SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Interbike has announced new details and some new award categories for its third annual Interbike Awards Gala, set to return to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center during the Interbike International Expo this fall.
The show organizer is also reminding the industry that the deadline is approaching to submit product nominations for award categories being judged by Hi-Torque Publications categories. The call for submissions opened in January, and will close in June. Information on how to submit product can be found in the Official Guide to the Interbike Awards on the Interbike website.
The gala will take place on Thursday, Sept. 22 in the South Pacific Ballroom of the MBCC, kicking off with a 6:30 p.m. cocktail reception. The evening will honor achievements from the current product and race year. To help keep the flow of the event moving along at a faster pace, Interbike has tightened up the categories, and will require any winners not in attendance to submit video acceptance speeches in advance of the event.
Nominees and winners will be selected from categories across the bike community, with several new awards being added including:
• Domestic Mountain Bike Race of the Year; presented by VeloNews
• Next Generation Rider of the Year; presented by the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA)
• E-bike Product Innovation of the Year; presented by Electric Bike Action
• Best OmniChannel Retailer of the Year; presented by Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN)
• Interbike Lifetime Achievement Award; presented by Bicycle Products Supplier Association (BPSA).
"After having the cast of Breaking Away at last year's event, we are certainly going to be challenged to top it," said Pat Hus, the vice president of Interbike. "But a combination of tightening up the categories, securing Alonzo Bodden again and having a few big surprises in the works will certainly make it another must-attend event during Interbike."
World Bicycle Relief, a non-profit mobilizing people through the power of bicycles, will be the beneficiary partner for this year's gala. Interbike will be donating $10 from each ticket sold to support their efforts.
"We are deeply thankful for our continued partnership with Interbike and for being able to share the stories of individuals who until now had no voice but whose lives are transformed by the Power of Bicycles," said FK Day, the founder and president of World Bicycle Relief. "During a night that recognizes individuals and groups for their contributions to our industry, it's wonderful that there's time to acknowledge what's possible when our industry rallies around those who have so little, but will benefit so much from the Power of Bicycles."
A complete list of the multiple awards within the categories can be found on the Interbike website. The first round of nominees will be announced in June with athlete awards to be presented at the beginning of August.
Criteria for the nomination process for each award category can be found in the Official Guide to the 2016 Interbike Awards on the Interbike website.
Tickets for the gala can be purchased during the Interbike registration process. Special advanced ticket pricing for the event is $95 per person, and includes the evening reception, beer and wine, a sit-down dinner along with the awards show entertainment. A $10 donation from every ticket sold will go to World Bicycle Relief. The 2015 IB Awards sold-out in advance of the event, but should tickets still be available on-site, prices will be $125 at the door. A limited number of private tables and sponsorship opportunities are available and can be purchased directly through Interbike. Contact Andria Klinger, sales director, at 949-226-5745 or andria.klinger@emeraldexpo.com for more information.
