Copper Peak Trails Fest Race 2017....

Copper Peak Trails Fest Race 2017....

This might come as a surprise & delight for many that travel on thru to the Central U.P. for excellent MT Biking but Marquette Area & Keweenaw Pennisula isn't the only part of Upper Michigan that's got game with MTB trails.  On the eastern edge of the U.P. the Ironwood area has an association that's quietly putting in some great trails.  Known as the Sisu Dirt Crew, they've utilized terrain around the famous Copper Peak Ski Jump & created some very high quality single track trails that even the most discerning connoisseur of dirt trails would have a hard time not getting some big grins out of.

With enough distance of trails in place it was time to show case the gem they've been working on by hosting an inaugural event this past Saturday Sept 9th.  

When I got word of new trails & a MTB race in less an hour drive, living in Northern Wisconsin, it's hard to pass on that opportunity.    So to the chagrin of some buddies I passed on the Chequamegon 40 pre ride slug fest & opted to head to the Copper Peak Trails Fest.... 

I'd pre road the trails the Weds with my son after a day or two of rain & I must admit some sections had me wondering what it would be like in time for Saturdays race but mother nature came thru with some sunshine & wind & made from some perfect conditions on Saturday.

Arriving for the 10am start I saw a nice crowd of riders, registering & warming up.  Even a saw flashback from the past, as all around accomplished endurance athlete Scott Chapin was there on his plus bike back from a 9 year racing hiatus.   

Soon it was time to line up & let the rpm's rip.  Organizers very wisely constructed a level rollout followed by a long gravel climb to string things out before starting the single track to the top of Copper Peak.  

I went to the front near the beginning of the climb followed closely by Casey Lajoie with Scott & others following.  All was humming along pretty well up the climb until some robot drone-like killer bee got in behind my glasses & started stinging my lower left eye lid.  Wow!  That'll wake you up, I swatted my glasses aside,  stopped & tried to collect myself.  I couldn't open that eye & it just kept watering something fierce.  Casey went by, asked what happened. I told him & he acknowledge having a similiar experience a few weeks back.  Hoping no anaphylatic shock kicked in I remounted with a one eyed grimace that even a nasty Chequamegon 40 pirate would be proud of.

Eye watering & nearly to the single track entry point I make a push past Casey & hope that sometime soon I'll be able to use 2 eyes & get some depth perception before heading down Copper Peak hill.  Casey brought some serious game as he held a respectable distance to me on the uphill where I thought my weight advantage would be most helpful and though I got a gap he came screaming down the front side of the hill through berms & swoopy turns like he didn't know what brakes were for.  So whatever gap I managed on the uphill he effectively was closing me down on the descent.  

We went thru the start/finish area fairly close to the lower trails that come near the Black River and no gap I could make would stick as Casey was never fair from sight on a switch back. 

Once getting to the Black River the trails once again begin the ascend 600 feet up to top of Copper Peak.  Here the time of incline played more to my favor & started to get bigger margins on Casey as well as Scott. 

We raced on for 3 1/2 laps, scaling the mountain & descending back down.  Each round had it's share of painful climbing but pure joy on the descent as you got to be more & more bold with the cornering, berms and jumps.  Justly rewarded is how it felt.  

Though only 16 miles in distance, it was harder than that as finishing times were 90minutes plus.  

It was nice to come thru with a win but more importantly some super fun riding and hard efforts in preparation for next weeks Chequamegon 40.  

The Sisu Dirt Crew had a nice post race awards program & post race party.  One note on the podium I can reassure you no one in the entire WORLD will have you stand on a higher one -- huh?  Well, they sent us up the chair lift to the ski jump tower.  From there we took the elavator, then the stairs to the very top for pictures.  Holy moses that's the toughest part about winning the day, that's one crazy high tower and to dudes that ski jump competitively -- whole new found appreciation.

My hats off to Sisu Dirt Crew, you guys did a super job on your trails & a very smooth run first event, hope to see you grow your event and trails.  

And for those travelers going thru the U.P. take a stop on the eastern edge and visit Copper Peak Trails -- the sight is amazing and the trails are equally good!