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CABLE AREA OFF ROAD CLASSIC RESULTS
CABLE, Wis. Brian Narom of Anoka, Minn. and Anne Grabowski of Minneapolis rode to victory in the eighth annual Cable Area Off Road Classic mountain bike race on Saturday, May 17. Neither are strangers
to mountain biking success in the Cable area. Narom is a past champion of the Off Road Classic and Grabowski has had several top finishes in the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival 40.
Sunny skies and fast trails greeted nearly 400 riders who registered for the 23-mile or 17-mile events. Both courses traversed the fire roads,
woods roads and single track trails between the start at The Lakewoods Resort and the finish in downtown Cable. Presented by the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce, the Classic is one of the first mountain bike
events of the season and is a much anticipated opportunity for racers to test themselves against each other and the great trails in the Cable area.
Narom edged out Ashland's Garrett Peltonen by only six seconds in one of the closest finishes in the history of the event. Their first and
second-place times were 1:20:22 and 1:20:28 respectively. They were followed by another sprint finish between Jacob Stechman of Red Wing, Minn. and Shane Peltonen of Ashland. Stechman eked out third at
1:21:36, a scant three seconds ahead of the younger of the Peltonen brothers who finished fourth at 1:21:39. Tim Cardinal of Rochester, Minn. rounded out the top five finishing at 1:24:19.
For the women the finish was not nearly as close with Grabowski turning in a dominating performance over past CAORC champion Cindy Bijold of Savage, Minn. In fact, Grabowski's 1:34:20 would have earned her a
top-35 finish among the men. Bijold finished second, seven minutes back at 1:41:21. She was followed by Kathy Haberman in third at 1:42:55.
The top local rider among the women was Michelle Flanagan-Haag of Seeley who finished fourth with a time of 1:43:40. Rounding out the top five for the women was Dorothee Pfundt of Burlington, Wis.
In the short course, 17-mile companion event, Jimmy Feeley of Eagan, Minn. continued his streak of strong local performances, again dominating the field. His 1:09:14 winning time found him at the finish line
almost five minutes ahead of his nearest competition. Rick Mollgard of Red Wing, Minn. took second place honors at 1:14:07 and was followed in third by Tim Pacholski of New Berlin, Wis. at 1:14:31.
The top three women represented a wide range of age classes with Margaret Rankin-Riley, 43 of Cross Plains, Wis. taking first place with a
time of 1:23:13, the thirteenth fastest time overall. Allison Bohn, 16, of Plymouth, Minn., who finished second, has been racing area events since
she was 12. She continued her string of strong performance in this year's Classic short course event with a time of 1:28:50. Madison, Wis. based
Carolyn Senty, 54, is a perennial top finisher and took third place laurels with a time of 1:34:44.
In addition to the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce, the Cable Area
Off Road Classic is made possible through the assistance of many area sponsors including The Lakewoods, Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, New Moon Bike Shop and Riverbrook Ski & Bike. Other cooperating
sponsors include Accelerade, Cable Corner Bar, Chequamegon Communications Cooperative, Cresthill Resort, Garmisch USA, State Bank of Drummond, Coops Pizza, Hayward Area Memorial Hospital,
Mogasheen Resort, Quality Bicycle Products, Bayfield County Tourism, McKinney Realty, as well as the Cable Service Center, The County Journal, Sawyer County Record, Bon Nuit Motel, Pizza Hut, Treeland
Resorts, Wilde River Realty and Telemark Resort. The Cable Area Chamber of Commerce wishes to extend a hearty thanks to these sponsors as well as to the over 60 volunteers who helped make the event possible.
Complete results for the 8th Annual Cable Area Off Road Classic can be viewed at www.itiming.com.
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MTB TIME TRIAL SERIES RETURNS TO MILWAUKEE AREA
Wisconsin Metro Mountain Bikers, the Milwaukee chapter of the Wisconsin Off Road Bicycle Association (WORBA), is once again
hosting the Metro Mountain Bikers Time Trial Series (formerly known as the Hayes Series) at Crystal Ridge Ski Hill in Franklin, Wisconsin, on Wednesday evenings in May, June, July and August. The 2003 Metro
Series features dual starts on the expanded 4 plus mile course with monster hill climbs and huge descents with technical singletrack sections.
