Chequamegon Race 2005 Pre-Race Press Release

Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival
PO Box 267 – Telemark Resort - Cable, WI 54821
715-798-3594 – phone/fax
cheqfat@cheqnet.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2005

Contact: Gary Crandall
cheqfat@cheqnet.net

CABLE, Wis. – Thunderstorms ripped through northwestern Wisconsin Sept. 12, downing trees and dropping heavy rain. Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival crews have been busy since clearing the racecourses.

According to festival director Gary Crandall, the 40 course has been cleared its entire length. “There were some downed trees and a lot of debris scattered along the length of the trail. The trees have been removed, but there are still sections with numerous sticks lying on the trail.”

On the Short and Fat course, Monday’s high winds dropped many trees on the trails on the Telemark Resort property. “Crews are working this week to open up the trail so that riders, emergency and lead vehicles can get through,” Crandall said. “We anticipate that the trail will be opened completely by Thursday at the latest.”

The US Forest Service, due to the recent high winds that caused countless trees to be toppled and uprooted, has closed the Two Lakes Campground in Drummond for the season. Those coming for this weekend's Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival who planned on staying at the Two Lakes Campground should make other arrangements.

The recent rains have actually improved course conditions. A hot and dry summer left the trails loose and sandy. The rain will help firm the course and knock down some of the dust. As usual, standing water might be sitting in low-lying areas.

Crandall requests that riders exercise caution in two areas of active logging. The new section of trail, the reroute off Spider Lake Fire Lane (Telemark Road), is in muddy and rutted condition. Also on Randysek Road south of the Seeley Fire Tower Road descent, an active logging operation has left ruts and muddy conditions.

Generally the trail is in good riding condition, and with the forecast calling for no additional rain, the trail tread should have a few more days to dry out. “Not to panic. All is well in Chequamegonland,” said Crandall.

Cable, Wis. – For release the week of September 11 - 17
For an electronic copy or further info contact Gary Crandall at cheqfat@cheqnet.net

The 23rd annual Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival sponsored by Trek takes place Sept. 16-18. Saturday’s main events, the Chequamegon 40 and the Short and Fat, start in Hayward and Cable at 10 a.m. and both finish at Telemark Resort, the event host.

This year’s event turned away 825 riders after the now annual lottery held in March. At the lottery, riders’ entries are one-by-one selected out of a large mailbag. Since 1995, nearly 6000 entries have been returned said race director Gary Crandall. The mountain bike race continues to be one of the most popular events in the country.

Of those riders not selected in the lottery, another 138 submitted essays and other artistic works to the now annual essay contest, the 50 Ways to Ride the Chequamegon. From these entries, Crandall selected another 50 talented or lucky contestants. “They’re (contestants) doing videos, audios. They’re sending in X-rays of broken bones, their pregnancies, their medical histories,” said Crandall. All in a last ditch attempt to get into the Fat Tire Festival.

Festival events start Friday, Sept. 16 at Telemark Resort. At 1 p.m., CAMBA (Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association) will be organizing tours around Telemark Resort, showcasing their new singletrack trail in the area. The popular Pasta Feast runs from 4 to 9 p.m. for those who still want to fuel up for Saturday’s longer races. Saturday's races are preceded by Children's Bicycle Parades in both Cable and Hayward at 9 p.m.

The Chequamegon 40 once again starts on the west end of Main Street in Hayward, rolling through town, then north up Railroad Street, and finally east on Highway 77 to Rosie's Field near Fish Hatchery Road. From here, it’s all dirt to Telemark Resort, east of Cable. The course will remain basically the same as it has for the past decade, with the exception of a new detour around Smith Lake. The DNR closed the logging road down to the lake after it began to erode and silt up the lake, necessitating the change.

The route takes a snowmobile/atv trail to the south and joins the old course near Lake Helaine, missing much of the sandiest parts of the course. With the lack of rain this summer, the course remains soft and dusty. Crandall encourages riders to check out the new section of course, which is just south of the junction of Telemark and Boedecker roads.

The 16-mile Short & Fat starts in Cable and will use the traditional course. Expect the first Short & Fat finisher just before 11 a.m., while the winner of the Chequamegon 40 should hit the Telemark Resort finish line shortly after noon.

Brian Matter of Sheboygan will return to defend his title in the Chequamegon 40. On Aug. 21 Matter won the men’s title at Ore-to-Shore, a 48-mile race in Marquette, Mich. He beat former 40 champion and Salsa rider Jeff Hall, who recently won the Seeley Lions Pre-Fat on Aug. 27. Both look fast, although Hall, who won the race way back in 1995, is hungry for a win. Three-time champion Steve Tilford of Topeka, Kan. will also challenge these two, even though he’s 44. Also add Trek rider and 2004 champ Doug Swanson to the mix. Two years ago Swanson smashed the course record.

These men will be challenged by Brian and Kim Eppen riding a tandem bicycle. The Iowa City couple won the overall title at Ore-to-Shore and finished 7th in last year’s Chequamegon 40. According to Crandall, this year with the dry fast course, the tandem may contend with the top men for the overall.

