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From the FasterSkier archive — posts syndicated from athletes’ and coaches’ own blogs between 2004 and 2012, kept online as published. Current coverage is at fasterskier.com.

Tag: fat bike

  • Wednesday Workout: Skiing Fat-Bike Singletrack (Like Eli Brown)

    Wednesday Workout: Skiing Fat-Bike Singletrack (Like Eli Brown)

    Fat biking and skiing coexist, with Eli Brown skiing. (Photo: Jake Ellis)
    Fat biking and skiing coexist, with Eli Brown skiing alongside his son Leland on the Vasa trail in Traverse City, Mich. (All photos: Jake Ellis)

    If you are craving a challenging ski workout that will train your agility, boost your strength, and add variety to your skiing, you should look no further than your local fat-bike, singletrack ride.

    Have you ever tried to keep up with the fat bikes? On their trail?

    “Hardest workout out there!” said Eli Brown, a longtime U.S. Ski Team volunteer wax tech from Michigan, who is doing the majority of his skiing this season on singletrack.

    Bikes and skis have different advantages in different conditions, but most often you’ll be desperately chasing your pedaling friends. This activity will burn off that second helping you had at Christmas dinner, and/or open up a caloric deficit for your New Year’s Eve indulgences.

    Another bonus is that the different features of a fat-bike trail will increase your skiing dexterity. There will be berms, bumps and ruts that you won’t encounter on the typical ski trail. After a few singletrack skis, you’ll be a lot more likely to stay upright the next time you’re surprised by less-than-perfect trail conditions that would have taken you down before.

    This is a fun activity that can help you make a breakthrough with your smiling technique; it’s a lot of fun.

    The Workout: Join your local fat-bike singletrack ride, and try to keep up!

    Warmup: 15-20 minutes. Get ready to go out hard!

    Be careful to not smile TOO hard too early, save some for the finish 🙂

    Cool down: Have a beer with your cycling buddies and recount the joyful tales of skiing singletrack with a group of fat bikers.

    If you don’t have a local winter singletrack trail, or want to work up to it, you can get a lot of the same benefits from any off-piste (ungroomed) skiing. No-wax classic rock skis and poles with big baskets are a good start, and more advanced adrenaline junkies can try faster ski setups.

  • Record Number of Riders Compete in 2016 Fat Bike Birkie

    Record Number of Riders Compete in 2016 Fat Bike Birkie

    Ross & Rinehart Repeat & Three-Peat on the Podium!

    CABLE, Wis. (March 5, 2015) – It was a glorious, 28º degree day in Cable, Wisconsin for the 4th annual 45NRTH Fat Bike Birkie Presented by Freewheel Bike.  The finish of the 2016 47K race was akin to an instant replay from 2015.  Will Ross, 2016 champion, repeated his first place 2015 finish, and Jenna Rinehart three-peated her championship podium with wins in 2014, 2015, and again in 2016.

    The Fat Bike Birkie is the world’s largest fat bike race and in 2016 offered both 47K (The Big Fat) & 20K (The Chico) race options for riders of all skill levels.  With a perfectly groomed, firm trail, riders found near perfect trail conditions resulting in fast finish times for riders in both races.

    This year’s winner, Will Ross, from Anchorage, Alaska, cruised in with a time of 1:46:57, shaving nearly nine minutes off of his 2015 winning time.   Brad Bingham, Steamboat Springs, CO, placed second with a time of 1:47:06, and Adam Bergman, Lino Lakes, MN, placed a strong third with a time of 1:47:31.

    Jenna Rinehart, Mankato, MN, won her third Fat Bike Birkie with a time of 2:02:21, besting her 2015 time of 2:12:27.  In quick pursuit, April Morgan, Hopkins, MN, rolled across the finish line with a time of 2:06:15 repeating her second place finish from the 2015 Fat Bike Birkie.  Sheryl Loan, Eagle River, AK, secured her third place finish with a time of 2:11:40.

    This year’s champs are no strangers to winning.  Ross’s technical skill and assertive descents helped him maintain his leader of the pack position throughout the race.  While Rinehart’s relentless pursuit of the hills and tenacity on the trail helped her to hold tight to her champion status.  Rinehart’s Fat Bike Birkie win is added to her roster of multiple Chequamegon Fat Tire 40 titles.

    In its fourth year, the Fat Bike Birkie has grown from fewer than 200 riders in 2013 to just over 1000 riders registered for the event in 2016.  Riders from as far away as England participated in this year’s race which attracted racers from 2 countries and 14 states.

