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- About the Cup - Cyclocross? - The Races - The Prizes - Schedule of Events - Registration - Contact About the Cup The Red Jacket - BlueSky Health Cycling Team and Keweenaw Trails Services are proud to present the second annual Keweenaw Cup Cyclocross Race, a two-day cyclocross extravaganza! Held in conjunction with the UPCROSS Points Series, the October 24 and 25, 2009 event again brings cyclocross racing to the Keweenaw. Prizes to be awarded to overall weekend champions in four classes. All races are citizen races; a USA Cycling license is NOT required. This year, both days of racing will be contested in Copper Harbor, situated at the very top of Michigan: Saturday's Top of the World Smackdown will be held at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, Sunday's Downtown Hoedown in "downtown" Copper Harbor. Racers, spectators friends and family are encouraged to make a weekend of the race and consider spending a night or two at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge: a unique facilty constructed in the 1930s featuring a cozy main lodge, 24 quaint cabins and 8 motel rooms. Sponsoring the race for the second year in a row, the Lodge is offering special rates on rooms and cabins, will be providing a Saturday night pasta dinner and will be hosting a smoke-free night of music and coviviality Saturday night. Oh yeah, and breakfast prior to Sunday's racing. All proceeds from the Keweenaw Cup will benefit the Copper Harbor Trails Club, the organization responsible for the incredible network of mountain bike trails etched into the tip of the Keweenaw. It takes time and money to build the trails and acquire the land the trails are built on. And this is the Red Jacket - BlueSky Health Cycling Team's contribution to protecting, preserving and expanding the trails. Cyclocross? Not sure what cyclocross is? Races are fast and furious - 30 minutes for women, kids and beginners; 45 minutes for expert men. Riders typically use modified road bikes - cantilever brakes and knobby tires, though any type of bike will work. Races are run over a short lap course (~1 miles) - so there's plenty of opportunity for cheering and jeering from spectators. There are barriers that need to be run over, single track that has to be navigated, sand traps, mud holes, grass, dirt, pavement. The worse the weather the better. It's hard to understand unless you've done it - and once you've done it you still won't understand it, but you won't be able to stop doing it. The sport is huge in Europe and has grown incredibly fast in the US in the past 5 or so years. Even in the U.P. Here's a video that might shed some light on the sport for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWxuDZL_420. Learn more over at wikipedia. The Races Saturday, October 24, 2009: Top of the World Smackdown A one mile loop that skirts the edge of a golfcourse farway, jumps on and off a dirt service road, navigates a downhill, red pine slalom course followed by a grinding uphill and rocky singletrack before returning to the start/finish zone on a dirty road. Of course, there are plenty of barriers and sand traps to be dealt with along the way. Sunday, Ocober 25: Downtown Hoedown Our recon scouts are still exploring the options for Sunday's race. You can count on a race with less climbing, but equal in pain and suffering. Details to be provided shortly. The Prizes Once again, the Keweenaw Cup will be awarding prizes handcrafted by local artisians to the top three finishers of the youth (under 12), women's, men 's B and men's A classes. Competitors must race both days to be eligible for awards. The Edge Tattoos and Body Piercing of Houghton has also again offered to tattoo the Keweenaw Cup logo into the winners of the women's and men's A classes. Schedule of Events Saturday, October 24, 2009 Location: Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, Copper Harbor, MI Cost: $20** (includes post race dinner and social gathering; additional meal tickets available $10/person; max. $20/family up to 4. Proceeds to benefit the Copper Harbor Trails Club.)
Dinner: 6:00pm, Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Music to follow Lodging: Racers wishing to spend the night in Copper Harbor are encouraged to make advanced reservations. Please refer to the Lodging page for details. Sunday, October 25, 2009 Location: Downtown Copper Harbor. Check in at Copper Harbor Community Center. Breakfast: 8:00am - 10:00am, Keweenaw Mountain Lodge $5/person Cost: $10; proceeds to benefit the Copper Harbor Trails Club
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