Release the hounds.
Queenstown’s newest Red Bull athlete, New Zealand downhill mountain biking champ Jess Blewitt, 20, will next month join two other pro bikers — Brook ‘The Bulldog’ Macdonald and Remy Morton — in the inaugural NZ edition of the ‘Red Bull Foxhunt’.
Being held at Cardrona on February 11, there’ll be a mass start for the ‘‘prey’’ — aka 150 other mountain bikers — who’ll be on a mission to navigate the 9.5-kilometre course to the finish-line, without being passed by Blewitt, Macdonald or Morton, aka ‘‘the foxes’’.
They’ll start several metres back and are tasked with chasing down and overtaking as many others as they can in the downhill cross-country race.
Blewitt says she’s fizzing for the challenge, which is open to the public to watch.
‘‘I’m a massive fan of Cardrona and can’t wait to bring my skills to the track.
‘‘It’s the perfect spot and will be a day to remember … Brook, Remy and I will be bringing our A-game.’’
Macdonald says he’s ‘‘stoked’’ to be one of the foxes, having always wanted to get involved — the event originated in Ireland where it’s just celebrated its seventh anniversary.
‘‘It’ll be pretty gnarly, but will be an epic day that any downhill mountain biker will love.’’
For more info, or to register, visit bit.ly/3wjtdvo