Nightly door prizes and series long cash prizes (with over $2,000 in cash and prizes this year), expanded classes (including a new "youth" class), a
separate women's class and "Paydirt Points" for volunteers are all part of the series' sixth year. Riders of all abilities, age 10 and up, are invited to
test and improve their skills in Milwaukee County's only legal mountain biking. Special event nights will include double race nights, short track races and "after dark" bonus nights (lights required).
Registration generally starts at 5 p.m. with timing starting at 6:30 p.m. Fees are $5 per night and $30 per half season. WORBA membership and helmets are required. Riders can join WORBA on site for $20 per
person, per year. Spectators are always welcome.
WORBA is the statewide, nonprofit, mountain bike trail advocacy group working to promote and preserve environmentally responsible mountain
biking opportunities. The Metro Series is run by the volunteers of Metro Mountain Bikers to build awareness and membership and to raise money.
The Metro Time Trial Series is a "conditions permitting" event. Riding is canceled when the trails are wet. Riders must call the Metro Hotline, 414/297 9616, to check on conditions.
Crystal Ridge Ski Hill is located at the intersection of Rawson Avenue, Loomis Road, and S. 76th Street, two miles south of Southridge Mall in Franklin, Wisconsin. Crystal Ridge, like all of Milwaukee County park
land, is closed to off road riding and only open for special events like the Metro Series.
For more information, call the Metro Hotline at 414/297 9616 or online at www.clubmtb.com.
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NAMEKAGON RIVER GATHERING MAY 10
Wisconsin The Namekagon River was designated part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in 1968. It is administered by the National Park Service. The National Park Service, in its upcoming draft
environmental impact statement, can deny the American Transmission Co. permission to cross the Namekagon River with the proposed Arrowhead Weston Transmission Line.
Canoeists, kayakers and friends will gather to paddle and show the ATC that they oppose building the line. The proposed line would cross many northern rivers along the route between Duluth and Wausau, including the
Namekagon River. Impacts would include hundreds of 150 foot tall towers, 900 feet apart, each requiring base pilings submerged to 40 feet below ground.
Citizen groups, most notably northern Wisconsin based SOUL (Save Our Unique Lands), question whether the line is truly needed. SOUL president Tom Kreager says the line is "intended to be a superhighway
for deregulation. It has very little to do with the people of Wisconsin or providing for the needs of Wisconsin."
Currently, 11 Wisconsin counties where construction is scheduled have a
resolution against the line. More than 100 towns and organizations have resolutions. Several counties and towns are blocking surveying on county lands, says Linda Ceylor, SOUL vice president.
Members of northern Manitoba's Pimicikamak Cree Nation (PCN) will be present at the gathering to share their experiences living in Cross Lake, "ground zero" of a Manitoba Hydro dam project. The PCN's
traditional way of life has been turned upside down by construction of a hydro dam. Their story has been chronicled in the video "Deadly Power."
In the words of Sandy Beardy, traditional chief of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation, "We know that electric power is very important, but here where
the dams are, they are still destroying the environment and our hunting, fishing and trapping way of life. We can't make you understand our loss
which you haven't experienced, but we pray that the people of Minnesota and the other states will use their wisdom and knowledge to ask their leaders to stop making contracts with a company that drowns the hopes
of our children."
Afterward the gathering, the public is invited to attend a public hearing by the river. Tell the National Park Service that you support them in keeping
our Namekagon River scenic for future generations!
There is no charge for this event, but you must preregister to facilitate planning. For information or directions and to RSVP, contact:
Lisa Goodman, 608/441 8410, goodman@wisconsinrivers.org or
Claire Schmidt, 608/251 7020, schmidtc@chorus.net
The event is sponsored by SOUL, River Alliance of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Stewardship Network and Wisconsin's Environmental Decade.
