Midwest MTB Racing Recap

This weeks report includes recaps from both the Minnesota and Wisconsin mountain bike series, a report from riding in the Smokey Hills near Osage, MN., a link for all mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts to check out, sad news of the passing of a fellow biker and skier, and the usual look ahead which includes the National Championships.

Chippewa Valley Firecracker

Always favorite among the riders, the Chippewas Valley Firecracker is held in Eau Claire, WI, at Lowes Park. Conditions were hot and steamy adding to the challenge for racers. Corey Coogan Cisek recaps the race:

My husband Michael and I, as well as our dog Green, travelled to Eau Claire for the WORS Chippewa Valley Firecracker.  Even though the course does not favor me (it is flat and I’m a climber), I am trying to do more WORS races this season, and it met that objective!  I like the fact that the WORS races have a deep CAT 1/Elite Women’s field, so I nearly always have women around me to help me keep the hammer down.  As in the Cities, it was HOT on Sunday.   After being at the race site all morning, I was overheated even before the race.  Prior to the race my stomach was doing its “I hate the heat thing” and I actually contemplated not starting.  I talked myself into it, knowing that someday I may have to start a race that really matters, feeling badly.

The start of Firecracker is a hammer fest.  It’s more than a mile of straight, flat, and firm double track that narrows to twisty single track, followed by a challenging rock drop shortly thereafter.  Getting to the single track in a good position is key to having a good race.  This year I was a little tentative off the line and then had to give it everything just to stay on the pack.  Fortunately, I went in the woods among some solid technical riders, so I knew that all was not lost. 

The first of the three laps was a lot of fun, as I was among four other women and we were really pushing it.  Unfortunately, WORS elite women experience the same challenges as those in Minnesota: the comp men.  Once they came barreling down on us, my pack got split up and the men and the densely wooded single track prevented the women from being able to see each other.  From then on, it was time trial mode: go as hard as possible and hope that I move up, or someone drops back. 

When all was said and done, it was not the greatest race for me, but as always a good experience and a lot of fun.  The one disappointment of the weekend: with Firecracker and Birch Bump opposing one another, field sizes were diminished.  For the men, it does not matter so much, but we need all the ladies we can get for a sizable and fun field!

Firecracker Results


Birch Bump at Buck Hill


With the Thursday night races and one of the longest running venues in the series (even after a couple year absence), Buck Hill definitely holds the record for number of races held along the interstate in the southern metro. Although the course has changed over the years as of result in development in the hilly terrain, the ski area known for developing top notch downhill skiers continues to provide great racing action for mountain bikers. The course is "short and sweet" and riders have to be dialed into the course 100% as the trail is fast but with loose sandy corners keeping riders honest. No stranger to Buck Hill as he races the Thursday night series as well, Brendan Moore powered away from the Elite field with Jesse Rients coming in second, returning-to-racing Jeff Hall in third, Jake Richards in fourth and Sam Oftedahl in fifth. Jake put the hammer down on the last lap to bridge up to Sam. Jake reported it was hot but better in the wooded sections with a little bit of shade.  The first lap times were in the 11-12 minute range.  (Photo by Todd Bauer)

The women's race was won by Rebecca Sauber followed by Jennifer Nowlin and Alye DeRoma as series leader Sara Kylander-Johnson road an extra lap!  DeRoma recaps her race:

I was pretty nervous about racing in the heat this past Sunday at Buck, considering the last race I did I had to abandon because of the temperature. I really didn't have high expectations, but I had been riding more in the last couple weeks, so I thought I would see how it would go. I was really glad I raced! The laps are short, start up the ski hill and then wind down singletrack to the bottom. I tend to start out slow and that was exactly what happened as I found myself in last place going up the first climb. I was a little nervous I wouldn't make up any ground, but slowly I felt my legs get into a rhythm and my body warmed up! I worked the singletrack hard and by the third lap moved into 4th place and didn't look back! When I finished I was totally excited about 4th! However, I found out that I had ended up 3rd! One of the women had accidentally done an extra lap (she is so hardcore). Overall, it was a great day, and I am super happy that I didn't overheat!

Skinnyski caught the morning races with photosets and video clips from the Citizen and Sport races


RIP Crash White

Over the weekend, the biking and skiing community lost a special person in Dr. James "Crash" White. I always remember Mr. White as probably the oldest, or rather, most "seasoned" rider to tackle the lakeside drops at Maplelag. The first time down didn't go quite as planned but he was a trooper and never let "age" get in the way of seeking out adventures. Kyia Anderson provides a nice photos sequence on her blog, capturing the endeavors of Mr. White.

