Queenstown Mountain Bike Club

🚧 Trail Update: McNearly Gnarly

The team from Elevate Trails are back on McNearly Gnarly, putting the finishing touches on more trail improvements. If you’ve ridden this trail before (I mean who hasn’t!), you’re gonna love what’s taking shape.

The lower section is now open and ready to ride. 🙌

Work is continuing on the upper section, so while the trail remains open where conditions allow, please keep an eye out for machinery, trail crew and signage. If you come across an active work zone, slow down, hop off your bike and walk through. It only takes a minute and helps keep everyone safe while protecting the fresh trail surface.

Conditions are generally good, with just a few wet or dusty patches depending on where you are riding.

A huge thanks to the crew at Elevate Trails for the incredible work they’re putting into one of Queenstown’s iconic trails. Those sculpted berms and refreshed corners are looking sweet… and it’s only getting better. 🤘

elevatetrailbuilding

Every QMTBC membership is an investment in the future of mountain biking in Queenstown. You’re helping build, maintain and advocate for the incredible trail network we all enjoy. You’re supporting community events, youth development, trail projects and creating opportunities for the next generation of riders to discover a lifelong passion for mountain biking.

Whether you’re a local or visiting Queenstown these winter school holidays, becoming a member is one of the best ways to give back to the trails and community that make this place so special.

And the best part? You don’t have to wait until summer to enjoy the benefits.

As our way of saying thanks, Annual Members unlock exclusive offers from more than 90 local business partners. So while you’re here this winter, you can enjoy savings on food and coffee, shopping, accommodation, local experiences, bike shops and much more.

Keep an eye out for our Official QMTBC Supporter posters in participating businesses throughout Queenstown. Simply scan the QR code to join and start enjoying your member benefits straight away. Or click on the link in the bio above.

Support the next generation. Support the trails. Enjoy the benefits.

Please note: Exclusive member benefits are available to Annual QMTBC Memberships and are not included with a 14-Day Visitor Membership.

🚧 Trail Update: McNearly Gnarly

A huge amount of work has gone into the lower section of McNearly Gnarly over the weekend, with the crew from Elevate Trails giving it some serious love.

The trail remains closed below the road crossing for a few more days while everything settles in and the finishing touches are completed. Please respect the closure and do not ride through the work area so the new trail surface stays in top condition.

Trust us… it’s going to be well worth the wait. 🤘

The upper section remains open, and we’re aiming to have the lower section reopened sometime this week once it’s ready.

A massive thanks to the Elevate team for all their hard work, and thanks to everyone for your patience while we make one of Queenstown’s favourite trails even better.

The Elevate crew have turned these berms into works of art. Just hang tight a little longer… it’ll be worth the wait! 👊

We’ll let you know as soon as it’s ready to ride.

Queenstown Riders Deliver on the World’s Steepest World Cup Track 🤘🇳🇿

Queenstown riders have done us proud with another outstanding weekend of racing at the UCI Downhill World Cup in La Thuile, Italy.

Known as the steepest track on the World Cup circuit, the brutal 2.3km course with its relentless gradient pushed the world’s fastest downhill racers to their limits.

Leading the charge was Queenstown’s Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton), who produced another sensational ride to finish 2nd in the Junior Men’s final. Malik crossed the line just 2.997 seconds behind Finland’s Kasper Hickman to claim another UCI World Cup podium.

Jess Blewitt (Scott Downhill) also impressed, racing to 4th in the Elite Women’s final. Jess finished just 0.628 seconds behind fellow Kiwi Sacha Earnest (Trek Unbroken), who claimed 3rd, giving New Zealand two riders inside the top four on one of the toughest tracks on the calendar.

There was more consistency from Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing) racing to 7th in the Junior Women’s final, another strong result against the world’s best junior riders.

Kiwis featured throughout the finals, with Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syndicate) finishing 12th in the Elite Women’s final, while Jonty Williamson (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) and Camden Rutherford (Nukeproof Axxess Racing) finished 17th and 18th respectively in the Junior Men’s final.

Another massive weekend for Kiwi gravity racing, and another one to celebrate for Queenstown. From a World Cup podium to an elite top-four finish and another top-10 result, our riders continue to show they belong on the biggest stage in mountain biking.

Congratulations to all the Kiwi riders who took on one of the toughest World Cup tracks of the season. Bring on the next round! 🇳🇿🤘
Jess Blewitt Malik Boatwright Indy Deavoll

Queenstown riders through to World Cup finals at La Thuile!

