One coming Sunday, on the 26th of July to be exact, The Pomona King of the Mountain Festival will be held in the Noosa Hinterland town of Pomona. It will be an all day fun filled event for the whole family, climaxing with the Bendigo Bank International Mountain Challenge. The festival program includes the Nestle 3km Family Fun Run, Heritage Markets, the Canesaid Primary School Relay, Raine & Horne Tug O War events, Zinc 96.1FM Mountain Dash, Skate Park Competition & Jam Session and the E Fitness Pram Push. Live music will feature on the Pomona IGA stage with Janice Smithers and a number of local and talented buskers. With amusement rides, side show alley and a relaxing food court area, there is something for everyone, no matter your fitness or mood.

The main race will begin at 3pm, The Bendigo Bank International Mountain Challenge. It consists of an unimaginably steep, almost vertical climb up the mountain, a 4.2km race to the top and back. Entrants come from all over Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Rim and the United Kingdom, with a strong rivalry between Australia and New Zealand participants, just to take on this mammoth task. Runners start from the centre of the Noosa hinterland township of Pomona and head bush towards Mount Cooroora. A set of low hills confronts runners before they take on the mountain track, which is little more than a goat track. The return down the mountain requires strength, agility, a good sense of balance and an immunity to fear. Not an event for the faint-hearted, or the uninitiated runner, but of course there’s so much more to this event than just the headline race.

In association with the Cooroy/Pomona Lions Club, Trinity Skateparks and the Boardstore Skate Supply is holding the ‘King of the Skatepark’ skate jam and competition as part of the King of the Mountain Festival. What’s the prize you ask? Five hundred dollars worth of skate products from the Boardstore Skate Supply. It really couldn’t be simpler – show up, helmet and board in tow and show the judges what you’re made of. Make sure to register before 12.30pm, have your parents sign a waiver if you’re under eighteen, and take your place in the comp. Skaters will be coming from all around to take a crack at the title, including the Boardstore’s very own skate team, ready to take on all comers, big and small. If you fancy yourself the next Tony Hawk or Bam Margera, then definitely put your name down this Sunday.

The King of the Mountain isn’t all hardcore competition, there’s also plenty of room for family fun and bonding. The Nestle Family Fun Run will be going off this year and welcomes families of all sizes to take part. ‘Sponsored by Nestle, the three kilometre Family Fun Run is designed to suit the family unit. This is an easy run that can be enjoyed by mum, dad and young children alike. It can be tackled by children as young as four years old. The route takes the runners around the park and to the Mountain car park. From there we enter the forest and follow the marked trail to the Mountain Challenge Track. Return to the park is also via the Mountain Challenge Track. Older children can tackle the run by themselves as the route is clearly marked and supervised by marshals over the entire course’.

For more information visit the King of the Mountain Festival website.