SOUTHWEST SHOWDOWN 2025 MTB CHAMPIONSHIP

The SOUTHWEST SHOWDOWN 2025 Challenge was created as a virtual championship incorporating 6 courses from Las Cruces and Cloudcroft, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. Some of the courses are the actual race courses for the ongoing season, while others have been shortened and modified to fit into this challenge. The selected courses or segments provide visitors with a sample of the trails, terrain, and conditions of those events in the area. Riders are currently pre-riding these courses as these races are fast-approaching so we decided to create a FUN RIDE and stage some friendly competition. This challenge was created to find the fastest overall MTB riders in the Southwest once and for all! Proceeds will be allocated towards beer, food, prizes and music at the awards ceremony.

Register: https://www.bikereg.com/southwest-showdown2025

Packet Pick-up: August 30th

Challenge Begins: September 1st

Challenge Ends: September 30th

Awards Ceremony: Food and Drinks October 4th, Las Cruces, NM

In order to participate in this challenge, all riders must register individually through BIKEREG https://www.bikereg.com/southwest-showdown2025 as any other traditional bike race. During packet pick-up, on August 30th, each rider will be categorized as an INDIVIDUAL competitor or into his/her respective TEAM, access to a PRIVATE strava club and respective set of challenges will be confirmed. This is a strava-based challenge, therefore a signed waiver is required from all participants and parent/legal guardian for minors. Additionally, being a ride on-your-own challenge, participants must abide and agree to follow the rules and laws associated with the areas to be ridden, including paying the required fees at some of these areas. Activities must be logged in the day of their completion. The period to do all six courses or segments starts from September 1st to September 30th, with multiple attempts allowed.

Packet: T-shirt, goods and swag. Once registered, confirmation email has a codes for 25% on SQUIRT products, 15% off the entry fee for HIGH ALTITUDE CLASSIC, and 25% off the entry fee for the JACKALOPE RACE.

Finishers: Medal

Podium & Prizes: Men and Women, under 18, 18-29, 30-29, 40-49, 50-59, 60+

Packet contains a t-shirt and various products from our sponsors and swag. Finishers will receive a medal during awards ceremony in Las Cruces, NM October 4th. Food and Drinks will also be provided with LIVE music by SONIDO CRUDO. Names of the TOP riders and TOP TEAM will be put on a plaque and placed in a public place, with records updating every year. Top 3 podium and prizes for each age category and sex.

Full Race: 6 courses; Individuals or Teams

Half Race: 3 courses of your choice; Individuals only

The FULL Race (highly competitive) consists of completing all six courses within September and can be attempted as an INDIVIDUAL, but also in TEAMS of 2-4 members. For INDIVIDUALS, the best time in each segment will be considered and used to calculate the overall time to complete all six segments. For TEAMS, the best time of each course from two members of each team will be considered and averaged to calculate the overall time for all six segments. In other words, the slower times of two members can be dropped from the overall calculation. The HALF Race (for fun) is only available for INDIVIDUAL participants and consists of doing any 3 of the 6 available segments and be awarded the finishers' medal during the awards ceremony.

This is the selection of segments for The SOUTHWEST SHOWDOWN 2025. Segments were modified from their reference versions to all be approximately similar. Distance of the segments ranges from 20 to 27 miles, while climbing ranges from 415 to 960 meters. For some segments, access to additional detailed descriptions and gpx files will be provided only to registered participants. Segments DO NOT have to be completed in order and multiple attempts ARE allowed. Results will be estimated from leaderboards on a PRIVATE strava club and overall standings will be published daily. Each rider will be provided with a "passport" during packet pick-up with additional details to each segment. Each segment is associated with a bike shop at which riders can stop by during the challenge and get a stamp on the "passport" and receive a swag item (squirt lube, hammer gel, stickers, etc). Each rider must be familiar with the segments and how to upload to strava. Activities MUST be uploaded the day of their completion as failure to follow this will result in an inadmissible activity. Let us know which segments you would like to see in the next edition!

We are grateful to other event organizers (High Altitude Classic, 12 Hours of Old El Paso, Jackalope, Horny Toad Hustle, and The Coyote Classic) to extend their current invitations to PRE-RIDE their courses in an effort to increase attendance and bolster collaboration between organizers, clubs, and individuals. Riders registered to those races are encouraged to PRE-RIDE the courses, having some of those segments also count towards this challenge could serve as motivation to do so, increasing the level of competition then observed during race day. Riders are responsible for any entry fees associated with accessing public-restricted areas each time of entry.

A) The Jackalope (Las Cruces, NM)

Segment consists of the Jackalope MTB course. For this challenge, riders must complete ONE lap. Same course to be used in the race November 16th. Specific challenge gpx file will be accessible once in the strava club. There is a strava file in this site under the Jackalope page (please note there is a gravel course and a mtb one). Challenge organizer will be awarding the top 2 male and female riders (top times in this segment only) free entries to the race.

Segment Details: 27 mi (43.5 km) 515m.

B) High Altitude Classic (Cloudcroft, NM)

Segment consists of the High Altitude "base" course (CAT III) which is the big loop of the course. For this challenge, riders must complete TWO laps of this loop. This is the same course to be used in the race in September 7th . By doing the actual race (Cat 1 and 2), the race time on one lap of this segment will be considered for this challenge (still must do two laps). This is the only segment for which the race happens during the challenge period and would like to use the rider's fastest time on that one lap (race day). Otherwise, the fastest time will be considered.

Segment Details: 20 mi (32 km) 960m.

C) Horny Toad Hustle (Las Cruces, NM)

Segment used in this challenge consists of TWO laps of the revised "long" course for this year's Horny Toad Hustle. Check out this amazing race later this year on November 2nd. Specific gpx route for this challenge will be accessible once in the strava club.

Segment Details: 25 mi (40 km) 792m.

D) Coyote Classic (El Paso, TX)

Segment for this challenge consists of TWO laps of this course which takes place November 30th, this gives riders a chance to pre-ride on their own and have their laps count towards the challenge. Riders are responsible for the entry fee to the State Park while riding as part of this challenge, pre-riding for the Coyote Classic, or for any other reason. A specific gpx file for the segment will be accessible once in the strava club.

Segment Details: 20 mi (32 km) 800 m.

Mountain Star Adventures and the Coyote Classic invites you to PRE-RIDE the Coyote Course and join this challenge by awarding the top 2 male and female riders (top times in this segment) with free entries to this race, if not registered already.

E) 12 Hours of Old El Paso (El Paso, TX)

Segment for this challenge consists of TWO laps of the 12-Hour course scheduled for October 15th. If riders are already pre-riding the course for this race, such lap times will be considered for this challenge. To access the park, riders must pay the State Park fee whether pre-riding the 12-hour racecourse, doing this challenge, or for any other reason. A specific gpx segment created for this challenge will be accessible once in the private strava club.

Segment Details: 25 mi (40 km) 572 m.

Register for the 12-Hours and check the course (same as this challenge) here: https://www.bikereg.com/12-hours-of-old-el-paso

F) Sierra Vista Trail Single Track (Las Cruces, NM)

The segment for this challenge is a north-to-south chill (fast) ride of the infamous Sierra Vista Trail. The segment starts from the side of Las Cruces on Soledad Canyon Rd. to then head south to Bishop's Peak. This segment consists of pure single track and takes riders through all the terrains the Desert Southwest offers. A specific gpx segment for this challenge will be accessible once in the strava club.

Segment Details: 20 mi (32 km) 415 m.