Kimberley, BC to host Fat Bike World Championships in 2027

Kimberley, British Columbia, will host the Fat Bike World Championships for the first time in February 2027, bringing riders from across North America to the mountain town for racing, costumes and winter events. The move underscores Kimberley’s growing profile as a winter biking destination backed by trails, volunteers and resort infrastructure.

Why it matters: - Kimberley’s selection puts a Canadian mountain town at the center of an event that has traditionally been staged in the U.S. - The championships are expected to draw riders, spectators and volunteers to the region for a winter weekend built around racing and tourism. - The event adds another marker to Kimberley’s push to become a destination for fat biking and winter recreation.

What happened: - The Fat Bike World Championships will be hosted in Kimberley, British Columbia, for the first time. - The event is scheduled for Feb. 26-28, 2027. - The championships are being delivered with Kimberley Trails Society, Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association, Kimberley Alpine Resort and Tourism Kimberley. - Riders from across North America are expected to come to Kimberley for the weekend.

The details: - Kimberley has groomed trails for winter activities since 2018. - The community now maintains more than 40 km of winter trails with the help of volunteers. - Kimberley Alpine Resort will serve as the mountain venue and provide resort infrastructure. - Tourism Kimberley will support regional promotion. - Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association helped bring the event to Canada after running the Fat Bike World Championships in multiple U.S. towns. - In this event, fat biking refers to bicycles with tires 3 inches or wider designed for riding on snow. - The wider tires spread rider weight across the snow so the bike can stay on top of packed surfaces instead of sinking.

Between the lines: - Kimberley’s pitch appears to rest on a mix of trail grooming, volunteer capacity and resort support rather than a single race venue. - The event is being positioned as both a competition and a winter festival, with costumes, parties and social activities part of the draw. - CBMBA’s decision to move the event north signals that Kimberley’s winter trail network has gained enough credibility to attract an established championship.

What's next: - Organizers said more details on race formats, festivities, registration and volunteer opportunities will be released over the year leading up to the 2027 event. - Kimberley is expected to continue using the buildup to showcase its winter trails and event infrastructure.

The bottom line: - Kimberley is set to turn its winter trail network into an international stage, with the Fat Bike World Championships coming to Canada for the first time.