Australia is going to be a huge event, registration for the events opens soon! Stay tuned for more.

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