By Claire Cannon
The forecast says that the Iceman Cometh gently this year with no snow on the horizon and temperatures in the low 50s. However, the race on Saturday in the northern Michigan destination of Traverse City will be anything but placid. Over 4,000 racers are registered, and the pro fields for both men and women are as stacked as they’ve ever been. Despite only a handful of national events in the region over the last decade, the racing scene in the Midwest is raging. The Midwest state series are cued and ready to settle the Midwest Regional Championships (http://usmtb.org/) on Saturday, which racers from the Wisconsin Off Road Series (http://wors.org) have dominated for several years. I talked with some of the regional and national contenders this week to get an idea of what they are expecting and why the Iceman is, indeed, one of the things you have to do before you die.
The Pro Men's podium from 2008 (photo by: Christine Czarnecki)
Welcome to Midwest Racing
Five-time Iceman winner Kelli Emmett will be in Traverse City this weekend and she brought a friend and training partner, former MTB World Champion Alison Dunlap. I asked Kelli why the Iceman is ever more popular.
“You know, I can't figure out why the Iceman is so popular,” laughed Emmett, who has competed in nine previous Iceman events. “I know that Outdoor Magazine listed the Iceman on their list of ‘Things To Do Before You Die.’ And I really believe anyone can do this race. My whole family comes out, and it's wonderful. My mom can do this race, and this year my cousins will be out racing. The crowd and the spectators and the atmosphere are all so great.”
The energy and number of spectators at Iceman was something that every national pro was quick to comment on. Last year’s winner, Amanda Carey, agreed.
“Iceman was the most fun I had racing all last year,” said Carey. “It’s the way mountain bike racing should be and the support of the fans at the end makes it very special for the pros. Unless you race world cups or cyclocross, most of us are used to being cheered on by a handful of people, most of whom we know.”
“My race in 2008 was my first Iceman, in addition to being my first Iceman win,” continued Carey. “I had never participated in a Midwest race before and I was thoroughly impressed with the entire event. Although I have no other races in the Midwest to compare it to, I think Iceman is the way we would all prefer the national mountain biking scene to be: a festival atmosphere, huge crowds, equal payout and most importantly overwhelming participation from amateur racers. They are the ones that make the race such a great event and they are also why our sport so awesome to be a part of.”
Amanda Carey on her way to a second place finish at the 2009 Park City Point to Point
Sam Schultz, racing for Gary Fisher, had a similar experience. “The Iceman is the only Midwest MTB race that I have ever done,” said Schultz. “I heard a lot about the huge crowds that turn out for the Midwest races but I didn't realize the extent of it until my first Iceman last year. The scene was really good, with tons of amateurs and pros all mixing it up together. It seems like MTB racing in the Midwest right now is awesome.”
Schultz’s teammate and current National Champion Heather Irmiger agreed. “The 2009 Iceman Cometh will be my third Iceman,” said Irmiger, who grew up in Michigan. “Chequamegon is the only other race I've done in the Midwest - I wish we raced in the area more often! I only have experience with Midwest racing in the later part of the season but these experiences have always been wonderful. The promoters and the participants are so enthusiastic - the attitudes at Iceman and Chequamegon have always taken me back to my roots and remind me why I started racing. In contrast to the National scene, the Midwest races I've done have that great festival atmosphere which equates to the perfect balance of serious competition and laid-back love for the sport.”
I asked Kelli Emmett, another Michigan native who moved west at the start of her professional racing career, why the out-of-towners were so impressed by the crowds and the atmosphere at Midwest races. She said she wasn’t sure, but she was willing to speculate a little.
“It feels, sometimes, like interest in MTB racing has been going down lately on the national scene,” said Emmett. “There are fewer spectators at national events like the US Cup, and I think sponsorship has suffered. But that doesn't seem to be the case in the Midwest. The races I've done in the Midwest have had great areas for spectators. Often, you can see the racers in multiple places on every lap. And the courses are interesting. It's probably less interesting to watch us ride up and down a ski hill. I'm from Michigan, and I always have fun racing at home. My family comes up to hang out, and so the Iceman is very popular with us!”
