Could Shellharbour, NSW, become the birthplace of a future Olympic sport? Thanks to years of dedication and a grant from the NSW Government, Nick Haertsch of GreenValleys Mountain Bike Park believes it’s possible.
Over the past five years, GreenValleys has championed slopestyle mountain biking as an official discipline alongside endurance riding and cyclocross. Nick Haertsch, a driving force behind this initiative, personally funded a nationwide tour to promote the sport for three years.
The breakthrough came when AusCycling officially recognized slopestyle under its umbrella, complete with insurance coverage and a national championship event. The inaugural national championship took place at GreenValleys in April this year, marking a significant milestone.
Reflecting on the journey, Nick expressed his emotions upon receiving support from Destination NSW: “It’s been a hard slog… to be told the government sees its value for the area, I could have cried.”
Slopestyle involves competitors navigating a course ranging from 600 meters to one kilometer, featuring fixed elements such as ramps, dirt jumps, and drops. Athletes are evaluated on air and amplitude, execution and style, trick difficulty, and overall impression by judges.
The sport particularly resonates with mountain bikers under 28 years old, positioning Australia as the first country with a nationally recognized slopestyle program. Nick hopes this will serve as a blueprint for other nations and eventually propel slopestyle into Olympic recognition.
The success story of events supported by the Regional Event Fund, such as the Parkes Elvis Festival, underscores the potential impact. Initially attracting a few hundred attendees in 2004, the festival now draws 25,000 visitors annually and generates $13 million in revenue.
Looking ahead, the NSW Government has allocated $1.3 million in grants to 66 diverse events for 2024-25, including several in the Illawarra-South Coast region. This funding, managed by Destination NSW, supports event organizers with infrastructure, marketing, and other essentials to enhance visitor experience and economic impact.
Minister for Jobs, Tourism, Arts, Music, and the Night-Time Economy, John Graham, emphasized the importance of such funding amidst economic challenges: “We want to help these events reach the heights of the Deni Ute Muster or the Parkes Elvis Festival, events that are now highlights of the NSW calendar.”
Supporting a vibrant visitor economy exceeding $50 billion, the NSW Government remains committed to fostering community-driven events that showcase local identities and attract national interest.