Midwest MTB Racing Report
Despite the weather keeping trail riding on hold over the weekend, racing happening at the Cuyuna Lakes mountain bike festival and race #4 in the Wisconsin Off Road Series. This weeks report also takes a look at a few cycling related events and a look ahead to another busy weekend.
Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival
Most people who planned on racing at Cuyuna, myself included, opted out of racing with the gloomy forecast and reports of the race being cancelled if any rain was to fall and mis understanding the trail was closed. However, the race went down with good times had by those in attendance despite weather moving in right at the end of the event making things "nasty". In the Expert race, Joe Pond and Samantha took the top spots. (Photo: Touch the Sky Blue)
Wisconsin Off Road Series Race #4
WORS racer Todd Nutter posts a report from race #3 in WORS, taken place at Nine Mile Forest trail system in Wausau:
The “Red Eye Rendezvous” in Wausau, WI. once again offered new and different changes to the race to keep riders on their toes. A popular race for cross country racers as well as the occasional roadie, the “Red Eye Rendezvous” offers miles of super fast, hard packed crushed red granite mixed in with tight single track laced with roots and sharp rocks. It can be a speed freak’s dream or a tire’s worst nightmare.
Loppet Nordic Racing Fast Mountain Bike Kids
The Loppet Nordic Racing mountain bike series for kids is in full swing, featuring races on singletrack trails and also exciting short track, probably the only series in the Midwest to include short track. All events meet at Wirth Beach on Glenwood Ave at 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 for registration and everyones bikes together to the race course. Race start is at 5:30 p.m. (Photo: Loppet Foundation)
Money trail: Funding sought and possibly lost in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Governor's Bicycle Coordinating Council welcomed members of the nascent State Nonmotorized Recreation and Transportation Trails Council at its meeting at the Lussier Family Heritage Center in southeast Madison. Both councils are advisory groups to state agencies.
Members of both groups discussed the political viability of paying for trails through a dedicated percentage of fuel taxes, a tax on the sale of recreational equipment and users fees. No consensus was reached, but participants agreed the debate must continue.
Mountain Bike Connection in North Star Bicycle Festival
Local Roseville high school mountain biker Kelly Catlin had a strong showing in the North Star Bicycle Festival riding for the Kakookies Collegiate All-Stars. In only her second year of racing, Catlin has shown world class talent on the road. Catlin finished in the top five in the GC in the young rider category in the North Star Festival.
Looking Ahead
The Minnesota Series hopes to dry out after the mudfest in Mankato with racers hitting up the bluff country outside Red Wing at Memorial Park. The infamous "stairway to heaven" is back in the course for Comp and Expert races and the top half of the downhill course. Overall a fun fast flowing course with a feel not found in other races in the series.
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/Podiumwear mountain bike team and enters his 24th year of racing and promoting mountain bike races. |