I asked Alison Dunlap, too, why she thought the Iceman had such a draw.
“I think the event is very well-run and it's very accessible to amateur racers,” said Dunlap. “They do a great job of making the amateur racers feel valued. And that includes cash prizes. The purse is big and deep for all categories, and it's not every race that competitors who aren't at the pro level are able to race for that kind of payout. I also know that the race venue has a great expo and tech area. There is just such a reputation for this race and you hear so many great stories.”
Local talents like Jenna Rinehart, Kyia Anderson and Tristan Schouten are quick to tout the Midwest racing scene for it’s hot competition as well as the warmth of the atmosphere. Local favorite Jenna Rinehart recently gave an interview at MTB Race News explaining why she has been focusing her efforts on regional races this year, despite being in the midst of the most amazing season of her professional racing career. For many Midwest racers, it comes down to greater return on investment.
“Compared to the national scene, the Midwest is great,” said Sheboygan racer Tristan Schouten, who has raced the Iceman each year since 2003 and been on the podium multiple times. “We have excellent competition and a very strong group of guys that can all race competitively at a nation level. I think that the national level racing experience has become – dull – in the last 5 years. The courses are not as exciting, and the fans have stopped turning out. It’s just not as exciting for top-level racing. By contrast, in our region we have the biggest series in the country [WORS, the Wisconsin Off Road Series], good prize money, decent courses and great competition. For me, there really isn't a huge reason to do national level racing because there is no benefit to doing well, or what most people would consider as having done well. You could have a fantastic day at a national race and ride into the top 10 and you'd come home $1000 in the hole and with nothing to show for it except pride. I might as well race locally against fast guys and win some money.”
Kyia Anderson, who races WORS and the Minnesota State Championship Series had similar thoughts.
“I race in the Midwest and outside of it,” said Anderson. “This year I participated in the National Championships in Colorado and I traveled to Canada to race a Canada Cup near Toronto but a lot less travel than previous years. The Midwest MTB scene is very solid. We have a lot of participants that I think a lot of other regions don't. Minnesota (MNSCS) has a lot of tough racecourses that develop riders into all-around cyclists and the WORS series attracts a lot of talented racers making for great competition. There are always some good, strong riders that come out of the Michigan scene as well and when some of these racers come together you know that any one person can have a good day.”
“I'm always impressed with the races I've done in the Midwest,” said Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, one of the pro racers who had the most racing experience in the Midwest, having won Chequamegon in 2006. “I'm excited about the prospect of having another National race there in 2010 [the US Cup race at Mt. Morris, WI hosted by WORS]. There's a great energy at all of the races I've done and they're all very competitive. I really look forward to Iceman every year, as it's one of the most fun events on my calendar.”
Jesse Lalonde, WORS Overall Champ in 2008, summed it up.
“The depth of Midwest racing is deeper than at the national level.” said Lalonde. “It's the little guys doing it for good ol’ fashion happiness and bragging rights. In the end, both are similar - but I think the national scene has way more horsepower. Those guys are not human.”
Serious horsepower and two Triple Crowns on the line
The national and regional racers who will line up for Iceman this year are certainly bringing the horsepower. In the women’s field, five-time winner Kelli Emmett returns, as does 2008 winner Amanda Carey. Heather Irmiger won the National Championship and Alison Dunlap is a former World Champion. Local favorite Jenna Rinehart has already won the Ore to Shore and Chequamegon 40 this season, and will start the race as the first woman to have a shot at the coveted Triple Crown of point-to-point Midwest races. The men’s field is just as impressive. Local hero, 2009 WORS Overall Champ and hometown favorite Brian Matter is looking for his third Triple Crown win in the midst of a successful UCI cross season. Ready to give him a run for his money are National Champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and teammate Sam Schultz of Gary Fisher. Michigan’s own Michael Simonsen is a past winner, and Wisconsin’s Tristan Schouten is a repeat visitor to the podium. I asked the racers what was up with that, and whether they were excited for the competition.
