Those of you who have never raced in the San Juan Howler tropical Mountain Bike event, a Central American racing adventure unlike any other in the world, you’re in for a helluva time!

Former Howler race participants are welcome to share their stories. Please click the link and contact us now. Howler's third annual race is on December 11, 2010. Many first-time participants are eager to discover more, so veteran Howlers will be helping out by sharing your insights.

If this is your first time, feel free to send in any questions or concerns you have. In this way, the people coordinating Howler can prepare a race that's just what you want. For questions, advice, and observations just click here now.

The Landscape:

1) Rainy weather. Larry Thraen, Howler creator and organizer notes, "“We’ve had a lot of rain, so athletes may even see some mud this year."I believe that technically speaking, the racecourse will be softer." Tip: Tubeless tires save the day, running with less pressure and a lower probability of skidding on slippery surfaces.

2) Uphilling is more intense. For course co-builder Bomber Bombardier who was interviewed in a previous article, “The intense, long, unrelenting uphills, which happen to get more sun than most of the trail system, are without doubt the hardest and scariest part!It's recommended that you keep a constant flow and speed.

3) Larry cautions of steep descents, some of the downhill sections in the remote areasof the course scare the hell out of people, they are single track, out-of your-seat downhill trails, with rocky descent which are pretty sketchy.” Tip: Arrive pre-race day to check out the course.

Why Howler’s MTB Course is Special

1) Jaw-dropping Vistas. “The entire course is up in the mountains, less than a mile from the ocean.Lining the route are a trio of volcanic formations.Costa Rican mountains are visible to the south as well.The views are just incredible. I always wonder how racers from elsewhere feel, in wanting to stop and look at the view every second of the ride,” muses Bomber.

2) For International Competitors.“Howler offers up a bit of everything, so riders really have to use all of their skills. The path has steep uphills, rapid bomber downhills, intricate rocky sections, good flowing sections and several natural sections with good rock drop offs. Howler monkeys cheering you on in a beautiful tropical forest.Now isn't that great?” says head course builder Anthony Ippolito.

3) The U.S. racer Billy Molina recognizes this as genuine mountain biking. Admist the surrounding activitiy in Howler on a race day, Billy has some strange experiences. While changing a flat you may have to gawk at 400-500 pound pigs and be attacked by a goose. Chuckling, he remarks that this is a real off-the-track experience.

If you are a new Howler then post your questions or your mountain bike action story from the previous years.

Author: Discover the mountain bike adventures that Brian Richter and Sunamita Lim uncovered in Central America! Indiana Jones could only wish for such a fascinating region for mountain biking. Click on mountain bike action now to discover this virgin area.

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