In the women’s 40, Minnesota riders Kyia Malenkovich, who won in 1999, and Sara Kylander-Johnson look strong. Kylander-Johnson recently won the Ore-to-Shore, beating Malenkovich. Never count out Catherine Walberg of Topeka, Kan. She won in 1997, 2000 and 2001 and finished runner-up in 2002.

Jesrin Gaier of Seeley, Wis. a senior at Hayward High School should contend for the Short and Fat title. He recently finished 2nd at the Seeley Pre-Fat and few minutes down on Jeff Hall. He will have to meet the challenge of Cole House who dominated the 2004 Short & Fat championship. Anne Grabowski of Shorewood, Minn. should take the women’s Short and Fat. She finished runner-up in the 2001 Chequamegon 40, and twice she’s placed third in the longer and harder race.

Sunday features a full slate of fun events, for both competitors and spectators. Contestants can register for these events the day of. The Rough Stuff Rendezvous kicks off at 9 a.m. Over 200 cyclists will navigate around the woods of Telemark Resort with a topographical map in this orienteering race. The rider to find all seven checkpoints and return to the start/finish line in the lowest time wins.

The Cable Criterium, the crowd's favorite event of the day, begins at 11 a.m. Mountain bikers will compete in this short, multi-lap event, hoping their legs still have some life after Saturday's races. The short half-mile circuit will circle around the bowl at the base of Telemark ski hill. The championship round begins between 12:30 and 1 p.m.

Other fun events Sunday include the Hammer Slammer Hill Climb, the Klunker Bike Toss, the Lumberjack and Jill Log Pull and a Children's Bicycle Rodeo, events that take place between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. These low-key events are free.
The 23rd annual Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, the nation's largest mass start mountain bike race, takes place Sept. 16-18. For further information visit www.cheqfattire.com, call 715-798-3594 or e-mail cheqfat@cheqnet.net.

CHILDREN'S EVENTS

Once again the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival will host several events for the kids. Saturday, Sept. 17 kids can ride in the decorated bicycle parades in either Hayward or Cable. Children wanting to join the parade should meet on the 200 block of Main Street in Hayward or at the Fire Hall behind the Old School Mall in Cable. Bike decoration runs from 8 to 9 a.m. At 9 a.m., the parades begin in both towns.

The Chequamegon Festival will provide balloons and streamers for bike decorating, and children can also decorate their bikes at home before Saturday’s parade. Expect prizes, surprises and treats for everyone involved.

Sunday, Sept. 18 kids can take part in the Bicycle Rodeo at the base of the Telemark ski hill at Telemark Resort from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bicycle limbo, a bike relay, a log pull and an obstacle course are just some of the fun events await in this free rodeo.

These weekend events are free to enter and open to all children under 12. All riders need to wear helmets.

RIDERS TO WATCH

Chequamegon 40 Men

Jeff Hall: Salsa Cycles, Apple Valley, Minn. – 1995 winner; won the 2003 Ore-to-Shore race in Marquette, Mich. beating Steve Tilford by nearly two minutes. It’s been a decade since he won the race as a teenager.

Brian Matter: PWC Cycling, Sheboygan, Wis – 2004 Chequamegon champion. Winner 2004 and 2005 Ore-to-Shore, 3rd in 2003 Chequamegon 40.

Ian Stanford: Nature Valley/Penn Cycle, Winona, Minn. – Fourth in 2004.

Doug Swanson: Trek/VW, Minnetonka, Minn. – 2003 champion in convincing fashion winning by nearly eight minutes. Third in 2001 and 2002.

Steve Tilford: Moots/Shimano, Topeka, Kan. – He keeps ticking, even at 43. Three-time Chequamegon 40 champion. Second in 2003 and 2004. Maybe the smartest racer in the peloton.

Chequamegon 40 Women

Sara Kylander-Johnson: Trek/Ski Hut, Duluth, Minn. 2005 Ore-to-Shore champion. Second in Chequamegon 40 in 2002 and 2003. 2003 NORBA expert champion and 2003 Wisconsin Off-Road Series (WORS) champion.

Kyia Malenkovich: headmethod.com, St. Cloud, Minn. 1999 Chequamegon 40 champion.

Catherine Walberg: Topeka, Kan. 1997, 2000 and 2001 Chequamegon 40 champion, runner-up in 2002.

Short & Fat Men

Jesrin Gaier: Riverbrook, Seeley, Wis. Racing well on the regional circuit.

Cole House: Specialized/GMAC, Oneida, Wis. – 2004 Short & Fat champion

Josh and Jonathon Kay: Shell Lake, Wis. Lots of road experience.

Bjorn Selander: Alan Factory Team, Hudson, Wis., 2004 National Junior Cyclocross champion.

Chase Sova: Spooner, Wis. Gaier’s teammate, knows the course.

Short & Fat Women

Anne Grabowski: Penn Cycles, St Anthony, Minn. Runner-up in 2001 Chequamegon 40, third in 2002 and 2003.

