The time of the year where we give thanks for all the wonderful trail we have ridden all year long. Trails don’t magically create or maintain themselves and in this issue we make sure to shine a light on the volunteers and organizations that insure we have a trail gift to open under the tree.
NEW OZ MERCH
NEW OZ MERCH!
Heading Home Hoodie = $80
Named after the rolling trail connector in Slaughter Pen, this bliss-piece will have you couch-locked after a cold pedal in the woods. It’ll be your second skin. Your uniform. The bae. God-tier comfort with OZ-tier style.
Made with just the right blend of cotton and poly for maximum softness and ultimate comfort. Medium/heavy weight feel for just the right mix of warmth during those frigid months.
Available Local at These Merchandise Retailers:
Legends Air Center
The Meteor Bentonville
Phat Tire
Gearhead
Bison Bikes
Bentonville Bicycle Company
Mojo Bicycles
Adventure Lab NWA
Bike Inn Bentonville
BIKE PARK UPDATE
The OZ HQ building is now enclosed and the crew will begin wiring and utility installation the new year. The plaza has been graded, and pavers are landscaping are arriving in January.
Trails are around 70% complete with the majority of the lines finalized and waiting cap dirt. The perimeter trail is getting a chip & seal treatment right now and we couldn’t be more stoked on how it’s turning out. The bridges…wow wow wow. Can’t say enough about the quality of the bridge building plus we are using native hardwoods from the property. Bonus: we are finding a way to extend the hiking trail into a giant loop!
Chair Lift terminals, towers, and rope have been installed. Just a heroic effort from the team at Leitner – POMA who took advantage of favorable weather and straight up made it happen. Next steps are the load test and moving into training.
Opening dates are still a work in progress but we anticipate early summer and pre-order for annual memberships available sometime in spring.
FOLLOW THE PARK ON SOCIAL
Check out our latest videos for a closer look at the progress—and the design and construction details that are bringing the park to life.
– Dave Kelly (owner of Gravity Logic) discussing the design of the trails.
– Hufft Architects discussing the design of the building.
ARKANSAS ENDURO RECAP
The 2025 Arkansas Enduro Series has come to end and we teamed up with local rider Finn Logan and got his perspective on this years race series where he took 2nd overall.
Capital City Enduro
The Arkansas Enduro Series headed to Little Rock’s Monument trail system at Pinnacle State Park for the third round of 2025. The natural majesty offered within just minutes of the largest city in the state, stuns with amazing views, surprising solitude, and, on this race day, thick blankets of fog covering the fields and gathering around the base of Pinnacle Mountain.
A bonus of this venue is the on-site camping, where folks gathered, socialized, and enjoyed the camaraderie of a race weekend getaway. A forecast for rain didn’t dampen the crowd’s spirits, and the trails held up well to moisture.
Race day opened with a shuttle over to Two Rivers Park for the first two stages. Stage one twisted and turned, testing the racers’ fitness through some serious pedally sections. Stage two, with its top race-only section, is always a favorite, with a loose, chunky section full of head-sized rocks that have caused more than a few crashes. Racers then faced a transition to stage three, arriving at Pinnacle State Park. Stage four was e-bike only and Stage five was Twistflower, which brought racers to the aid station for some much-needed refreshments. The remaining stages all started at the same hub, with Pros and Experts having a stage of their own in Carnasaw. Then it was back to the venue for podiums and awards.
While Northwest Arkansas is the undisputed headquarters of OZ Trails, traveling to other areas in the state serves as a constant reminder of how blessed we are across all of Arkansas to have such natural beauty and amazing trails. So get out and ride!
Bentonville Enduro
The traveling enduro circus came back home to Bentonville for the series finale, featuring two days of racing across Slaughter Pen and Handcut Hollow. Leading into many people’s Thanksgiving Break, out-of-state racers from as far away as Minnesota chose to make the pilgrimage and shred OZ Trails. The forecast called for wet weather that never really materialized, though that didn’t mean that conditions weren’t treacherous (more on that later). Vibes were high as folks gathered at the Hand Cut Hollow HQ on a foggy, overcast morning before heading out on the trails.
I’ve noticed that the organizers like to start a race with a pedally, tight stage to knock out the cobwebs and get the heart rates up. This one was no exception, with Mighty Pine taking us down and over to the Wonderland zone where Expert and Pros got to link together the fast technical descents that linked together Mad Hatter, Woz, and Sally before transferring to Stage 3 with everyone else. Then it was a long, easy liaison to the Castle for Loam Wolf. Seldom-used trail Shotgun finished out the Slaughter Pen for the day as riders then headed back to Handcut Hollow to conclude with the brutally long Traverse Loop and fan favorite School House Rock. Vibes were high and racers were gassed, as they hung out back at the venue and got ready for Day 2.
While the big rain never materialized, the mist in the air to open Day 2 caused early-morning rumors of treacherous conditions to spread through the venue. Those rumors became reality on Bullet, Stage 7, with its off-camber rock tech and tight corners creating difficulty for many riders and shuffling leader boards across many categories. The E-bikers then hit a brutal combo of Schroen-Train to Freetime while all other categories headed to the castle for Dragon Scales. Then it was back to Handcut Hollow for the final three stages. The day ended like it began for many, with the final stage of the day, Rushing Roulette, causing havoc with its greasy, off-camber rocks and raw dirt sections.
Things were rowdy back at the venue as racers chipped in, compared times, and retold stories from the day. Podiums for both the Bentonville Enduro and the series Overall concluded the weekend’s festivities with the organizers announcing that next year will likely include a brand new venue as well as a return of an old favorite. Momentum is building, and races are going to be bigger than ever. While there’s some debate on the state of Enduro on the world stage, the sport is alive and well in OZ Trails.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS
Local non-profit BENTONVILLE MOVES has been working hard to create a more connected and safer city and have completed 30 miles of connected trails and streets in 3 years!!! Huge props to the team at Bentonville Moves.
Highlights from Completed Projects:
Delivered Protected and Separated Bikeways Protected bike lanes and separated paths are now in place along key corridors such as NW 3rd Street, 8th Street, and Bright Road—creating safer, more comfortable options for everyday travel.
Completed Sidepaths Linking Homes, Schools, and Parks New sidepath trails along McCollum, Water Tower Road, 14th Street, and near Bentonville High School have strengthened connections to schools, parks, and growing residential areas.
Enhanced Downtown and Civic Spaces Downtown trail improvements from 5th Street to E Street and the completion of the A Street Promenade have elevated walkability, placemaking, and access in the city’s core.
TRAIL ART
The abundance of art along our trails is truly something special here in Northwest Arkansas. This month, we’re highlighting local artist Paige Dirksen and one of her signature pieces located at the Riordan Tunnel on the Little Sugar trail system in Bella Vista. Paige is a wonderful human who creates incredible art, and the Riordan Tunnel mural carries a powerful message: “You Got This.” It’s a simple, encouraging reminder that reinforces belief in yourself and the effort you put in. Thank you, Paige, for investing your time and talents into our community.
SEND IT SOUTH
Music, food, friends, and scenic rides to tackle together—what more does an adventure need? Send It South transforms the Momentary into your home base for a festival like no other.
Experience the thrills and chills of winter trail rides with mile-wide views (and a good chance of hero dirt) across the mountains, lakes, streams, and valleys of Northwest Arkansas. Or, test your skills closer to home with our inaugural bike olympics and rodeo on the Momentary campus.
Round out each day with a music lineup showcasing outstanding indie artists and enjoy an unexpected sonic backdrop for your weekend.
Mike Abb: Creative Director
512-468-2248