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BIRKIE OFFERS GRANTS FOR SKIER DEVELOPMENT
Wisconsin The board of directors of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation has announced the establishment of a grant program to fund
skier development in the central region. Initial grant requests must be limited to two paragraphs and include a brief description of the project, the organization or individual making the request, and the amount
requested. The maximum amount of any one request is $3,000. The foundation can at any time change or eliminate the grant application program.
Those projects that fall within the foundation's geographic and population focus, program areas, and those which meet appropriate objectives related to skier development will receive a grant request packet by return
mail. Grant requests will be considered only when all of the grant application information is completed.
There are no deadlines for submitting applications. The Foundation Skier
Development Committee reviews grant applications four times each year, generally in March, June, September and November. Commonly, three months is needed to process completed grant applications.
Please send one copy of the grant request to American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, Attention: Skier Development Committee, P.O. Box 911, Hayward, WI 54843.
Fax copies will not be accepted.
For additional information regarding the grant application process please go to http://birkie.com/placed/story/02072003Grant.html.
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BIKE RACE TOUR IN CARROLL COUNTY, IL
Illinois The newly formed Carroll County Cycling Club will host a 60 mile cycling race and tour through the rolling hills of Carroll County,
Illinois, on June 21. The race and tour will begin and end in Savanna, Illinois, near the banks of the Mississippi River.
Participants may choose between a 60 mile competitive race (first place
price is $500 plus a trophy) or a pleasure tour, which follows the same route as the race. The course will take riders through countryside and
towns in northwestern Illinois. Complimentary fruit and water stands will be available every 15 miles.
An all day festival will be held in Savanna, with live and recorded music,
the Kalamity Klowns and Karacters Klub and nationally renowned trials demo rider, Aaron Lutze. Bicycle experts from Diamond Back Bikes, Continental Tires, and Sigma Sports will be on hand. The Savanna Police
Department will offer bike safety classes and a bike rodeo.
Participants receive a free T shirt. Registration fee is $25 before May 20, and $30 thereafter. Day of registration is available or print out a
registration form from the Web site at www.cccycling.org.
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HAPPY TRAILS BIKE & HIKE IN PORTAGE COUNTY MAY 31
Wisconsin The Green Circle and Tomorrow River Trails will welcome
bicyclists and hikers for the second annual Happy Trails Bike & Hike Tour on Saturday, May 31. Proceeds from the event will go directly toward maintenance of area trails.
The Happy Trails Bike & Hike Tour is a perfect way to explore Portage County. The event will start and end at Schmeeckle Reserve on North Point Drive, Stevens Point, and is planned for cyclists and hiking
enthusiasts of all ability levels.
"Three to four miles of our 40 plus miles of trail need to be resurfaced every year at a cost of $12,000 to $15,000. The goal of the Happy
Trails event is to generate most of that need without the assistance of our government entities," says John Jury, event organizer.
Hundreds participated in the event last year, despite poor weather
conditions. Riders will once again be able to choose between routes of 24 (or fewer) miles, 45 miles or a full 100K (62 miles.) This year, the
tour has added a 2 or 4 mile hiking option for individuals who would like to experience the trails on foot. Riders and hikers are encouraged to participate at their own comfortable pace.
Food and refreshments are provided throughout various stages of the tour, allowing participants to rest and enjoy the scenery of the Green Circle and Tomorrow River trails in Portage County. The trails provide
recreation and promote wellness for the community, while showcasing the natural beauty of our area.
To register for the event, visit any of The Stores in Portage County, The
Hostel Shoppe, Stevens Point, Campus Cycle, Stevens Point, or the UWSP University Center, or call 715/342 9446. Citizens unable to participate but interested in making a donation to the trails may complete
the top portion of the registration form.
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HORRIBLY HILLY 100 CENTURY PLUS JUNE 14
Wisconsin The Mount Horeb Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Blue Mound State Park will be hosting the first Horribly Hilly 100 century challenge rides on June 14. Modeled after North Carolina's
Assault on Mount Mitchell, the HHH will certainly live up to its billing as the "Toughest Century in the Midwest."
