An event that challenges cyclists to tackle nine of Buderim’s hills in three hours is set to get spinning again – all for a very important cause.
Not for the faint-hearted, the Buderim 9 Challenge will see cyclists test themselves on November 26 as they attempt to ride 76 kilometres.
Now in its 11th year, the event is an exciting opportunity for seasoned riders to participate in either the Buderim 3, 6 or 9, or the Buderim Electric events.
This year also will see the introduction of the first Buderim 9 corporate challenge.
Starting at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) at 5am, cyclists make their way up and down the hills of Dixon, Cogill, Ballinger, Crosby Hill, Glenmount, Mons, Lindsay, Jones and Mooloolaba roads, finishing back at UniSC Stadium by 8am.
As a challenge not a race, the event will once again be raising money for the Pyjama Foundation, which supports the dreams of children living in foster care.
Buderim 9 ride director David Wighton says he is looking forward to the 2023 event, which has been moved forward from its traditional date in December to allow even more people to be involved.
“Buderim 9 is heading into its second decade with new twists and turns for this cycling challenge and a new date,” Mr Wighton says.
“Buderim Electric is a category for electric bikes which is an increasingly popular segment of bike ownership.
“The challenge is still very real for electric bike riders as they must manage a variation of pedal power, motorised power and gears to conserve enough battery power to get to the finish.”
On the corporate challenge, Mr Wighton says the team event is a great opportunity get behind the cause and accumulate points for each rider that completes a hill in the time limit to win.
“A new twist for 2023 is the Corporate Challenge where Buderim 9 entrants nominate a business, club, charity, school and form teams of four to six riders,” he says.
“The team with the most points for hill climbs at the time limit will win inaugural bragging rights.”
Sunshine Coast e-bike tour company ecoTekk will be participating in the event for the first time in 2023.
The company will be donating an e-bike, in partnership with VelectriX, for one Buderim 9 entrant to win.
“ecoTekk Sunshine Coast is incredibly grateful for the invitation to participate in the esteemed Buderim 9 event,” the company founder Stuart Whitney says.
“This long-standing event holds a special place in the hearts of the community.
“And ecoTekk is honoured to be a part of it for the first time.”
Among the spoils is also a hospitality prize package for the winning Corporate Challenge team.
Spectators can position themselves on top of Buderim and move along from King Street to William Street to see the riders as they reach the top of the hill.
Registrations for the Buderim 9 Challenge are open at buderim9.com.au.