Queenstown’s downhill riders have once again shown they belong on the world stage, with three locals qualifying for the UCI Mountain Bike World Series finals at the notoriously steep La Thuile course in Italy.

Widely regarded as the steepest downhill track on the World Cup circuit, the 2.3km course features an average gradient of 28%, with constantly changing conditions making qualifying a serious test for every rider.

Leading the way for Queenstown was Jess Blewitt, who qualified sixth fastest in the Elite Women to comfortably secure her place in the finals.

In the Junior Women, Indy Deavoll continued her outstanding international season, qualifying eighth fastest to become New Zealand’s sole representative in the final.

Malik Boatwright also put together a strong run in the Junior Men, qualifying 13th fastest to book his place alongside fellow Kiwi Camden Rutherfurd, who impressed with the fifth fastest qualifying time.

Joining them in the finals is current Junior Men’s World Cup leader Jonty Williamson, who recovered from an early mistake to qualify 17th.

In the Elite Men, Lachie Stevens-McNab, Tyler Waite, and Luke Wayman all progressed through to the finals after strong qualifying performances, while Sacha Earnest and Eliana Hulsebosch joined Jess Blewitt in the Elite Women’s field.

That makes an impressive 10 New Zealand riders through to the World Cup finals on one of the toughest tracks on the planet.

Good luck to all the Kiwis, and especially our Queenstown crew of Jess, Indy and Malik. We’re proud to see our local riders flying the flag on the world stage. 🤘🇳🇿 Jess Blewitt Indy Deavoll Malik Boatwright

Fernhill Trail Update: McNearly Gnarly

To help protect recent trail work ahead of this weekend’s wet weather, the lower section of McNearly Gnarly (below the road crossing) will be closed for the weekend.

✅ The upper section remains open and good to ride.

We’re giving the freshly completed work a chance to bed in before the rain arrives, helping ensure the trail stays in great shape for everyone and reducing the need for future repairs.

Thanks for respecting the closure and giving the trail crew’s hard work the best chance of lasting. We expect the lower section to reopen next week once conditions allow.

Cheers for helping us keep our trails mint! 🤘

Help Get Finn to Woolley Fest! 🤘

One of our local young shredders, Finn, is fundraising to get himself over to Woolley Fest 2026 in the USA, and you can help while having a fun night out!

🧠 B.Social MTB Quiz Night
📅 Saturday 4 July
🕕 6:00–8:00pm
📍 B.Social, Wānaka
💲 Just $10 a ticket

Expect MTB trivia that’ll test even the biggest bike nerds, plus an auction packed with some seriously epic prizes thanks to an awesome lineup of supporters.

If you’re in Wānaka this Saturday, grab your mates, form a team, have a laugh, and help get another talented young Kiwi rider onto the international stage. Every ticket and every bid helps.

Huge thanks to everyone who’s donated prizes and jumped in behind Finn. The MTB community always knows how to back its own. 👊

Finn Woolley

🇳🇿🌍 UCI World Cup weekend is back on!

The gravity world rolls into La Thuile, Italy this weekend, with New Zealand well represented across both the Downhill and Enduro World Cups.

A huge go hard to all the Kiwis lining up to race on one of the most demanding tracks of the season.

We’ll be cheering especially loud for our Queenstown riders taking on the Downhill World Cup:

🔥 Indy Deavoll
🔥 Malik Boatwright
🔥 Jack Sole
🔥 Jess Blewitt
🔥 Cooper Millwood

Best of luck to everyone racing, representing Queenstown and New Zealand this weekend. Ride fast, ride smooth and and leave it all out on the mountain.

The livestream is queued, the coffee will be flowing, and we’ll be backing you all the way from Queenstown. 🇳🇿🤘


Indy Deavoll Jack Sole Malik Boatwright Jess Blewitt Cooper Millwood

⚠️ Ben Lomond Trail Closure – Hammy’s

Please note that Hammy’s is closed today and tomorrow while vegetation clearance works are carried out below the trail above the Lakeview development.

🚫 Please respect all trail closure signs, barriers and spotters while work is underway.

If you access Hammy’s via another trail, please exit using the short section of the Access Road as directed.

Thanks for your patience while these essential works are completed. We’ll let you know as soon as Hammy’s is back open.

Please share this with anyone planning to ride the Ben Lomond Trails over the next couple of days. 🤘