The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The 2008 Town Challenge Mountain Bike Series will gear up for a new season with a kick-off party tonight at the Old Town Pub & Restaurant.

“This is the perfect chance to come out and sign up for the season, talk about the lack of dry trails and hang out with old friends,” said Gretchen Sehler, race series director.

The party, which will run from 5 to 7 p.m., will provide mountain bike racers a chance to save money with reduced prices on adult and youth season passes. Sehler said adult season passes will be offered for $75 and youth passes for $35. Racers purchasing their season passes at the party also will receive a T-shirt. After the party, the prices of season passes will increase by $10.

“The party is the only chance for people to save money on the season passes,” Sehler said.

The party also will give organizers an opportunity to pass along other details about the popular, eight-race summer mountain bike series, which is scheduled to open May 28 at Howelsen Hill.

Sehler said that while wet trails in the area could impact the opening of the series, plans already are under way to modify the opening race at Howelsen Hill, and the series will open as planned. Races in the series are held every other week during the summer, with the final race taking place Sept. 5.

Sehler also will announce a couple of changes to the series this summer including a race at the Marabou luxury land preservation subdivision and a new single-speed division. Those changes and other details will be discussed at tonight’s party.