Racer Update
Late August, 2007
GREETINGS, RACERS! Welcome to the first racer update on the 2007 Peak-2-Peak Mountain Bike Race, being held at beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Michigan. The following information will help you maximize your enjoyment on race day and give you some insight into what to expect.
The P2P Course
Given the great, positive feedback about the course last year, it will remain virtually unchanged, with the exception of a couple of small surprises. For those of you new to the race this year, the course is a combination of Crystal Mountain property and State land, specifically, the Betsie River Pathway. We've put together what we think is a fantastic layout which promises to be both unique and challenging.
Racers will start at the base of the mountain with a paved "roll-out" for the first half mile, and then the real fun begins. You'll skirt along single-tracks and 2-tracks on the south side of the property before ducking in to the Betsie River Pathway. There, you'll be on miles of ribbon-like single-track that twists, winds and loops through dense hardwoods and cedar/pine lowland forests. It is extremely fast because there are only slight gradation variations in the terrain.
Just as the terrain lulls racers into a heady pace – BAM! – you hit the base of the mountain on its west side. There, you'll find some sweet but technical single-track climbing and descending, followed by a long, steady uphill (for Sport, Expert and Pro classes only) that will bring racers to the peak of the mountain. If weather permits, the chair lift will be running and there will be tons of spectators at the top to cheer you on. The vistas are awesome but there'll be little time to enjoy the view as you start descending down some great single-track, and back to the base of the mountain where you started. The course maps out at close to 11 miles.
Please note that the beginner categories will not be climbing to the top of the mountain but will take an alternate route which will still provide plenty of climbing and descending to pack a punch!
Pre-riding the course
Pre-riding the course is certainly doable, and encouraged, but a little tricky, since there are so many "forks in the road", so to speak. The single-track portion starts on Crystal Mountain property and to find out where that is, check with the Mountain Adventure Center. Once on the single-track, keep a close watch for orange or red flagging tape, sometimes on stakes and sometimes on overhanging branches. The Adventure Center also has maps of all the trails, some of which are not included in the course.
Late Registration and Packet Pickup
Late Registration and Packet Pickup the day before and day of, will be in the Lodge Building at Crystal Mountain. The times are as follows:
Friday, October 19 from 3 P.M. to 8 P.M. and
Saturday, October 20 from 7:30 to 9 A.M.
Please Note: If you wait to register on either one of these two days, the entry fee will be $40 for Beginner and $55 for all other categories.
ChampionChip Timing
Gault Race Management from Flushing will be timing the Peak2Peak using ChampionChip technology. Here's what that means for racers:
- You will be required to show your driver's license or another appropriate form of ID when you pick up your race packet. You'll be borrowing the ChampionChip and it is critical you receive the correct one.
- Each racer must pick up his or her own packet. Others may not pick up packets for friends, etc.
- Along with you normal race packet, you'll receive your own personal ChampionChip that has been assigned to you as well as a Velcro bracelet to wear around your ankle.
- At the end of the race, volunteers will be on hand to collect all ChampionChips.
- If you do not wear your ChampionChip on your ankle, you will not be timed.
- If you do not return your ChampionChip, you will be responsible for buying it at a cost of $35.00.
- The start and finish lines will be barricaded off until the actual start of the events so there will not be any premature starts or finishes.
All categories will be timed using GUN TIME – the clock for your wave will start when the first rider in the wave crosses the starting line.
Tandems
Tandem riders will have one class with no age or gender breakdown, and will complete 2 loops. Only one entry fee per tandem is required but we'll need an entry form filled for each rider, with all the pertinent info. Tandems can be male-male, male-female, or female-female, any age, any skill level. As the race grows, we plan to offer more classes in the tandem category.
Single Speeds
Single-speed riders will have one class each for males and females. All will do 2 loops.
Wave Start Times
| Wave # | Start Time | Category | Laps |
| Wave 1 | 10:00 | Pro/Elite Men Pro/Elite Women |
3 3 |
| Wave 2 | 10:01 | Expert Men Expert Women |
3 3 |
| Wave 3 | 10:10 | All Sport Men All Tandems All Single Speed Men |
2 2 2 |
| Wave 4 | 10:11 | All Sport Women All Single Speed Women |
2 2 |
| Wave 5 | 10:20 | All Beginner Men | 1 |
| Wave 6 | 10:21 | All Beginner Women | 1 |
Peak2Peak T-shirts
Peak2Peak tees will be available for sale at the race site and they are available for sale on the printable entry form, as well as the on-line entry form. Pre-purchased shirts will be included in your packets.
Festivities
Get fortified for the race! Crystal Mountain is offering a special Racers Pasta Meal on Friday night. Reservations are not necessary but helpful, and can be made by calling Crystal Mountain, 800-968-7686.
On race day, there will be an outdoor cookout right near the finish line, including a beer/beverage tent and rockin' tunes! Make sure to tell your friends and family to come and watch the exciting finishes and enjoy the afternoon festivities.
Awards, Purse, and Prize Drawings
The awards ceremony will be held at the base of the mountain near the finish line, and is scheduled for about 3 P.M. (subject to change). In case of inclement weather, we'll go into the Mountain View Room in the Lodge. There will be medals for the first 3 finishers in each class and cash awards for the top finishers overall for men and women, in the Pro/Elite class.
Purse
| Pro/Semi Pro/Elite Men | |
| 1st Place | $250 |
| 2nd Place | $150 |
| 3rd Place | $100 |
| 4th Place | $50 |
| 5th Place | $25 |
| Pro/Semi Pro/Elite Women | |
| 1st Place | $250 |
| 2nd Place | $150 |
| 3rd Place | $100 |
Bonus Make sure to stick around for the drawings for great prizes and merchandise, including lift passes at Crystal, golf passes, dinners at area restaurants, and more! And as special giveaways from the Iceman himself, 5 FREE ENTRIES INTO THE 2007 ICEMAN COMETH MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE! (Drawn separately. You must be present to win and you must not be pre-registered for the Iceman, to be eligible.)
Tour De Tykes Kid's Race
Crystal Mountain is organizing a free kid's race, the Tour De Tykes! It will be open for all racers aged 10 and under and all participants will receive a medal! This will be held after the last P2P racers are in, approximately 2 P.M. Check with the Mountain Adventure Center for details and registration. Please note: Endoman Promotions is not accepting registrations for the kid's race.
Accommodations
Crystal Mountain, one of the Midwest's premier four-seasons resorts, is offering some great deals on lodging for the weekend:
Hotel rooms can be booked from $79 to $109 (regularly $125-$175).
Condominiums will be available from $129 to $309 (regularly $210-$490). Unit size varies from one to five bedrooms.
Call 800-968-7686 for reservations and information and be sure to mention the Peak2Peak race.
That's it for now! We're looking forward to a great event at an awesome venue and we will strive to make your race-day and weekend experience memorable. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us through EndomanPromotions.com, and Happy Training!