He will be missed by those he kept the wheels moving with. A "Celebration of Life" ride is planned on July 22nd to reflect.  Thoughts and prayers to family and friends.

Press release by Kris Anderson


Smokey Hills Forest


Last week I had a chance to check out the trails in the Smokey Hills Forest which is located about 20 minutes from Maplelag. Despite being relatively close, this was the first time I had been to this neck of the woods. It was probably the worst time of year to check out the trails with a record deer fly hatch here in northwest Minnesota. With that in mind, I planned on staying more on the forest type roads which would allow for bit faster speeds and ability to out ride the nasty biting flies that are able to catch your draft and wait until lower speeds to launch an attack. However, after heading out on the northern Smoky Hills road, I noticed some sweet looking quad trails that quickly pulled me into the forest deep. Pleasure over pain.

I only had about a hour to explore and not having any map, I went about like most new trail systems and just rode, trying to sort everything out along the way. The first quad trail I was on climbed up and down to a high point before doing the same thing back down to the road again. I rode on the forest road again until finding a lesser used trail that came to a dead end. It was also on this trail I caught some, what looked fresh from the morning, bear track. It was obvious the area sees lot of hunting traffic, based on the signage, but definitely want to go back here to explore more of the trails.

Although it isn't a particularly a large network of trails, you could probably ride at least a couple of hours without hitting the same trail twice. Coming back on the same quad trail, it reminded me a lot like the Seeley fire tower hill climb (Chequamegon 40), except a bit tighter and more technical.

Smokey Hills is located in between Detroit Lakes and Park Rapids off of Hwy 34 near Osage. Driving through the Ponsford area, the "hills" rise nicely out of the prairie and you can see the fire tower from Hwy 225. There are some nice stands of Norway pine and the shelter area just off Hwy 34 is a good starting point and beautiful rest stop. For a quick swim afterward, the Osage beach on Straight lake is a refreshing dip with a sandy bottom. Top pick for eats in nearby Park Rapids would be the German restaurant Schwardsvald Hus or the health food store on Third street, simply called Third Street Market.

No Time for Lyme

If you have the reports a few years back, you might of seen I contracted the nasty Lyme disease from a deer tick the spring of 2009. The disease hit me pretty hard and finally this summer I have been able to put some more miles on the bike and build up some strength. I am optimistic the recovery will continue in a positive manner and look forward to getting back into racing a little in the near future. Initially, I researched quite a bit about Lyme and all the information got a bit overwhelming at times. However, my good friend Kyia passed along a link from an article in Dirt Rag magazine, Ticks Suck, that covers the bases nicely, discussing how to prevent getting bit and what to do if you suspect something isn't right. A nice piece with a little bit of humor for this nasty disease. Seems like every week I hear of more people that have been hit and a few really struggling because it wasn't diagnosed early.

Looking Ahead

The big USA Cycling Mountain Bike Cross-country National Championships take place this weekend at the famous Sun Valley ski area in Idaho with national championship jerseys being awarded in cross country, short track and Super D. The gravity events will be taking place later this summer at a different venue. Although the area hasn't held any national events in recent years, the network of trails is regarded as some of the tops in the country. I did a race near there up at Galena pass back in the mid 90's and it was some great riding for sure. The Pro and Cat 1 Jr course will present some fast and furious racing with lap times expected in the 15 minute range. Word from the woods is not as many Midwest riders are making the trip this year, mainly from Minnesota, but the big Expo team from Wisconsin will have a good handful of riders representing and Wisconsin and Minnesota raised riders TJ Woodruff and Jack Hinkens will be dicing it up in the Pro and U23 races.

The Minnesota series keeps the wheels moving with back to back weekends, heading north to Duluth for a first time visit in July (to the best of my knowledge) for the Dirt Spanker Classic. The venue is the Mon Du Lac ski area which presents a nice stiff climb at the start followed by some sweet flowing tight and twisty singletrack. Last year was a complete mudfest and race organizers and riders are hoping last years conditions are a distant memory. Even in the dead of summer, the temps can be cool if the wind is blowing the right way off the big lake.

Keep the wheels moving!

About the author... Jay Richards maintains a very active lifestyle. He somehow finds time between managing a full-time resort (Maplelag) and bringing up a family of four boys with his wife Jonell, to compete in both mountain bike and a few cross-country ski races. Jay rides for Maplelag Resort, manages the Maplelag/Paramount mountain bike team and enters his 21st year of racing and promoting mountain bike races.