The HHH actually consists of two grueling rides, a pseudo metric century
of 71 miles, and a full (119 mile) century. The full century features over 10,000 feet of climbing. Both rides begin at 7:30 a.m. with a police escorted mass start through historic Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, and finish
at the top of Blue Mound State Park, the highest point in southern Wisconsin, following a final leg burning, 3.5 mile, 900 foot climb. While this is not a race, finish times will be kept and posted on the chamber of
commerce's Web site following the ride.
Greg Krystek, an annual designer of challenge rides featured in Silent Sports, laid out the routes. Unlike Krystek's other rides, the HHH is a
fully supported ride. Williamson St. Bicycles from Madison and Backroad Bicycles from Richland Center, Wisconsin, will provide mechanical support. Amateur radio operators will provide
communications and sag support. Aid stations along the route will provide food and beverages. Riders will be rewarded with a delicious buffet, free massages, showers and free use of the park's outdoor
swimming pool upon completion of the ride.
Registration is limited for this inaugural event. For an entry form or more details contact the Mount Horeb Chamber of Commerce at 1 88
TROLLWAY, visit their Web site at www.trollway.com or e mail them at info@trollway.com.
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BECOMING AN OUTDOOR WOMAN WORKSHOPS
Minnesota Registration guides are now available for the spring Becoming An Outdoors Woman workshop, which will be held May 17 18 at Camp
Courage near Maple Lake, Minnesota. Registration will be Saturday morning. The final session will conclude Sunday afternoon.
"Our workshops are designed so women can sample three different
activities during the weekend," says Jean Bergerson, Minnesota BOW coordinator.
Some activities offered for spring include firearm safety, canoeing, navigation, survival and angling.
"In addition to participating in a weekend of hands on learning, participants will have fun and meet other women who are interested in similar activities," Bergerson adds.
BOW offers the instruction as well as the equipment needed to learn outdoor skills, to refresh previously learned skills, or to spend the weekend exploring new options.
"A BOW workshop is a great Mother's Day gift," Bergerson suggests.
Registration guides explain the schedule and weekend offerings, and
allow registrants to sign up for individual classes. The event cost is $30 per person. Registration guides are available from the DNR Information Center by calling 651/296 6157 or toll free at 888/MINNDNR (646
6367).
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GARY CRANDALL MOUNTAIN BIKE HALL OF FAME CAMPAIGN
Gary Crandall, of Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival fame, has been nominated to the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame for 2003. He's been nominated before, but there weren't enough votes cast to support his
election. I'd like to change that for 2003.
I believe Crandall's event has had a significant impact on the growth of mountain biking in the Midwest. To be sure, he has a lot of help and
there are other people who have also had an impact, but over the past 21 years his work with volunteers, sponsors, advocacy, trail building, public
relations, etc., has been outstanding and led to what is a premier event in the Midwest.
But to get him elected, I need Silent Sports readers and mountain bike
enthusiasts in the Midwest to do two things.
First, join the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. For $15, you can be a voting member. Go to www.mtnbikehalloffame.com and read about the
organization and the recognition they provide for the pioneers who literally created mountain biking. If Crandall is elected, he'll be inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame at a very cool (and often poignant)
ceremony at Interbike, the industry trade show in Las Vegas in October. For the people who literally created mountain biking, there's no higher honor.
Second, once you've joined, please nominate Crandall and write a short (250 word) piece about why Chequamegon has been significant to you. I've included my letter below. We're nominating him for his work in
promotion and advocacy, so nominations from mountain biking enthusiasts in the Midwest will help get him elected. Send your nomination letter to the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame Web site.
Nomination Letter:
No one has had more impact on the growth of mountain biking in the Midwest than Gary Crandall and his Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival. Here's why:
First, the sheer size of his event as it approaches its 21st anniversary in 2003 is significant. Nearly 40,000 racers of all ages (Crandall recently
had to add classes for riders over 70) have gleefully taken part during the past 21 years. Numbers could be higher, but hundreds are turned away
each year to protect the facilities. Every September, some 3,500 people from all across America head to the Hayward Cable area of northern Wisconsin as racers, family members, volunteers, medical personnel, and
support staff for this annual weekend rite of fall, and all are mountain bike enthusiasts.
