Copper Harbor Trails Fest to offer races, activities Sept. 4, 5, 6

The Copper Harbor Trails Fest offers a variety of mountain bike races and activities this weekend, Sept. 4-6. (2014 Copper Harbor Trails Fest photo © and courtesy Chris Schmidt. Reprinted with permission.)*

COPPER HARBOR -- The longest running mountain bike event in the Upper Peninsula returns to Copper Harbor this weekend! The 22nd Annual Bell’s Beer Copper Harbor Trails Fest kicks off on Friday, Sept. 4, with a movie night fundraiser hosted by UPMTB premiering the film unReal at the Copper Harbor Community Building at 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Sept. 5, riders hit the trails with both a short and a long Enduro event featuring either 2 or 4 timed primarily downhill trail sections with untimed transition stages in between.

At 4 p.m. Saturday, it’s the kids turn with 40-yard, 1-mile, and 3-mile mountain bike races for ages 13 and under. At 6 p.m., the fan favorite DWD Memorial Dock Jump showcases mountain bikers jumping via a ramp off the Harbor Haus Dock. The evening winds down in the Copper Harbor Park with the music of The Raven Congress. 

On Sunday morning, Sept. 6, Downhill Races will take place on the Overflow Trail.  Starting on Brockway Mountain, the downhill race features large jumps, drops, rugged terrain, and large berms as riders descend at high speed to the finish of the race near highway M26.

A downhill racer faces a challenging course during the 2014 Copper Harbor Trails Fest. (Photo © and courtesy Chris Schmidt. Reprinted with permission.)*

At 1 p.m. Sunday the 14-mile XC race and at 2 p.m. the 22-mile XC races roll out through Copper Harbor on their way to the newly constructed Keweenaw Point Trail before looping back through the main Copper Harbor Trail System and finishing in the Copper Harbor Park. In the evening, the weekend is topped off with The Fitz BBQ and Bell’s Beer served in the park with a bluegrass concert by Minneapolis-based The Last Revel. 

The entire weekend is open to the public, registration for race events is available on site, and there is no charge for the music in the park. All funds raised support the Copper Harbor Trails Club mission to advocate, develop, and maintain trails and land for human-powered activities in and connecting to Copper Harbor.

Additional information and the full schedule of events is available at www.copperharbortrails.org.

Download the Participants' Guide here.

* See more of Chris Schmidt's photos here.

Keweenaw Chain Drive races to be June 14; early registration deadline is TODAY, May 31

Keweenaw Chain Drive participants cross the Portage Lift Bridge on their way to the Maasto Hiihto / Churning Rapids Trails in Hancock. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

HANCOCK -- The 2014 Keweenaw Chain Drive bike races will take place Saturday, June 14, at Maasto Hiihto / Churning Rapids Trails in Hancock. However, TODAY, Saturday, May 31, is the deadline to receive a nifty Chain Drive wicking bamboo t-shirt as part of your early registration (and to avoid a $10 fee increase).

The courses for the 16- and 30-mile cross-country mountain bike races will be the same as last year. Plenty of free food will be available at the finish, and the cooks promise some new menu items.

You'll find the online registration links at http://www.chaindrive.org/registration/.

If you've already registered for 2014, the Chain Drive committee thanks you for your support.

Volunteers may still be needed for the race. If you wish to volunteer, please contact Dan Dalquist at ddalquist@gmail.com.

Junior Chain Drive at Portage Health

The Junior Chain Drive will be held at Portage Health on Saturday, June 14.

Marc Norton (right in orange shirt), 2013 Junior Chain Drive organizer, explains to the youngest racers (under age 7) how to follow the course laid out for them at Portage Health. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

The Junior Chain Drive starts and ends at Portage Health, using a single-track trail in a wooded area east of the hospital. The event includes timed races for youth ages 8-13 and non-timed races for those age 7 and under. Registration is from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Portage Health (day of race only), and races begin at 3:30 p.m.

Click here for more information about the Junior Chain Drive.

Young cyclists 3-13 race in Junior Chain Drive at Portage Health

By Michele Bourdieu

Marc Norton (right in orange shirt), Junior Chain Drive organizer, explains to the youngest racers (under age 7) how to follow the course laid out for them at Portage Health. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- The 2013 Junior Chain Drive attracted more than 65 young participants ages 3-13 -- as well as parents, grand-parents and other supporters and volunteers -- to the Portage Health campus on a cloudy Saturday afternoon, June 15. Despite a few raindrops, the races were a success.

Racers under 7 take off for their 0.5 mile untimed race.

"We have an untimed race for any aged kids who aren't ready for the 3/4 mile event," said Marc Norton, Junior Chain Drive organizer.

Parents, grand-parents and other family members and friends urge the youngest racers on. Among the spectators, at right, is Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz, who came out to support some of his grandchildren participating in this Father's Day weekend race.

 Young racers head for the finish line ...

Biking on wet grass is a challenge. Young cyclists learn safety and courtesy riding in groups. 

"Push it, push it!" is the command this young fellow hears from the audience -- faster than trying to get back on the bike so close to the finish!

The second group of racers is lined up, waiting for the start ...

... and they're off!

Junior Chain Drive timed races include a 3/4 mile race for ages 8 and under, a 1.5 mile event (2 laps) for ages 10 and under and a 3 mile event (4 laps) for ages 14 and under.

"We hope the parents assess their child's ability as to which event they should participate. We do end up with some very competent 9 year olds doing the 3 mile race once in a while," Norton explained.

The more experienced racers are challenged by a single-track trail through the woods.

"Some places have gravel paths on which to hold a kids' race," Norton noted. "This one is a true mountain bike course with single track -- all the roots and rocks that one should expect in a mountain bike race. Those that finish have accomplished a pretty significant feat for ones so small and with such small tires."

Smaller tires do not roll over obstacles as easily as the big ones, he added.

Click here to find the results of the Junior Chain Drive race and the adult Chain Drive races held earlier on Saturday, June 15.