BENTONVILLE -- Watching last year's Slaughter Pen Jam Mountain Bike Festival from the sidelines, Norah Phelps told her dad she wanted to compete in this year's race.
Norah had taken up riding thanks to her dad, Nelsen Phelps, and his love of mountain biking. Phelps told his daughter it would take a lot of hard work to ride the Slaughter Pen trails.
Time sheets
Official time sheets from the 2016 Slaughter Pen Jam Mountain Bike Festival should be posted in about a week, according to Josh Stacey, race director. Results can be viewed online at www.slaughterpenjam….
Source: Staff report
On Sunday, competing in her first major race, Norah won second place in the 10 and under age group after completing a 6-mile lap around Phase 1 of Slaughter Pen.
"It was fun," said Norah, who rides often with her dad in Bella Vista. "The hardest part was starting because of all the nerves. My favorite part was the finish line."
Norah was one of roughly 300 racers who competed at this year's festival, which organizers say accommodates rides of all ages and skill levels.
"It's (the Bentonville Parks and Recreation Department's) third year to run the festival and it's our best year yet," said Josh Stacey, race director. "Our goal is to create a family-friendly yet still pretty epic mountain bike experience for everyone to participate in and enjoy."
The festival spanned the weekend, kicking off Friday with a BMX stunt show and ending with Sunday's race. Riders traversed Phase I and Phase II of north Bentonville's Slaughter Pen Trail, racing under three different categories. The toughest category, Cat 3/Pro, required three laps totaling 27 miles.
The Slaughter Pen Jam is one of four cross country mountain biking races in Northwest Arkansas making up the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series.
Stacey said the regional investment in trails systems has made Northwest Arkansas a celebrated destination for mountain biking.
"We are blessed with some of the best single track in honestly the United States," Stacey said. "(Northwest Arkansas) is not just for local residents but international riders."
Joe Battiato has been competitively racing for two years and called Slaughter Pen an "amazing course." Battiato often makes trips over from Tulsa, Okla., to ride the trails.
"It's fast and flowy down here," Battiato said. "It's a good day trip and (the trails) just keep progressing more and more."
For some, riding the trails is a family affair.
"We're on the trails two or three times a week," said Elizabeth Daughrity, who also competed in Sunday's race. "It's growing and it's exciting. I love it."
Norah, who plans to return for next year's Slaughter Pen Jam, also has been active on the trails with her family.
"We're just loving it," said her mother, Erin Phelps. "This is something that gets kids out riding bikes and brings people from all over the place to enjoy Bella Vista and Bentonville. It's the best."
NW News on 10/03/2016