Second, Chequamegon's family orientation has meant the happy
byproduct of mountain biking families. Crandall has engineered an event with significant physical and technical challenges for individual riders, but
one that retains a family friendly atmosphere. Kids can participate in parades and events specially tailored to their abilities. The Short and Fat,
a milder version of the Chequamegon 40 premier event, was designed for beginning riders, kids and spouses. This means little mountain bikers grow up in cycling families, having learned the fun of mountain biking
during years of participation in the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival.
Third, Chequamegon has been the launching pad for mountain bike advocacy efforts not only in the Hayward Cable area, but the rest of the
Midwest. The Minnesota Off Road Cyclists (MORC), Wisconsin Off Road Bicycling Association (WORBA), Cyclists of Gitchi Gami Shores (COGGs), are all organizations that sprouted with the help of resources
from Crandall's Fat Tire Festival. In the Hayward Cable area, CAMBA, the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association, turned an untamed network of trails and fire roads into one of the country's premier
mountain bike destinations with Crandall's help.
Fourth, Crandall's event has created a measurable economic impact for the region. How many dollars was revealed through a study titled
"Mountain Biking in the Chequamegon Area of Northern Wisconsin and Implications for Regional Development," a joint project of the University
of Wisconsin, Sawyer County and IMBA. Completed in 1996, this study revealed that for the six community, two county region of fewer than 10,000 residents, the economic impact of mountain biking was significant
for area businesses:
63 percent of mountain bike riders were repeat visitors, average length of stay 3.6 days.
44 percent of riders came more than three hours from Minneapolis St. Paul.
Total economic impact of mountain biking to the area: $1,174,100 per year.
Clearly, Crandall's event not only expedited this economic growth, but
also literally helped recreate the Hayward Cable area as a mountain bike destination. Area hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and communities geared toward snowmobiling and skiing suddenly had summer business to
contend with thanks to a steady influx of mountain bikers with dollars to spend and needs to be met. Mountain biking in the Hayward Cable area became a legitimate and institutionalized activity due to this economic
impact.
Finally, three of the largest bicycle retailers in the country (in cold weather states, no less) are located within a few hours drive of the
Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, as is one of the country's largest bicycle manufacturers (a faithful title sponsor for the event). Each of these
industry members sell a ton of mountain bikes, parts and apparel, due in large part to Crandall's Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival. There is, in fact,
a measurable spike in the sale of mountain bikes and related accessories in the Twin Cities prior to Chequamegon each year.
Please acknowledge the role Gary Crandall has played in the history and
growth of mountain biking by electing him to the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.
Gary Sjoquist
Bicycle Industry Advocate, Quality Bicycle Products
Director of Membership Development, Bikes Belong
Founder, Minnesota Off Road Cyclists
Frequent Chequamegon Participant
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CHEQUAMEGON CONTEST AWARDS RACE SPOTS
Wisconsin There were 2,500 people feeling pretty lucky when this year's Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival mid March registration lottery was over.
Lucky, that is, if they were among the chosen to participate in this fall's off road festivities. But there are two kinds of luck and some of the
lottery entrants, unfortunately, found their entries and checks returned. In fact, after the cross country race limits were reached, hundreds of entries were returned to those not selected in the drawing.
Whether you were an unlucky lottery loser, missed the drawing deadline completely or just recently found out about the Chequamegon event, you still have a chance to take part in this year's sold out extravaganza.
Authors of the 50 winning essays in the "50 Ways to Ride the Chequamegon" contest will be awarded a reserved registration for the sold out 2003 event.
Past essay contest submissions have taken a variety creative forms. "Take me please" letters, short poems, parodied song lyrics, photo
montages, stories with a two wheeled topical flair, personal motivational episodes, top 10 lists and the like are all ways to express your desire to
be a part of the sold out Chequamegon gathering. Bend our ear a bit with a fat tire tale of your own creation and you just may get that chance to ride.
