Spoil Yourself! Run into Kenting Trails
In the last blog the editor shared the venue of LAVA Xtrail in Kenting, and there were many people who wanted to join this happy, off-road carnival. Now let’s see how to join this event.
The number of outdoor sport lovers has doubled recently. LAVA Taiwan Triathlon Company and XTERRA Triathlon, these two companies have been devoted to trail sports events for a long time, hoping to invite more people to go into the mountains and enjoy the Nature. Therefore, this time these two organizers work together to expand this event, and add a number of new competition groups.
This is a two-day event, attracting more than 1,000 racers to join. On Saturday there will be a 26-kilometer MTB off-road race, 11-kilometer MTB off-road race, Cross Country lap race, Enduro all-terrain race, and E-Bike Enduro all terrain race. They are 5 different groups with different levels of difficulties, but the riding routes and scenery are also different.
On Sunday the climax will be interesting off-road trail running race: 22-kilometer Mt.Menmaluo, an individual and group race. 11-kilometer Nanwan (South Bay) individual race. 2.5-kilometer Shihniu River rally race. Different 3 races, racers should consider their limit when choosing your race.
The editor has been riding road bikes for 8 years, only since 2021 do I start to know MTB, occasionally ride with friends in Taiwan deep forest, however, I only know the mountains are located in the northern central mountains. This time I heard that Kenting also has a mountain bike paradise route, which attracts the editor to take a look and experience.
The riding route starts from Kenting Liu Fu Villa, riding along the uneven path guided by the organizer, going down all the way to Kenting Ping'e Highway. I enjoy the sea view on my left side, I do not know when I arrived in Nanwan, the instructions saied to turn right "Nanwan Road Lane 52", before my eyes I saw the steep concrete road, all the way up to "Nanan Temple". After taking a photo with the sea view at a basketball court in front of the temple, they went to the forest road next to the temple.
The riders of 26k and 11k groups will start climbing from this temple. The average 15% climbing was killing for everyone; and moreover, the uneven concrete and pop-out tree roots made the climb even more technically difficult. In order to preserve physical strength, most of the racers choose to get out of their bikes and walk through this section.
After passing through the first difficult section, the terrain became flatter and easier to ride. Shaded by trees on both sides, the temperature in Kenting dropped instantly. According to my own comfortable pace along the way, I gradually found that my two sides the trees have changed, the view became wider, I could see the coast of Nanwan in a distance. A while ago I was just under this mountain. After a short break on the South Bay platform, then I continued on.
After the short break on that platform it started to go down. 26k group will continue straight, descending a technical section and reach Bailangmi River, then start to climb famous Mt.Menmaluo and Chihniuling. Finally riders will be meeting 11k group, and ride back to Kenting Liu Fu Villa.
Located in the southernmost point of the Central Mountains, Mt. Menmaluo aslo gives you a wide and beautiful scenery. This territory is still under the control of Kenting National Park Administration due to ecological conservation. The name of Menmaluo is from the fact that the locals entered this mountain in the early days, there was no clue for them to find directions, and they were lost in the deep mountains and wilderness, so they were named after the Taiwanese word "get lost in mountains".
Highest point of Mt. Menmaluo is only 305 meters, but there’s a strong wind from time to time, resulting a very difficult situation to ride, coupled with plants surroundings the road path is not so obvious to identify, very often there are large holes or cliffs. Riding here takes a lot of attention to avoid them. There are also military camps nearby, and cattles in this area, so when you come here you should be careful not to step on cattle poops or run into drill areas.
Whether it’s 26k or 11k group, all racers will have to ride pass through river bed of Shihniu River. Although it’s in dry season, there are still many holes and waters. And when tide rising, different sizes of rocks will be left on the riverbed and will be shown after tide retrieves. Plus tires will get wet and lose certain amount of grips when riding pass holes. It’s very exciting and fun to ride this section; once you make a mistake, you will get wet all over.
Kenting is really a place for those who love mountain biking, if this article attracts you, then our next documentary video will definitely make you feel good! Stay tuned for our LAVA Xtrial documentary!