Steep n' Deep XC
A New Age of Mountain Bike Racing at the Ultimate Downcountry Experience.
About
This September 12-13th Anything Goes Event Series embraces its mountain bike roots, bringing you our newest event Steep n’ Deep XC at the legendary Fernie Alpine Resort.
Steep n’ Deep XC showcases a new age of mountain bike racing featuring a 35km cross country style course with 4 unique timed stages around the Resort that will count towards riders overall time. Riders will experience the many phases of mountain biking from hootin’ & hollerin’ on burly descents to feeling the burn up the steep climbs and socializing with your pals during the transfers. In the spirit of downcountry there will be more descending than climbing throughout the 4 timed stages, but beware, each descent will be hard earned.
More than just a bike race. Steep n’ Deep XC offers a weekend of festivities at Fernie Alpine Resort starting with Friday Evening’s Rider Social and Package Pickup at Legends Mountain Eatery, Saturday’s Race Start from the Resort Plaza following up with Finish Line Vibes back at the Plaza with plenty of live entertainment including a Fernie staple, Little Bit Good Band, and a rowdy afterparty at Canada’s most iconic apres bar since 1962, the Griz bar.
About Steep n' Deep XC
Dates & Location
September 12-13, 2025 | Fernie Alpine Resort
General Schedule
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH
Social & Package Pickup | 3:00pm – 9:00pm Legends Mountain Eatery
Footsteps from the race venue, kick the weekend off with our Rider Social & Package Pickup at the Legends Mountain Eatery.
Come on in, pick up your race package and fill up with a delicious pre-race meal (and beer if you want to be really fast on Saturday)!
Rider Package includes your fancy race plate by 54blue, timing chip, post race burger and beer ticket and plenty of useful swag from our sponsors.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13TH
Downcountry XC Race | 10:00am – 2:00pm
Steep n’ Deep XC will feature some of Fernie Alpine Resorts best throughout a tough 35km cross country style course with 4 unique timed stages that will count towards your cumulative time. Each of the 4 stages will feature a wide variety of terrain ranging from technical climbs to steep descents in addition to untimed transfers in between each stage to catch your breath, socialize, and refuel.
In the heart of the Canadian Rockies you’re either going up, or you’re going down, so expect every climb to be hard and each descent to be well earned, steep and deep.
Racers can expect 2.5-4.0 hours out on course, with 1.0-2.0 hours of timed racing. We can’t reveal the course just yet, but what we can say is that it will include some of the Resort’s classics such as Double Creek Trails, Megasaurus, Rumplestump Skin, Top Gun, Mr. Berms, and much more.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13TH
Post Race Celebrations | 1:00pm – Late
After an epic day of mountain biking racing, we invite all riders, friends and family to the Post-Race Celebrations. Finish Line Vibes will be brought to you by our local hit-band, Little Bit Good Band, followed by Race Awards & Cash Purse Presentations.
Saturday Night will take it to 11 as we host the afterparty at Canada’s most iconic Après Ski Bar, the Griz Bar. All festivities are open to the public!
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13TH
Awards & Cash Purse Presentation | 4:00pm
Award ceremonies including the $4k cash purse presentation for the Pro category will take place at the Ski Hill Plaza. Awards will honour the following categories:
- Top 3 Open M/W
- Top 3 Junior M/W
- Top 3 Locals M/W
- Top 5 Pro M/W
The $4,000 cash purse for pro riders will be shared between the top 5 male and pro female finishers as noted below.
Purse Payouts | Male | Female |
1st | $1,000 | $1,000 |
2nd | $500 | $500 |
3rd | $250 | $250 |
4th | $150 | $150 |
5th | $100 | $100 |
@steepndeepxc
Frequently Asked Questions
In similar fashion to an enduro format, Steep n’ Deep XC will have 4 timed stages throughout a 35km cross country loop. Unlike an enduro, the stages will feature a variety of terrain from hard climbs to steep descents and everything in between. Racing will only take place within the timed stages and will be counted towards an overall time.
There is only one distance, a ~35km route with ~1,600m elevation gain. We anticipate the average ride time to be 2-4 hours with 1-2 hours of total racing.
Riding at the Fernie Alpine Resort is legit. It’s steep, both up and down, loose and rooty. Some of the descents are a real rodeo if you ask the locals. We recommend this race to riders who are comfortable riding black trails either on an XC or Trail mountain bike.
Riders will be treated to plenty of on-course support including well stocked Aid Stations, Professionally Timing, and Certified First Aid.
In general, the most ideal bike will be a full suspension mountain bike with 120-160mm of travel depending on riding ability. A more advanced rider could compete comfortably on an XC bike with burlier tires while a more intermediate rider may want to ride a more trail oriented or enduro bike. For party mode, we recommend a bike with 130-160mm travel front and rear. For race mode, we recommend bikes with 120-150mm travel front and rear.
Sponsors
