ANTI Days of Thunder is back for 2009 (29 June to 4 July) and takes place in Hafjell, Norway where some of the world’s best riders will unite for a mountain bike freeride competition.

The Hafjell Bike Park provides not only high class downhill tracks but will be setup with huge obstacles to launch the riders into the Norwegian sky. Confirmed riders include the likes of Cameron Zink, Cameron McCaul, Thomas Vanderham, Timo Pritzel, Grant Fielder, Trond Hansen and many more.

The event, described as easygoing dirt, slopestyle and race relay sessions, was the brainstorm of MTBer and film maker Niels Windfeldt, who decided an event like this would be the ideal way to bring all his friends together in one place.

“Based on my own experiences with international comps, where fun is not always the synonym, I wanted to create a setting where riders could perform at their own base and most of all, be able to have fun” says Windfeldt.

“The ANTI Days of Thunder concept was born,” he continues. “The ANTI Days of Thunder features just a different approach compared to the conventional competition format. Getting good photos and videos are prioritised over proclaiming a winner. If you have seen last year’s pictures and clips, you know why. The huge jumps of Timo Pritzel, Trond Hansen or Andreu Lacondeguy combined a lot of airtime, loads of style as well as a breathtaking landscape.”

Snorre Pedersen, construction and development manager at Hafjell bike park, and Specialized team rider Trond Hansen are currently working on a one-of-a-kind set up for the ANTI Days of Thunder. The dirt jumps undergo several changes compared to last year and most of the building capacity will be used in the snowboard park next winter. So you can guess that it will be just outrageous big.

To ensure that the riders have an easy and relaxed time without any stress or pressure, the whole competition schedule offers a lot of chill-time in between: the first day is an “open day”, just to ride and have fun, the second one features the “race relay”, the third day open again. The fourth day brings the dirt session on, then one more open day, before the slopestyle. Finally, the afterparty.

At the end of the event the winning team will be awarded with the ANTI Days of Thunder trophy. All three disciplines, race relay, dirt and slopestyle will count for the overall win. Moreover there will be additional prizes for different things like the worst slam.

More at www.antidaysofthunder.com.

Video highlights of Days of Thunder 2008