Even though we find ourselves in deepest winter in most parts of the country, in our minds, at least, the coming season is just around the corner. Surely the lazier ones amongst us will say that there is plenty of time, but how close the first races are in reality, is clarified by the race calendar.

So the time has come to reveal the dates of the iXS Downhill Cup. The European race series will again consist of six races whereby we will not be taking a detour to Great Britain but will instead stage an event in Switzerland. The most prestigious highlight of the season, being the iXS European Championships in the disciplines ‘Downhill’ and ‘Fourcross’ and staged for the first time by iXS sports division, will be held in August. Taking place a week before the World Championships and merely 150 km away means that for the competitors the burden this year is not too heavy. Listed below are the European dates:

30.04-01.05.2011          iXS European Downhill Cup #1             Monte Tamaro (SUI)

21-22.05.2011              iXS European Downhill Cup #2             Todtnau (GER)

18-19.06.2011              iXS European Downhill Cup #3             Leogang (AUT)

30-31.07.2011              iXS European Downhill Cup #4             Špičák (CZE)

13-14.08.2011              iXS European Downhill Cup #5             Pila (ITA)

17-18.09.2011              iXS European Downhill Cup #6             Châtel (FRA)

27-28.08.2011              iXS European Championships DHI / 4X Zermatt (SUI)   

The national race series will of course be continued. On the one hand the iXS Swiss Downhill Cup consisting of 5 races and on the other the iXS German Downhill Cup consisting of four races will again be taking place.

02-03.07.2011              iXS Swiss Downhill Cup #1                   Chur

16-17.07.2011              iXS Swiss Downhill Cup #2                   Wiriehorn    

20-21.08.2011              iXS Swiss Downhill Cup #3                   Anzère        

10-11.09.2011             iXS Swiss Downhill Cup #4                   Disentis       

 01-02.10.2011            iXS Swiss Downhill Cup #5                   Bellwald          

04-05.06.2011              iXS German Downhill Cup #1                Winterberg

09-10.07.2011              iXS German Downhill Cup #2                Ilmenau    

23-24.07.2011              iXS German Downhill Cup #3 + DM      Bad Wildbad

24-25.09.2011              iXS German Downhill Cup #4                Thale

For beginners in all age groups as well as hobby bikers the iXS Rookie Cup will be staging three races:

02.06.2011                   iXS Rookies Cup #1                             Winterberg    

06-07.08.2011              iXS Rookies Cup #2                             Steinach

08-09.10.2011              iXS Rookies Cup #3                             Ochsenkopf

The absolute highlight in the gravity disciplines on this year’s program is the iXS Dirt Masters Festival. On the first weekend in June Bikepark Winterberg once again expects to see 1500 competitors and as many as 30 000 visitors. Aside from the great variety of sporting and musical treats over 150 bike industry labels will be presenting the newest trends.