USA Cycling Championship to Anchor Wildwood Games Presented by Zaxby’s

The third annual Wildwood Games presented by Zaxby’s will be held in Columbia County June 4^th and 5^th. The multi-sport competition will once again feature the USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships. Additional competition will include trail running, disc golf, and open water swimming. This year organizers are also offering BMX and a skateboard competition at Blanchard Woods Park.

“We are excited about hosting the 3^rd Annual Wildwood Games presented by Zaxby’s,” said Columbia County CVB executive director, Randy DuTeau.” This event was created to bring people to visit Columbia County, and as a way of promoting our great natural resources. It has served its purpose well.”

Competition will begin with the USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championship on Saturday morning at 9am. Over 200 riders from across the country are expected to compete on the 60 mile course that utilizes the Bartram Trail from Wildwood Park to West Dam Recreation Area on Clarks Hills Lake, and the Keg Creek trail and Mistletoe State Park trails to the west of Wildwood Park.

At 10:00 A.M. open water swimmers will take off from the Wildwood Park mega-boat ramps for either a 1.5 or 3-mile swim. For the safety of the swimmers, the boat ramps will be closed to all non-event boat traffic from 8:00 A.M. to approximately 1:00 P.M.

Competition at Blanchard Woods Park will kick-off with BMX at Noon. Skateboard Park competition will begin at 6:00 P.M. Registration for both events will be on-site only. Skateboard and BMX are subject to cancelation in the event of rain.

On Sunday morning, the trail races will kick-off at 7:00 A.M. There will be four distances offered: 50K (ultra-marathon), Marathon, Half-Marathon, and 10K. and at 9:00 A.M. the first of two rounds will begin at the International Disc Golf Center.

“This is our most ambitious Wildwood Games to date,” said Randy DuTeau. “Without the support of sponsors like Zaxby’s and our new partner, Augusta University, we could never host this event. We are also indebted to our partners with Columbia County for the logistics support. It takes a massive team effort to manage something this expansive. We want to promote a great competition, but most importantly a safe competition. We have a great team in place, and we are honored that so many volunteers and agencies have banded together to promote this event.”

2016 Event Schedule
Saturday, June 4
Wildwood Park
9:00 A.M.            USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championship – 60 miles
10:00 A.M.          Open Water Swim – 1.5 and 3 miles
Blanchard Woods Park
11:00 A.M.          BMX
5:00 P.M.             Skateboard Park Competition
 
Sunday, June 5
7:00 A.M.            Trail Races – 50K, Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K
9:00 A.M.            Disc Golf at the International Disc Golf Center – 2 rounds