Memorial festival for mountain biker

Queenstown's Conor Macfarlane (front) and Billy Meaclem, of Christchurch, in action during the 2020 McGazza Fest, held in Queenstown over the weekend. Photo: Sven Martin/Queenstown MTB Club
Queenstown's Conor Macfarlane (front) and Billy Meaclem, of Christchurch, in action during the 2020 McGazza Fest, held in Queenstown over the weekend. Photo: Sven Martin/Queenstown MTB Club
Four years after the sudden death of Queenstown mountain biker Kelly McGarry, friends from across the world gathered in the resort to remember him over the weekend.

The annual three-day McGazza Fest, organised by the Kelly McGarry Foundation, started as a way to honour McGarry, who died riding his bike on the Fernhill Loop, above Queenstown, on February 1, 2016, aged 32.

The foundation, a charitable trust, was established to help develop more mountain bike trails in New Zealand.

The fourth McGazza Fest began on Friday with a ‘‘mega train’’ from the Skyline bike park to Queenstown.

On Saturday there was a chainless air downhill followed by the Dream Tack Jam for members of the Queenstown Mountain Bike Club.

The event wrapped up on Sunday afternoon with the Fernhill Loop McGazza Memorial Ride, after which a band entertained up to 1000 spectators.

Co-organiser Amy Freedman said the weekend was ‘‘amazing’’ and the ‘‘vibe was awesome’’.

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement