Events

Mt Ashwabay Fat Tire Double Donut Derby Bike Race

January 18, 2013 by NWisconsin Leave a Comment

On February 2nd, 2013, Mt Ashwabay Ski & Recreation Area in Bayfield, Wisconsin will host their first ever fat tire snow race.

The Mt Ashwabay Fat Tire Double Donut Derby start time will be at 1:30pm and the event will last an average time of 45 minutes. The course consists of two approximately 2.5 mile laps of mtb single track and XC ski trails with an awesome decent at the end of each lap. Bikes are recommended to have tires of at least 3.5 inches wide in order to handle the snow.

Participants may register via mail or in person on 2/2/13 from 12:30pm to 1:15pm, just before the race. $10 entry fee. There will be trophies awarded for the fastest time for both the men and women’s division, with additional prizes for the finishers. Potluck will be held at the T-Bar after the race and awards ceremony.

No bike? No problem! Come out and watch the fun. Come early and watch the Summit Ski Race held earlier in the day and then get a front seat at the T-Bar or Chalet area to watch the fat tire bikes fly down the slopes and trails. You can also check out some cool fat tire bikes which will be on site.

Go to http://www.mtashwabay.org/winterbikerace for more information and to download a registration form or email us at info@mtashwabay.org. We will be happy to send you a registration form!!

[Image: Courtesy of Flickr user PPWIII]

Family Fun at Klondike Days

February 6, 2012 by Paul Lindquist Leave a Comment

Klondike Days, dubbed “Wisconsin’s #1 winter family fun festival” by the Wisconsin Dept of Tourism, is an annual weekend event held each winter (February or early March) in the Northeastern Wisconsin town of Eagle River. Klondike Days has several unique winter events meant to highlight the traditions and history of the area.

History of Klondike Days

Klondike Days officially kicked off in 1991, completing a decade-long evolution of what began as the Eagle River Freight Dog Race in February 1981. These dog races became increasingly popular during the 1980s, attracting teams from throughout the continental U.S., Canada and Alaska. Major sponsors like Tuffy Dog Food also helped put this event on the map. Because of the popularity and success of the dog run, organizers began discussions about creating additional events like skiing, snow shoeing, tobagoning, and sledding — turning it into an all-around winter festival.

During the late 1980s, organizers were approached with the idea of moving the event into town to create more exposure and to showcase Eagle River’s businesses. Organizers also believed that when tourists experienced Eagle River’s natural winter beauty, they would want to come back year after year.

With the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce on board, the event was a “go.” One major thing that needed to be decided was the name. The first suggestion was “Ice Fest”. However, local resident John Jasper had a better idea. He told organizers they needed a name that reflected the area’s rich Native American cultural history, as well as the pioneering spirit of the early settlers. He suggested the event be called Klondike Days. Event organizers agreed and adopted the name right away.

The first major sponsor of Klondike Days was local businessman Trig Solberg. Because of his early involvement with the event, many people today refer to it as Trig’s Annual Klondike Days of Eagle River. Moving the event to town turned out to be a big success. Today, as many as 10,000 or more people attend this winter weekend festival annually. Proceeds from the event go to fund college and university scholarships for local high school students, as well as a variety of other projects to improve the area’s infrastructure.

Klondike Days Events

Since Klondike Days began, officials have been steadily evolving and adding new attractions. Today, there are a wide variety of events, attractions and entertainment for everyone in the family to enjoy. Some of the major events include:

History Encampment: A historical re-enactment of life during the North American fur trade era of the pre-1840s.
Northwoods National Championship Dog Weight Pull: Sanctioned by the Tri-State Alaskan Malamute Club, dogs racing in this event are asked to “pull their weight” in dog food. The event runs both Saturday and Sunday and cash prizes are awarded both days to the winner.
Great Northern Lumberjack Competition: Klondike Days coincides with the start of lumberjack season, drawing in world champion lumberjacks to kick off the season by showcasing one of the great traditions of the Northwoods.
Snowshoe Challenge: Men and women of varying ages and skill levels can compete in the 3 or 6 mile snow shoe races. There are also races for kids 10 years and under and 1 or 3 mile “tromps” for those who don’t want to compete, but still want to enjoy a cool winter day in the great Wisconsin outdoors.

Other Klondike Days events include:

Vintage Sleigh Rally
Chainsaw Carving Competition
Native American Cultural Exposition
Arts & Crafts Show
Horse Weight Pull
Old-fashioned Sleigh Rides
Pony Rides
Junior Musher Rides
Numerous Kids Events
Bluegrass Festival and Other Live Entertainment
Lots and Lots of Food!

