Slaughter Pen Jam Starts Friday

By: Jill Rohrbach 09/03/2014

Slaughter Pen Jam is a three-day festival for riders of all ages. The fun takes place this weekend, Sept. 5-7, in Bentonville. The festival kicks off on Friday with Trials and BMX events on the downtown square. More than 3,000 spectators and riders are expected.

slaughterpen​

On Saturday, “The Pen” opens at Slaughter Pen Hollow Park with a trail run, music, food, vendors, giveaways, drag races, guided rides, kids events, jump competitions, and more. Sunday gets serious with the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series Race.

Slaughter Pen has more than 20 miles of the finest singletrack designed by two of the premier trail builders in the country – International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) & Progressive Trail Design. The theme is flow, but the best-in-class freeride park and 16 skinny Northshore logrides will prove why it is an ultimate bike vacation in Arkansas. Arkansans aren’t the only ones that think so.

Recently, two Northwest Arkansas communities were designated as “ride centers” by IMBA for their outstanding large-scale mountain bike facilities that offer something for every rider.

The designations for Bentonville and Fayetteville mean those cities are considered to be among the best places in the world for mountain bikers to find outstanding trails. Bentonville became one of only 10 silver-level ride centers in the world. Fayetteville’s bronze-level designation makes it one of only 16 communities with that designation. The world has just one gold-level ride center: Park City, Utah.

Regarding Bentonville, IMBA noted that the city has Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike Trails, Blowing Springs Trail and nearby Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area. Adding to the uniqueness is that the majority of singletrack in the town links directly to the Bentonville’s urban trail system, providing easy access for mountain bikers to city amenities.

Bentonville has a ton of great biking activities – weekly and special events.

Here’s the Jam schedule for Saturday and Sunday:

Saturday September 6 – The ‘Pen

On Saturday the Festival Continues at Slaughter Pen Hollow Park. From 7:00am to 5:00pm The ‘Pen village opens to riders, runners, and spectators for a day full of running, racing, learning, music, and fun.

The ‘Pen

Happening All Day:

  • 12:30pm: Kids Race Sponsored by Clifbar
  • 1:30pm- Ladies Only Ride
  • 3:30pm- Live Music w/ Surf De Soleil

Once The ‘Pen closes at 5pm bikers will ride to the Bentonville Downtown Square for dinner and a movie. Rad Company will be shown at Lawrence Plaza following dinner at 8pm.

Sunday September 7 – Race Day

The Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series Cross Country Race takes place back out at Slaughter Pen. This race is open to riders of all ages and from all states and countries.

Registration Fees:

  • Juniors- $15
  • CAT 3- $30
  • CAT 2- $35
  • CAT 1- $40

Course Distances and Start Times:

Juniors

Staging and Roll Call Starting at 7:45am

Start Time is 8:00am

6 Mile Course

CAT 3

Staging and Roll Call Starting at 8:50am

Start Time is 9:00am

9 Mile Course- 1 Lap

Tentative Start Order

*Race Management reserves the right to combine age group starts within Categories. Classes are separated by 3 minutes.

CAT 2

Staging and Roll Call Starting at 10:05am

Start Time 10:10am

9 Mile Course- 2 Laps

Tentative Start Order

*Race Management reserves the right to combine age group starts within Categories. Classes are separated by 3 minutes.

CAT 1

Staging and Roll Call Starting at 9:55am

Start Time 10:00am

9 Mile Course- *3 Laps

Tentative Start Order

CAT 1 Males 15-49: Start as one group and race for Bonus Money

All CAT 1 Female Classes start as one group and race for Bonus Money

*Race Management reserves the right to combine age group starts within Categories. Classes are separated by 3 minutes.