Diane Tremblay: Hayward, Wis. 2001 Short & Fat champion.

ROAD CLOSURES DURING THE RACE

Spectators along the Chequamegon 40 course should take note that unlike previous years, forest roads normally open to vehicular traffic on race day will have limited access Saturday, Sept. 17. Affected roads will be closed from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. except for permitted race vehicles, local residents and hunter traffic.

In the town of Spider Lake, Telemark Road/Spider Lake Fire Lane from Clear Lake Road north to the town line, Boedecker Road from the town line east to Spider Lake Fire Lane and Janet Road from the town line north to Boedecker Road will be closed.

In the town of Lenroot, Boedecker Road from Northern Lights Road east to the town line and Janet Road from OO north to the town line will be affected.

And the Spider Lake Fire Lane from Telemark Road south to the town line will be closed in the town of Cable.
Race support for elite racers needing to use these routes will be required to obtain a vehicle permit from race headquarters prior to race morning to access the course. Those interested in an access pass should contact the Chequamegon office at cheqfat@cheqnet.net prior to the event with details of the rider requiring the support, the type of vehicle and the support vehicle driver’s name.

These road restrictions will increase the safety of the riders during the event. Each year the increased traffic has not only raised the level of concern for the riders, but it has also resulted in long delays for traffic on the racecourse. Spectators using these roads will need to be in position prior to the closure time of 10:30 am.

In downtown Hayward, 5th Street north of Main between the sheriff’s office and the courthouse will be closed to traffic for media parking for the Vang trial. This road is normally open for people to pass through to the school parking lots, but it will be closed. Use roads to the south of Main Street to get to parking.

PARKING RESTRICTIONS AND DETOURS

A no parking tow away zone will be established on Hayward’s Main Street on Saturday September 17 to allow the passage of the Chequamegon 40 start. Main Street from Railroad Street west to Wittwer Street will be designated as No Parking from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Several large city, church and school lots are available in the Hayward downtown area for participants and spectator parking.

Fifth Street in Hayward between Main Street and Kansas Avenue will be closed to traffic. Participants who normally use Fifth Street to access the parking areas will need to seek alternative routes.

In Cable, No Parking will be allowed on Randysek Road south from County Highway M to McNaught Road to allow passage of the Short & Fat start on Saturday September 17. In addition no parking will be allowed along either side of County Highway M from Kavanaugh Road east to just past the Cable Community Center. Parking monitors will direct participants to several large church and community lots available for parking in Cable. Several other No Parking areas will be designated around the Cable Fire Hall to allow safe access for the emergency and fire vehicles from the hall.

All participants and spectators are requested to observe all posted parking regulations and to not leave there vehicles in business lots while they are participating in the event.

Cable, WI – For Immediate Release 1-10-05

If fat tire racing and fat tire fun is high on your active sports agenda then take special note of September 16-18, 2005. On that weekend, a sold out race field of 2,500 off road bicycle riders from across the country will converge on Telemark Resort in Cable, WI for the 23rd Annual Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival sponsored by Trek. Mind, muscle and machine will be tested to the limit as off road bicyclists traverse the many trails of northwestern Wisconsin’s wooded wilderness.

On Saturday, September 17, the Chequamegon 40 is the main event of the weekend. With a field limit of 1,700 participants, the mass start roll out on Hayward’s Main Street at 10:00 a.m. is not to be missed. While a few will compete for the chance to be called champion of the 40 miler, the rest of the field is made up of citizen's class athletes in it for the adventure and personal challenge inherent in the sport.

The concurrently run 16 mile companion event, the Short & Fat, offers a shorter but challenging back woods cycling opportunity to an additional 800 cyclists. This rolling mass of cyclists will launch from Randysek Road in Cable at 10:00 a.m. Both events head cross-county utilizing a twisted maze of wooded trails to arrive at the Telemark Resort finish line in Cable.
A lottery drawing is held shortly after March 15 to determine the lucky 2,500 who will participate in the limited enrollment cross-country events. Entry blanks can be obtained on line at www.cheqfattire.com beginning February 15. Those sending in a business sized SASE to the event headquarters by March 1 will be sent a hard copy of the entry blank. All entries must be completed and returned with payment postmarked by March 15 to be included in the random drawing for the available race spots.

The Chequamegon weekend is filled with activities that mom, dad and both the children can enjoy. A bicycle orienteering event, criterium lap race, bicycle toss, log pull and children's bicycle parades and rodeos are just a few of the activities that round out the event weekend on Sunday September 18 at Telemark Resort.

In Wisconsin's North Woods, fall is FAT TIRE TIME. And in Cable and Hayward, the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival is fat tire cycling at its best. With a combination of fat tires, friends and family it is not just a race, it’s a really great time. For more information about the Festival phone/fax or write: Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, Inc., PO Box 267, Cable, WI 54821, 715-798-3594, cheqfat@cheqnet.net or visit the event’s web page at www.cheqfattire.com.