For more details on Klondike Days events, dates, times, and other information, go to http://www.klondikedays.org/

[Image: Courtesy of Mike Crowley; available for sale at his website Life in the Northwoods]

Catch American Birkebeiner “Birkie Fever”

January 18, 2012 by Paul Lindquist 1 Comment

The American Birkebeiner is a 4 day ski event held every February in the Hayward and Cable Wisconsin areas. Though there are several ski races for children and adults of all skill levels, the two main events are the 50k freestyle and 54k classic cross country ski races from Cable to Hayward. Every February since 1973, thousands of skiers from throughout the world have descended upon northern Wisconsin to take part in this race, which is known as the “Birkie.”

Here are some interesting facts about the American Birkebeiner:

It was started in 1973 by Telemark Lodge founder and promoter Tony Wise.
The race is affiliated with both the Worldloppet ski circuit (15 international marathons) and the American Ski Marathon (13 total races).
The Birkie commemorates a famous event in Norwegian history; the smuggling of Norway King Hakon Sverresson’s illegitimate son from Lillehammer to Trondheim in the year 1206.
The Birkie is the largest cross country ski race in North America.
The event typically attracts around 10,000 skiers for all the related races, as well as over 20,000 spectators.

The Birkie Lifestyle

For many participants and fans of the American Birkebeiner, it is far more than just a ski race; it’s a way of life. The “Birkie Lifestyle” is marked by a commitment to being healthy and fit year round. While Birkie enthusiasts look forward to the annual thrill and excitement of clicking on the skis and racing with thousands of other like-minded folks from around the world, the race also serves as a test of the overall physical fitness and endurance.
Because of the insatiable hunger from fans for all things Birkie, a whole cottage industry has formed around it, giving enthusiasts countless opportunities to get their Birkie fix well in advance of the next February race. From the Birkie store, you can purchase bells, mugs, posters, T-shirts and other clothing. Fans can also get deeper into the Birkie lifestyle through:

The Premiere Race

After 2 days of buildup, the American Birkebeiner 50k/54k races start out on Saturday morning at around 8:30 am in Cable, Wisconsin. Skiers in this race are of varying skill levels. Some are in it to win it, while for others the goal is just to finish the race. To keep the skiers thinned out along the course, organizers have them depart in waves of up to a couple hundred each. A new wave departs about every 5 minutes (alternating between freestyle 50k and classic 54k racers) until the final waves are launched around 10:00 am.

The course itself is considered one of the most difficult in the world. The first half of the course has a lot of hills to climb. The highest of these is called Fire Tower Hill. At 1730 feet above sea level, Fire Tower Hill is almost a 400 foot climb from the starting point of the race. The second half of the course has fewer hills, but there are still some challenging sections to conquer.

Completing one of the longest and most difficult ski courses in the world is an adrenaline rush that only a Birkie enthusiast can fully appreciate. Completion of the race is the successful culmination of all the hard work and training that’s been done throughout the year. Time to celebrate for a little while, but before long it’s back to work getting ready for next year. . .

[Image: Courtesy of Flickr user ais_t]

Northwoods’ Lumberjack World Championships

June 18, 2011 by Paul Lindquist Leave a Comment

Each July, the town of Hayward, Wisconsin plays host to the toughest and most skilled woodsmen (and women) at the Lumberjack World Championships. Hayward sits in the heart of the great Northwoods, so what better place to bring the world’s best loggers to showcase their talents. The event, which originated in 1960, is held each year in the Lumberjack Bowl (formerly a large log-holding pond for Northern Wisconsin Lumber Company).

When the event started in 1960, lumberjack sports events were few and far between. Over the years and decades, this sport has grown in popularity and today has gained a loyal following of fans from throughout the world.

Competitors in this event are from countries that have a great abundance of woodland, such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Over 100 of the world’s elite loggers compete in a wide range of events such as chopping, sawing, logrolling, and climbing for cash prizes totally more than $50,000.

Men’s Lumberjack Events:

Underhand Chop Block: Contestants use a 5 pound single axe to chop through a log that is 28” long and 12” in diameter and sitting beneath them.
Standing Chop Block: Similar to the underhand chop, except the log sits alongside the chopper.
Springboard Chop: Combines the skills of chopping and climbing. The chopper stands on a platform 9’ up and cuts through a 12” diameter aspen log.
Single Buck: Contestant cuts through a 20” white pine log with a 1-man bucking saw.
Hot Saw: Contestant cuts through a 20” white pine log with a single cylinder chain saw.
60-foot Speed Climb: Climber scales 60’ cedar pole, then comes back to the ground.
90-foot Speed Climb: Climber scales 90’ cedar pole, then comes back to the ground.
Logrolling: Contestants attempt to stay balanced on a floating log.
Boom Run: Contestants run across rolling logs and unto the chopping dock.

