Mammoth Lakes Town Council gives thumbs up to Mammoth Kamikaze Bike games

MMSA VP Bill Cockroft secured Mammoth Lakes Town Council’s okay to pursue a Town application for spring Measure U funding for the return of the Mammoth Kamikaze Bike games, set for Sept. 4-8. After being dormant for several years, the downhill/cross-country/slalom and trick-riding event was introduced during the 2012 InterBike Conference, and will be pitched to prospective riders at several races planned for earlier this year. Crankworx, a similar event held at Whistler and Colorado, draws thousands of bikers and attendance of 30,000 per day.

MMSA’s Kamikaze format, which helped put ski area mountain bike racing on the international map, is considering extending its partnership to possibly include the Fall Century Ride as part of the event. Concerts and other activities would also be a component.

Cockroft estimated a field of 2,400 riders for the event, and said he’s optimistic of getting most if not all of the slots filled this year. Run through the Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation, profits (if there any from the first year) are slated to go to local charities, though Councilmember Jo Bacon suggested that some of the profits go into replenishing the Measure U fund, since the Town would essentially be partnering on a rare for-profit venture with such funding.