Essays must be legible, 500 words or less and be postmarked to the Chequamegon office no later than July 1. Shortly after that date, the essay submissions will be judged and the winners selected. All
participants entering the contest will be notified of the outcome by July 15. The decision of the judges is final in this last chance at an entry spot
essay contest. All essays become property of the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival and may be reproduced at some future time.
To be included in this year's "50 Ways to Ride the Chequamegon Essay
Contest," postmark your essay to Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, P.O. Box 267, Cable, WI 54821 by July 1. For further information about this
year's event, log on to: cheqfattire.com or e mail the Chequamegon office at cheqfat@cheqnet.net.
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FORMER FOX CITIES MARATHON DIRECTOR DIES IN AUTO ACCIDENT
Wisconsin The Fox Cities running community was shaken in early April
when Charles "Bret" Younger, 41, former race director of the Fox Cities Marathon and current executive program director of the YMCA of the
Fox Cities, died as the result of injuries received in an auto accident. According to the Appleton Post Crescent , Younger was pronounced
dead at St. Elizabeth Hospital shortly after the 8:45 a.m. crash on April 4. He died of multiple blunt trauma to the chest, said Outagamie County Coroner Ruth Wulgaert.
The newspaper said Appleton police spokesman John DeLong noted that the temperature dropped early on April 4 and turned bridges and overpasses into "sheets of ice," causing the chain reaction, nine vehicle
accident on the Oneida Skyline Bridge.
Younger was driving north in a sport utility vehicle. His vehicle apparently was struck several times, including once by an oil tanker truck.
"I don't know if they will ever be able to reconstruct who hit who," the Post Crescent quoted DeLong.
Post Crescent columnist Mike Woods said Young "was one of the truly
good ones. While it is human nature to embellish the life of a loved one upon their death, that is not necessary here. People will line up from Appleton to his home state of Iowa and gladly share the gifts of a man
who was tragically taken away ... as the result of a car accident."
Younger is survived by his wife, Barbie, and three children, Ross, Tyler and Jenna.
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IRON OREMAN TRIATHLON 2003
Michigan Before there was XTERRA, there was the Iron Oreman Triathlon. The Iron Oreman Triathlon is the only off road triathlon in
Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and it will be held July 19 at 10 a.m.
The event takes place at the Al Quaal Recreation Area (start of the Noquemanon Ski Marathon) in beautiful Ishpeming, Michigan. The Iron
Oreman returned to Al Quaal last year after a three year hiatus due to a $250,000 park renovation.
Participants will be treated to a 1/4 mile swim in Teal Lake (a
nonmotorized pristine lake), a 15 mile mountain bike on duo and single track trails, and a 5 mile trail run following the rugged north shore area of
Teal Lake. The race is limited to the first 200 competitors to register in either the individual or team category.
The Iron Oreman Triathlon is sponsored by the Superiorland Ski Club
and the Ishpeming Lions Club. T shirts go to all racers and a post race picnic and awards ceremony will be held immediately following the race at the new park lodge.
For more information contact Dan Hill at 906/486 4201 or e mail: IMFINN@aol.com, or to register online go to www.active.com. Other Superiorland Ski Club events: Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic, Lake
Superior Shore Run, and Noquemanon Ski Marathon.
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INLAND SEA KAYAK SYMPOSIUM JUNE 19 22
The 14th annual Inland Sea Kayaking Symposium will be held in Bayfield, Wisconsin, the weekend of June 19 22. Organized around the
theme of "Dancing Waters," weekend registration includes on water instruction, dry land seminars, Apostle Island paddle tours, speakers,
meals, entertainment, sailing, hiking, conservation focused field trips and dancing.
The Inland Sea Society and Adventures in Perspective organize the
symposium. The Inland Sea Society is an all volunteer organization that works on conservation issues concerning Lake Superior, particularly the Apostle Islands region. Adventures in Perspectives in a professional
guide service, running Apostle Islands based sea kayaking programs for individuals, corporate groups and organizations.
For more information, contact the Inland Sea Society at 715/682 8188,
fax 715/682 8117, e mail Symposium@inlandsea.org or log onto www.inlandsea.org.
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