Only a couple of days now before the first Kona Mash-Up 2009 opens its doors at the Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre in Afan Forest near Port Talbot. The event is taking place on Saturday 13 June with registration opening on Friday afternoon/evening.

The Kona Mash-Up started in August 2008 and this coming weekend will see the second and improved edition of this unique event concepts that combines timed sections with neutral zones and all on some of the best trails the UK has to offer.

So far around 350 riders have entered in either of the two categories on offer looking to beat their own personal best on one of the six timed sections or even to go for gold for the over all title.

Registration will open at 5pm on Friday 12 June and will stay open until 8pm. It will reopen on Saturday 13 June at 8am and will stay open until 12pm.

You can enter via the entry form page on our website until Thursday night. There will also be day entry available but please note that there is a £5 surcharge for entering on the day.

The event has an open start from 9am on Saturday morning onwards. There is no preset start time for riders, you can start as late as 12pm. You can’t start after 12pm. The timing will finish at 5pm on Saturday so only runs you completed by then will count.

After teething problems in 2008 we have spent lots of time, money and effort on the timing so that it is perfect. There are several timed sections on course that will register your timing chip/race number as you ride over them. At the beginning of these timed sections you will find a timing marshal who will give you an idea of who is ahead of you and how far ahead so that you can plan your start as best as possible.

New for 2009 will be a fibre optic live timing on the black run which should give riders instant run times. Providing we get a stable internet connection from Windy Point (start of the black run) down to the café we should be able to have the results on the big screen. Failing that we are aiming and putting up ongoing results in the café as well as at the top of the climb. The presentation is planned for 7pm at the Drop Off Café.

The café will be open for business with food and drinks all night. Drop Off Café sponsored rider, world champion Tracey Moseley will be making an appearance and entering herself to challenge the ladies table and some of the boys too.

More info and online entry at www.konaworld.uk.com/mash-up.