RAPID CITY - Mountain bikers can sample a little bit of paradise here in the Black Hills.

"It helps you to realize how good we have it here," said Tim Rangitsch, manager of Acme Bicycles in Rapid City and one of the organizers of the Black Hills Fat Tire Festival on May 23-26 in Rapid City. "It's neat to see the pride in your own creation and to see it expand."

The Black Hills is the perfect place for mountain biking and the festival, Rangitsh said. He said the area is relatively undiscovered by the country's mountain bikers because it is not one of the big trendy areas in the so-called mountain states, Rangitsch said.

"It's an undiscovered island of mountain living," he said. "We have better mountain biking than most of those areas."

The festival, which is organized by Rapid City Parks and Recreation and the Black Hills Mountain Biking Association, includes many rides and activities. Chief among which is a two-day group ride on the Mickelson Trail. The ride will be shuttled, and there will be a guide. Riders will get to see the entire length of the trail.

The festival, in its second year, will have most of the events it featured last year, with several additions this year. There will be more events, such as film showings, and the racing will now be at M Hill.

The festival will feature prizes, giveaways and raffles. There will be cash and swag prizes for the winners and placers in each of three races: a hill climb, cross country and downhill.

There will be raffles and drawings at Founder's Park for bikes and other gear from bike companies. There will also be a bike swap in which people can trade their bicycles. The raffles will benefit a new dirt jump park, which is another focal point of the festival.

The films about mountain biking will be from local and self-made film makers, Rangitsch said. On Friday, several local film makers will have their works shown at the Firehouse. Prizes will be given for the best film, audience favorite, film created with less than $100, best director, best emerging director, best story, best crash film and most creative.

On Saturday, the film 'Seasons' will be shown at 7:30 p.m. at the Elks Theatre. 'Seasons' is a documentary that centers around the lives of seven mountain bikers for one year, and it shows what it is like to compete at the highest level of the sport. Tickets for the Saturday film are on sale at acmebicycles.com.

About 300 people are registered for the festival, which grants them access to all of the rides, the use of the demo bikes and a barbeque, Rangitsch said. Registration is for insurance purposes.

Rangitsch said that about 100-200 more people will attend and not register, but he said that is fine because they will still have access to all of the vendors at the event.

"(The festival) is a good excuse to bring a few hundred people to the Black Hills for mountain biking," said Rangitsch, who added that he enjoys both the fun and competitive aspects of the festival.

The festival will also introduce people to two new features for bicycle riders: a new dirt jump park and a mountain biking trail.

There is a new trail which begins five miles west of Canyon Lake Park in Rapid City. Rangitsch said that the new trail will be six miles long when it is completed. It is supported by a grant from the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks and it is on Forest Service land. The BHMBA has spent more than 1,000 hours working on the trail, and Rangitsch said that taxpayers are getting both a trail and a deal.

"It's a way to stretch the dollars of the government for a project," Rangitsch said. "It would have cost $75,000, instead it will cost $25,000."

The new dirt jump park, which is on city park property, will be shown off at the festival. A ribbon cutting for it is today.

The park, which will be west of Founders Park behind the U-Haul company. It was designed by FMG Engineering and it will cost between $35,000 and $40,000. The park has been in the works for almost three years, and volunteers have spent between 350 to 400 hours clearing the area and preparing it for a park.

"It's going to be a national level dirt jump park," Rangitsch said. "It's really going to be a cool thing."

To learn more about the festival, go to bhfattirefestival.com

"Come out and have a good time," Rangitsch said "Even if you live right here, you'll find something you never know we had."

Black Hills Fat Tire Festival schedule

May 22

Walk and Bike For Life Summit, Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn

10 a.m. IMBA Ride Center Discussion

11 a.m. VIP Luncheon (Invitation Only)

1:30 p.m. Open General Session - Key Note Speaker Gil Penalosa

2:30 p.m. Break out sessions (open to anyone)

3:45 p.m. Break out sessions (open to anyone)

4:30-7 p.m. Walk and Bike For Life Rally Founders Park by the Fish (open to everyone) 3k, 5k, 10k walk, run, and bike

4:30-7 p.m. BHFTF On site registration opens

May 23

6:30 a.m. On site registration opens

7 a.m. Mickelson Trail Ride leaves

9 a.m. Tours Begin

1:30 p.m. Tours Begin

4 p.m. Bike Jump Park Ribbon Cutting

6 p.m. Cowboy M-Hill Sprint Climb

8 p.m. Social Chop House

May 24

7 a.m. Mickelson Trail Ride leaves

7 a.m. On site Registration Opens

9 a.m. X-Country Race Begins - Experts, Sport & Beginners

10 a.m. Vendors and Demos Open

9 a.m. Morning Tours begin

1:30 p.m. Afternoon Tours begin

4 p.m. Venue Area Closes for the day

3 p.m.-6 p.m. Shuttle for Super D practice (registered riders only)

7:30 p.m. "Seasons" The Movie, Elks Theater

May 25

8 a.m. Registration Opens

8 a.m. Shuttle for Super D begins (registered riders only)

9 a.m. Tours Rides Begin

10 a.m. Vendors and Demos Open

10 a.m. "Super D" Race begins

12 p.m. Awards and Barbecue (Founders Park)

2 p.m. Tours Rides Begin

4 p.m. Vendor and Demos End

7 p.m. Film Festival at the Firehouse