Women’s Lumberjack Events:

Single Buck: Contestant cuts through a 16” white pine log.
Underhand Chop: Contestants use a single bit pinned axe to chop through a log that is 15”-28” long and 11” in diameter and sitting beneath them.
Logrolling: Contestants attempt to stay balanced on a floating log.
Boom Run: Contestants run across rolling logs and unto the chopping dock.

Team Lumberjack Events:

Jack and Jill: 1 lumberjack and 1 lumberjill team up to saw through a 20” white pine log.
Double Buck: 2 contestants team up to cut through a 20” white pine log using a 2-man bucking saw.
Team Relay: 2 teams with 6 contestants each compete against each other for the best time in a series of relays.

At the end of the competition, there are two top awards given; the Tony Wise All-Around Champion and the All-Around Lady Jill. The key to winning these awards is a high level of endurance and the ability to compete in as many events as possible. This requires both strength and agility on the part of contestants. Points are awarded for each event and those with the highest cumulative points through all the events receive the awards.

For further information on the Lumberjack World Championships, go to http://www.lumberjackworldchampionships.com

[Image: Courtesy of Flickr user doug1964wi]

International Wood Tick Race

February 10, 2010 by Paul Lindquist Leave a Comment

The world famous International Wood Tick Race is held annually, in May, at the Oxbo Resort, in Oxbo, Wisconsin where hundreds of contestants vie for a money prize, champion trophy and the biggest honor of all — the title of Wood Tick Racing Champion.

More than 30 years ago, in the bar of the Oxbo Resort, a man named Dick Kuhnert pulled a tick off of his arm, put it on the bar and watched as it scuttled around. Maybe Dick had spent too much time in the Northwoods, but the idea of a Wood Tick Race was born.

Over the years, the rules of the Wood Tick Race have evolved to the following: Two wood ticks are put in a bulls eye target, the first tick to wander out of the target’s outer circle is the winner of the heat. The loser is then smashed with a gavel. Racing two ticks at a time, the elimination heats continue until only two ticks remain for the championship round.

The most challenging aspect of the race is actually keeping the ticks alive between heats. Some contestants place the ticks on parts of their body, to keep the ticks warm. Other contestants keep the ticks in plastic bags breathing fresh air on the little buggers to keep them alive.

While Dick Kuhnert is no longer with us, his legacy and tick judging gavel have been passed down to his son, Randy Kuhnert. Randy is the “official” Race Official each year.

[Image: Courtesy of Youtube user MsCheshiecat]

Berry Good Time at Annual Cranberry Fest

August 10, 2004 by Naomi K Shapiro Leave a Comment

Visitors to Eagle River’s Annual Cranberry Fest can join the locals to eat, drink, wear, bake, and decorate with cranberries, tour the cranberry bogs and area winery, participate in cranberry cookoff events, and visit all kinds of exhibits.

“A wide array of cranberry-related foods will be available,” says Eagle River Chamber of Commerce Executive, Conrad “Connie” Heeg, “Including fresh cranberries, the world’s largest cranberry cheese-cake, hot spiced cranapple drink, gourmet cranberry meatballs, cranberry chili, cranberry mustard, lots of fresh baked goods, and more.”

The two-day event will also feature a cranberry fitness walk-run-or-bike; continuous entertainment starting with a big kick-off dance Friday evening, bus tours of area bogs and cranberry winery; and petting zoo for the kids. Shuttle buses will transport visitors to the various activities in the Eagle River area during Cranberry Fest.

The bake-off features competitions in breads, main courses, and beverages. There’ll also be a Bog Bridge Tournament; weaving exhibit; photo contest; auction; and huge craft show.

“This is a celebration of northern Wisconsin’s number one fruit crop and the goodness and joy of Wisconsin’s entire fall harvest season,” Heeg smiles. “We try to insure that everyone — singles, seniors, and families with kids — will enjoy the varied activities, and also learn about the history and importance of cranberries to the Eagle River area.”

And, since some 20,000 people generally attend this two-day annual event, Heeg recommends early reservations to insure lodging and facilities of choice.

[Image: Courtesy of Flickr user dailycollegian]