The Merle Blackard Mountain Bike Challenge is a XC MTB Race at Wolf Ridge Ski Resort in Mars Hill, NC. The location is about 25 miles NW of Asheville off I-26 at exit 3. The race starts at 8am on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

1. Sponsorship Opportunities
2013 Participation Levels and
Overview
2013 Merle Blackard
MOUNTAIN BIKE CHALLENGE
Presented by:

2. Sara Parrish is a dedicated bicyclist
that has turned her passion for the
sport into a full time business. She is
dedicated to growing the
sports of both road and mountain biking
utilizing a grass roots approach.
She wants to work with local businesses
and organizations to promote a healthier
lifestyle and what better way to tap into a healthy lifestyle
than riding bikes.
Upon graduation from Texas Christian University, Sara began
tapping into her competitive nature with barrel racing her
horse. After the birth of her daughter, Sara wanted a
competitive outlet and began with a local 5k and triathlon
club in Dallas, TX in 2003. In 2006 she competed in Ironman
Idaho and again at the ITU World Championships in Hawaii. She
relocated to her hometown of Springfield, MO during that same
year and was introduced to mountain biking. It quickly became
her passion. The competition of racing fueled her motivation.
She soon began incorporating adventure racing and local road
racing into her yearly calendar.
Coaching her daughter's travel ice hockey has taken over her
calendar from October to April . Sara was motivated to find a
way to attend all the hockey events , have quality family time
and still support her family while squeezing in the occasional
bike ride. In 2013, she made the commitment to leave
Presented by Speedspokes.com

3. Speedspokes.com is
dedicated to
promoting a healthy
and fun lifestyle.
We promote mountain
biking and road
cycling events
anywhere we can
find good roads,
trails and
adventure!
Presented by Speedspokes.com
Contact Us: Speedspokes.com
sara@speedspokes.com
417.209.8357

4. We understand
running a business
is expensive and you
need to be selective
with regard to your
advertising dollars.
This is why we have
worked hard to
prepare different
levels so you can
choose what level
works best for your
organization.
Presented by Speedspokes.com

5. Bronze sponsorship features
event signage, partnership
in all online marketing
campaigns, logo placement
on flyers distributed
throughout Western North
Carolina and an image link
to your site on the race
page at Speedspokes.com
Presented by Speedspokes.com

6. Silver sponsorship includes
all the features of Bronze
plus your logo on all race
forms, listing as a
Supporting Sponsor, company
name listing in Blue Ridge
Outdoors, footer image logo
with a link to your site
and event page logo
placement with link to your
site on Speedspokes.com
Presented by Speedspokes.com

7. Gold Sponsorship includes
all the features of Bronze
and Silver plus your logo
in our multi-state flyer,
one race entry, footer logo
placement on
Speedspokes.com with direct
link to your website, logo
placement in Blue Ridge
Outdoors and your logo on
the podium backdrop.
Presented by Speedspokes.com

8. Champion Sponsorship
includes all the features of
Bronze, Silver and Gold plus
your logo on all event
forms, featured logo
placement on website with
direct link to your website
and sponsor write-up on
Speedspokes.com, featured
sponsorship in Blue Ridge
Outdoors and two race
entries.
Presented by Speedspokes.com

9. Speedspokes.com has partnered
with the owners of Wolf Ridge
Ski Resort and have been
authorized to build single track
trails throughout the entire 82
acre resort area. The trail
will include natural and manmade
features. Rider skill and
stamina will be challenged
throughout the course.
This trail was built to
incorporate the beauty of the
Appalachians, Smokey, and Blue
Ridge Mountains. Riders can
view all three ranges from the
pump track overlooking the
airstrip.Presented by Speedspokes.com
Preliminary Trail Layout

10. Wolf Ridge Ski Resort is located in the heart of the Appalachians in
western North Carolina approximately 26 miles northwest of Asheville.
With 700 vertical feet of elevation and nearly 100 acres of land, the
mountain is ripe for single track. Fortunately, speedspokes.com has been
selected as the company to promote the mountain bike program.
Presented by Speedspokes.com
Wolf Ridge Ski Resort offers several miles of single track located in Mars
Hill, NC just five Miles off I-26 at exit 3. Look forward to seeing you
on the trails!

11. As a sponsor for this event, you will
benefit from our online and offline
marketing campaign. We have partnered
with the Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine to
help promote this event. The Merle
Blackard Challenge (MBC)will be in their
full circulation Fall Race & Events
Guide. We are advertising in the August
"Big Adventure" issue. As a featured
event, we will be included in their "50
Festivals and Races to Hit Before the
End of the Year".
The MBC event will be seen by 350,000
readers across the Mid-Atlantic and
Southeast of which over half of them
participate in races. We will also have
a link on their website where they
receive over 400,000 unique visitors
annually.
Presented by
Speedspokes.com

12. We have identified your organization as
a partner we would like to participate
in this event with us because we believe
in your brand and we think you would be
a great ambassador for the event. We
believe in having fun and growing the
sport ; however, we will always work
with your logo and brand with the utmost
professionalism and respect.
If you would like more regarding our
sponsorship opportunities or are ready
to confirm your participation level,
please feel free to contact Sara Parrish
or watch our online presentation for
more information on the various
sponsorship levels. Thank you for your
consideration.Presented by
Speedspokes.com