    “We started the Fat Bike Birkie race in downtown Cable this year, which worked really well and created a terrific festival atmosphere,” said Ben Popp, American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, Executive Director. “Northwestern Wisconsin has really become the epicenter for the whole fat bike craze.  We can’t wait to see how the race grows in the next 10-years.”

    Winners in the Chico, the Fat Bike Birkie 20K race include:  Christina Hyser, Hayward, WI, 1:04:02; Christina Roberts, St. Louis Park, MN, 1:05:45; and Jennifer Swift, Hayward, WI, 1:06:40.  Men’s champions include:  Adam Altmann, Chippewa Falls, WI, 54:45; Thomas Meyer, Hayward, WI, 54:50, and Nicholas Hart, Lake Elmo, MN, 54:53.

    What was once thought of as a fad or craze is now said to be the fastest growing bicycle sector.  The sheer number of fat bike manufacturers grew from an estimated 50 in 2013 to over 100 at the end of 2014.  The beauty of the fat bike is that its over-sized tires allow riders to cruise in all types of conditions, year-round, including groomed single-track trails, frozen lakes, firm trails, or fresh powder.  Fat bikes have extended the biking season and have added a whole new twist for winter adventurers, families, and friends who are looking for another way to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle.

    “While fat biking may have started as a fad, now even major manufacturers include them in their cycling offerings,” Popp continued.  “We’re really proud to promote the sport and to welcome riders to the Fat Bike Birkie to enjoy the beauty of our north woods.”

    Official Race Results available at: http://bit.ly/1U2kfcN

    Photos available upon request at:  media@birkie.com

    About the American Birkebeiner® Ski Foundation and Birkie® Events 

    Located near Hayward and Cable, Wisconsin, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF), a 501(c)(3) organization, is known for its signature American Birkebeiner Ski Marathon held each February.  Today, the Birkie has grown to encompass a variety of year-round, silent sport events that promote a healthy, active lifestyle for thousands of outdoor fitness enthusiasts.  The ABSF also acts as steward of the legendary Birkie Trail, providing year-round grooming, mowing and maintenance to all 107 kilometers.  From the iconic American Birkebeiner ski race, to the Birkie Trail Run & Trek, and Fat Bike Birkie, the ABSF and the Birkie Trail attract skiers, runners, bikers, trekkers, and hikers, from casual day-trippers to elite athletes.  Learn more at www.birkie.com.  BIRKIE Ski. Run. Bike. Live!   

  • Fat Bike Birkie Gears Up for Second Big Year

    Fat Bike Birkie (Photo: Kelly Randolph)
    Fat Bike Birkie (Photo: Kelly Randolph)

    (Press release)

    Next Early Fee Deadline Nov. 30 – Save $10 on Your Entry

    CLICK HERE
    For Details and to Register Online
    (Register by Nov. 30 and Save $10)

    See All 141 Photos from the 2013 Event on
    Birkie Facebook

    Everything’s a go for the American Birkebeiner’s second annual FAT BIKE BIRKIE, presented by Freewheel Bike on March 8, 2014. Register by the next early fee deadline on November 30 to save $10 on your entry. The Birkie’s first-ever fat bike event last March was a huge success with 300 registered riders–a fantastic group that the Birkie is looking forward to hosting again! The event is held on the groomed Birkie Trail system. Last year, the event was was capped at 300 riders to make sure we and the riders got off to a good start. Now the Birkie is opening it up to more who are ready to take to the Birkie Trail on their Fat Bikes.

    There are two distances to choose from–45K and 18K. This year will be for fat bikes only, not mountain bikes since only a few participated last year and fat bikes definitely perform better on the trail. Both distances start and finish on the grounds at Telemark, in Cable, WI, with the long race reaching the Birkie “OO” trailhead before looping back north to the finish.

    The Fat Bike Birkie is a once-a-year chance to ride a fat bike on the world-famous, snow-covered, and beautifully groomed American Birkebeiner Trail system. Bikes are otherwise NOT allowed when there is groomed snow on the trails. Last year riders reported that the course was firm and fast, and the trails held up well to the fat bikes.

    Says Ben Popp, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, “We are really excited about the growing interest in this event. The Fat Bike community is great, and we are looking forward to again giving them their own event on the Birkie Trail on some amazing terrain. See you at the starting line!”

    For more information about the Fat Bike Birkie and other American Birkebeiner events, like the Birkie Trail Run & Trek on September 21, 2013, visit www.Birkie.com, email birkie@birkie.com, or call the Birkie office at 715-634-5025.