FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chequamegon Essay Contest Awards Race Spots

“Return to Sender” is not what Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival hopefuls want to hear after the event’s annual registration lottery completion.  This year, a record number twelve hundred applications and fees are being returned to those not among the chosen twenty-five hundred riders. Rightfully so, some think the toughest challenge in the Trek sponsored Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival is simply getting in.

Lucky or not, the lottery drawing losers and Chequamegon race new comers can take note that with a bit of creative effort, they might receive one of the fifty reserved 2010 event registrations awarded in the 50 Ways to Ride the Chequamegon essay contest.

Contrary to the contest title, essays are not required to list fifty individual reasons for wanting to ride.  Submissions; written, video or recorded, containing cycling stories, original songs, poems, drawings, parodies and even chunky crayon notes from children have all been used to gain the judge’s favor. Past essays have sighted family relations, health considerations, connection to event history, advocacy efforts, personal race resumes, aging demographics, geographic distance and countless other reasons.  All are sent in an attempt to achieve a coveted discretionary race spot.

Each contest submission is graded with an undisclosed multi-point scoring system. Originality, creativity, humor, sincerity, special effort and a variety of other broad-spectrum factors produce a total essay score. As a scoring tip to contest entrants, points are not awarded for whining about not being chosen in the lottery or demanding that a spot is by some self-determined right due. Monetary, nutritional or bribes of other perceived value will not be considered in the judging process nor are they encouraged. Competition for the reserved entry awards may be stiffer than the lottery drawing with hundreds of submissions expected for the coveted fifty reserved spots available.  

Essays must be legible, with a 500 word maximum (most are much less) and be less than two foot by two foot in overall size (you can’t believe what we’ve received in the past).  All submission must be postmarked or emailed to the Chequamegon office no later than July 1. Submissions will then be judged and winners selected. By July 15, all those who entered will be notified of the contest results.

Winners will get reserved entries. Those out of the winning column will be encouraged to join the spectator or volunteer fun at the Chequamegon event in the fall. 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, will not be returned and may be reproduced at some future date without further notification.

To be included in this year’s “50 Ways to Ride the Chequamegon” essay contest postmark your essay to Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, PO Box 267, 13460 Spruce Street Cable, WI 54821 by July 1. Emails are acceptable if received by the deadline at [email protected].