School mountain bikers descend on Rotorua | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Rotorua Lakes High School will host the annual Ultimo National Secondary Schools Mountain Bike Relay event and the Konica Minolta Downhill event tomorrow.

The event, which is being held in the Whakarewarewa Forest, will see school teams come from all over the country to participate.

This year there will also be a downhill event for the first time on the national downhill track and organisers will be using ankle bracelet transponders to ensure accurate timing and allow for competitors to see where they stand as the race progresses.

There will be lots of spot prizes on offer for competitors again this year.

Teams ride as many laps of the circuit track as possible, in the time allowed.

Mens and mixed open teams, which consist of four riders, ride for three hours and the women's teams, which consist of three riders, race for two hours.

The riders may ride up to two consecutive laps before another team member takes over.

Co-organiser Paula Short said the event was a fun day and visitors always had a great time in the city's beautiful forests.

"We have hosted this event for over 16 years and it is a wonderful introduction for new riders. Our tracks are world class and many now famous mountain bike riders have started on these tracks in this event.

"We are very grateful for the ongoing sponsorship for as without it every year, the Secondary Schools National Mountain Bike Relay wouldn't be the huge success it is."

The winning team in each division receives a trophy . Men's races gets under way at 10am and women's at 11am.