“Yeah, what IS up with that??” joked 2008 Iceman champ Amanda Carey. “I think the deeper field is pretty sweet. Kelli [Emmett] had a scheduling conflict last year, so it looks like I snuck in a win during the right year. Otherwise, she has owned this race over the years.”
“I love the Iceman Cometh because of the "What's up with that" element!” said Heather Irmiger. “November is an interesting time for a mountain bike race - you never know what the weather will be like, how hard people have been training, or who exactly will show up. I keep coming back because I love not knowing what to expect - even from myself! Every Iceman is different and I love the prospect of duking it out with people I would have never expected to be racing hard against this time of year!”
“The field seems like it gets more competitive every year!” agreed Irmiger’s teammate and husband, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski. “I raced with Brian Matter a lot when we were juniors and earlier in my career and it's awesome to see him having so much success in the Midwest. Repeating the Triple Crown would be pretty impressive -- if he does, hopefully I can at least make him work hard for it!”
“Yeah, the Iceman field is going to be stacked this year!,” agreed Sam Schultz. “I'm psyched about it. I know that winning the Triple Crown is a huge goal for all of the Midwest riders and Brian Matter has proved very strong in the past. I'm sure that the motivation is there for him and he'll be laying it on the line to go for the crown. He'll also have a lot of pressure on him and there will be plenty of fast riders out there doing everything they can to stop the sweep. I can't wait to see how it pans out.”
“Brian Matter has been the strongest rider in the Midwest all season and has won every race he wanted to win,” says fellow Sheboygan racer Tristan Schouten. “He is the rider I expect to win the Iceman if he races like he has been doing during the rest of the season. I think I'd guess that 7 of the last 10 years at Iceman has been won by a "local" so generally we can hold our own on the speed courses like this that don't have significant elevation changes or sustained climbing. It's a different type of racing that you don't get a lot of other places, and in the Midwest we have lots of practice with point-to-point, high-speed races. I don't put any of those other guys out, but at the Iceman the playing field seems to even out and generally we seem to ride a little better than the big dogs that come in. Liam Killeen and Ryder Hesjedal come to mind as strong favorites that couldn't pull it off, JHK [who was bested in 2007 by Matter’s solo attack off the front] and Travis Brown too. Bishop and Craig have both won, but a majority of the time it's a good race and the win is up for grabs.”
I asked Jenna Rinehart whether winning the Triple Crown was one of her goals this season.
“Winning the Triple Crown is definitely in the back of my mind,” said Rinehart. “I have never raced the Iceman so I'm not sure what to expect. It will be tough and I'll need a little luck on my side but I think I have a good shot at the win.”
Big wheels rolling
I asked each racer to comment on their bike choice for the Iceman and how the course conditions suited them. Alison Dunlap, Heather Irmiger, Todd Wells, Sam Schultz and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski will be riding 29er hardtails. Jenna Rinehart and Kelli Emmett will duke it out on 26-inch full suspension models, and Tristan Schouten will take to the trail on a hardtail 26-inch wheeled bike.
“Of course the 29er is the superior choice!” said Gary Fisher 29er team racer Jesse Lalonde. “Really though, in the end the rider is going to choose whatever bike they are comfortable on despite wheel size. I'd be on my 29er single if I was going.”
“To be honest, I can't think of a better course for a 29er,” said Kelli Emmett. However, as Emmett doesn’t have her hands on the new Giant 29er yet, she will again race her Anthem full suspension. “It has four inches of travel, so I can really bomb the downhills. The bike is fast, and fun, and lets me pedal through the corners. There is not a lot of extended climbing, and I think that the course is so fast that there won't be a big weight disadvantage. As for the conditions, when it's been dry and warm in years past, I have called this race the ‘Sandman’ instead.”
The Specialized Stumpjumper Carbon 29er
“I have never ridden the Iceman but I hear it will be a great course for the Specialized S-works Stumpjumper 29er,” said Todd Well. “It is high speed and sandy so that should be perfect for the big wheels. I tend to ride pretty well on fast rolling courses so I think it might suit me. It's hard to say for sure until I ride it though.”
