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"Graperide 2011 is the 2nd of April. Online entries now open"
The 2010 Forrest Graperide was another great day with a near full house of Graperiders from all over the world and around the country. The event just keeps on keeping on from its success when it won the New Zealand Event Professionals "Best Established Event" for 2008.
2011 will again be limited to a field of 2,500 riders to ensure quality and that special "X" factor for you, the rider and will also see the
introduction of the brand spanking new 42 loop course that also starts and finishes at Forrest Estate. Please don't leave your entry to the last couple of months as you may miss out like so many have in the past! Enter online
For those that are new to The Forrest Grape Ride the long course traverses a 101km circuit through some of the most stunning scenery New Zealand has to offer. From the Forrest Estate Winery stone wall in the capital of the New Zealand wine industry, Renwick, it’s a flat route to Blenheim. Riders then head north and gently climb into Picton with an exhilarating descent into the centre of the town. Climbing out of Picton, the route follows the picturesque Queen Charlotte Drive around the head of Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds, literally a ride through nature’s photo album. The stunning scenery of Ngakuta and Momorangi Bays passes as the ride winds and twists to The Grove.
A flat ride to Linkwater leads onto Mahakipawa hill and more breathtaking scenery, followed by a descent to the outskirts of the mussel capital, Havelock. Left turn onto SH 6 and it’s homeward bound across gently rolling terrain, hopefully with the prevailing breeze at your back (we hope) and home to Renwick. Off the bike and you’re in the grapes with our celebrity guests, treading grapes for processing into an exclusive Forrest Estate vintage for next year’s event.
The "100 Virgin Grape Crush" will see another 100 female riders from the event chosen to join the Grape Gonzo and Steve "The Goon" Gurney in the traditional crushing of 3 tonne of Forrest Wines premium pinot grapes.
Check out the Forrest Graperide videos by clicking here for the music version and here for the Kinetic Sport commentary version.
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