Sugarloaf Fat Bike Racing - First Annual

Sugarloaf Fat Bike Racing

This year Sugarloaf resort, Carrabassett Region NEMBA and Maine Huts and Trails teamed up to host the First Annual Fat Tire Festival to support the ever growing popularity of biking in the region and the excitement of the on-snow fat tire riding movement. The highlight the Fat Tire Festival was the on-snow race featuring a timed climb up mountain to the top of  the banked slalom course. The descent was seperately timed in the high banked slalom course Awards were given in several divisions to the fastest climber and descender as well as to the racer with the fastest combined time.

Start of the Fat Bike Race

The conditions were pretty difficult with the temperatures in the mid to high thirties all night and rain for several hours before the 7AM start. On top of this the groomers attempted to lay down some fresh corduroy an hour before the race leaving the trail slushy and un-ridable. The uphill TT became a running festival. I took to getting off the starting grid quickly in an attempt to avoid getting run through by pedals and tires up the back of the calf. The tactic pushed my HR into the low 190's quickly but spread the field out quickly as well. 

Stretching out the field

I had been Nordic skiing all winter so the lungs and remainder of my body remained calm. However, the pain in my calves (from running with a bike) started when we hit the steepening headwall below the top of the DR East lift, where we would ultimately turn and traverse to the top of the bank slalom course for the descent.

The banked slalom was silly, fun and a bit treacherous all at once. With the snow so very soft and freshly groomed even the fat 4-inch tires were sinking beyond the rims as your front end was being put in directions that the driver had not intended. Ultimately, finding a little purchase on the harder un-groomed snow was the key to gaining enough speed to rip through the soft slushy groomed corners. At the end of the event (which was a sprint) laughing and stories of crashing riddled the finish line air. Having done this with my wonderful wife on the line as well made it all the better of a sharing experience for me. We had the opportunity to meet some new folks in the mountain biking community  and celebrate the newer success's that NEMBA and Carrabassett Valley are enjoying. Oh, and I did celebrate the fastest climbing and overall times. RIDE ON!