India’s diverse mountain landscapes are emerging as a promising arena for competitive adventure sports, with Zabarvan Xtreme seeking to put the country on the international downhill mountain biking map through its Zabarvan Legends Series (ZLS).
Founded by snowboarder, surfer and football player Sehan Shetty, Zabarvan Xtreme aims to build a professional ecosystem for mountain sports in India, addressing challenges such as expensive equipment, limited training facilities, inadequate sponsorship and a shortage of competitive opportunities.
“Zabarvan Xtreme was created to build an ecosystem for mountain sports where Indian athletes can thrive and see these disciplines as serious sporting opportunities rather than simply hobbies,” Shetty says.
From Gulmarg to the World Stage
The inaugural Zabarvan Legends Series in October 2025 covered Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir, Shillong in Meghalaya and Guwahati in Assam. More than 30 riders participated, including international competitors from Brazil, Australia, the Czech Republic and Iran.
Brazil’s Douglas Vieira, a five-time national champion, emerged as the overall winner, highlighting the potential of Indian destinations to host international downhill racing.
Building on that experience, Season 2 features three destinations—Sikkim, Ladakh and Pune—each offering a distinct course shaped by its terrain and regional heritage.
Sikkim Opens Season 2
The opening race, Singge Oralo, was held from October 7 to 11, 2026, at Zoom village in Sikkim. Named after the Snow Lion, the approximately 2-km course featured a 200-metre descent through Himalayan forests, with steep gradients, exposed roots, rocky drops, narrow tunnels and centuries-old granite stairways.
Inaugurated by Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), the event attracted riders from eight countries.
Vieira continued his winning run, taking first place in the elite category. Czech rider Matej Charvat finished second, followed by Iran’s Hossein Zanjanian. Australian mountain biking legend and eight-time world champion Samuel Hill secured fourth place.
Nepal’s Nirav Shrestha finished seventh, while Indian riders Taitus Marak, Virendra Mali and Aaronson Oniel Kharpuri placed eighth, ninth and tenth, respectively.
Indian riders also delivered encouraging performances in the second category. Meghalaya’s Will Willbornson finished second, while Darian Laloo of Meghalaya Pro Cycling secured third place. Pushkar Regmi, representing Zabarvan EPIC, finished fourth.
Ladakh’s High-Altitude Challenge
The series now moves to Druk Layul, scheduled from October 14 to 18 at South Pullu, near the gateway to Khardung La in Ladakh.
Meaning “Thunder Dragon’s Heaven”, the race will test riders on an approximately 3.5-km course descending from 4,300 metres to 3,700 metres above sea level.
Loose shale, rocky chutes, exposed traverses, technical switchbacks, jumps and drops will challenge competitors in the demanding Trans-Himalayan terrain. Around 25 athletes are expected to participate, with two days allocated for acclimatisation.
Temperatures ranging from minus 5°C to 15°C and the effects of high altitude will add to the challenge.
The event is being organised in partnership with Unexplored Ladakh, represented by Tenjin Jamphel. The collaboration aims to strengthen local participation and create opportunities for young Ladakhi riders while promoting the region as a destination for competitive mountain biking.
Pune’s Rocky Finale
The final leg, Gaur Ghat, is scheduled from October 22 to 25 in Pune, Maharashtra, beneath the historic Sinhagad Fort.
The approximately 2.2-km course, set at around 1,300 metres, features a 400-metre descent through the Sahyadris. Unlike Sikkim’s forest trails and Ladakh’s high-altitude terrain, Pune offers dry basalt surfaces, loose gravel, exposed bedrock, steep rock faces and technical switchbacks.
Drawing inspiration from the region’s historic mountain passes and Maratha heritage, the event seeks to establish Pune as another destination on the international downhill racing circuit.
Beyond the Finish Line
The Zabarvan Legends Series aims to do more than stage international competitions. By bringing accomplished riders to India, it offers local athletes exposure to professional racing standards without the expense of travelling abroad.
Collaboration with local organisers and cycling communities is also central to the initiative, helping develop regional talent and build a sustainable sporting culture.
The events could generate opportunities in adventure tourism, local employment and sporting infrastructure, provided development remains sensitive to fragile mountain ecosystems.
From Gulmarg, Shillong and Guwahati in 2025 to Sikkim, Ladakh and Pune in 2026, the series is expanding its national footprint.
For Zabarvan Xtreme, the long-term ambition is to create an ecosystem in which Indian athletes can train, compete and pursue mountain sports professionally while showcasing the country’s diverse landscapes to the global adventure sports community.
Email:-------------------------syedroufr@gmail.com