“I'll be rocking the Superfly 29" hardtail for sure,” said Sam Schultz. “The course seems like it was made for a 29er, with it's high speed, sweeping corners, and sand pits. I've heard the conditions are looking 'perfect', but I'm actually hoping for a fluke storm to dump a foot of snow and bring some really cold and miserable temps to make things really interesting.”
“Typically, the more heinous the conditions the better I do,” agreed Amanda Carey. “I was hoping for wet, cold and miserable but a nice sunny day sounds pretty darn good, too. The course favors a person with a ton of power - it is such a fast racecourse with lots of power sucking sand. Last year, I actually found the opening pace too slow. But, the only advice I had gotten about Iceman was to ride it like a road race-so I sat in as long as I could stand it to conserve energy.“
“Usually, if the course is fast, more guys can sit on the train and it makes it a little more nerve wracking having fifteen guys sitting on halfway through the race,” said experienced Iceman racer Tristan Schouten. “Patience is always good, and it always breaks apart near the end no matter how many are on, so as long as you stay near the front and out of trouble in the sand pits, you’ll be OK.”
The contenders name the contenders
With so many fast names on the start line, everyone agreed that it could be anyone’s race. I asked each of the racers who they were looking for to have a strong race, and both Todd Wells and Kyia Anderson took themselves out of the mix, due to recent health issues. In fact, Wells may not be cleared to race, and says that if he can compete, he does not expect to have his strongest showing. Anderson has been battling an ill-timed illness and is hoping to return to form by Saturday. And after an extended racing season beginning in February, Gary Fisher teammates Heather Irmiger, Jeremy Horgan-Kobleski and Sam Schultz are technically in their “off season”, although no one counts any of those three out.
The consensus among the men seemed to be that the regional racers would be motivated to defend their home turf, and Brian Matter, especially, was a man to watch.
Brian Matter is the favorite for a win this weekend (photo by Bruce Adelsman)
“I would have to pick Brian Matter though as a favorite,” said Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski. “I would think that with the Triple Crown on the line he will probably have the most motivation.”
Heather Irmiger named local racer Jenna Rinehart as a woman to watch, too.
“I feel like there are actually quite a few people to look out for this year,” said Irmiger. “Jenna is going to be very motivated to capture the Triple Crown, Kelli is on home turf and excels on this type of terrain, as does Amanda. And, of course, Alison is back at it....should be an exciting race!”
“Every woman out there is a challenge!” said 2008 winner Amanda Carey. “All the women you previously mentioned have a shot, as does every single woman lining up. No one, not even me, expected that I would win last year. You can’t count anyone out when there is a real trophy made of ice on the line. I wish I could have kept mine forever but I don’t think it would have survived the flight home. I also didn’t have the freezer space. It was quite big.”
You’ve just raced the Iceman, now what?
The Iceman awards ceremony culminates each year as the winners are presented with a trophy carved out of ice, at which point the party is just getting started.
Jeremiah Bishop holds the ice trophy after his 2008 Iceman Cometh win (photo by: Christine Czarnecki)
“The energy of this event is unreal and it spills into the post-event party,” said Amanda Carey. “My hunch is everyone finally heard about the afterparty and signed up based on that.”
“It is also a great event for my Kenda-Tomac-Hayes team,” continued Carey. “We go to the Dexter Middle School near Ann Arbor to do a day-long program with the kids about what life as a pro racer is all about while teaching them bike safety and encouraging them to lead healthy, active lives. It’s a blast.”
“Gary Fisher has had a long history of involvement with the Iceman, and I started doing this event after joining the team in 2005,” said Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski. “The festival atmosphere and great energy makes this one of the most fun events I get to do all year. I always look forward to the post-race party too - it's certainly one of my off-season highlights.”
“The Iceman is just a really good scene,” concurred Sam Schultz. “Lots of people turn out for it and it's fun to check out the Midwest scene. The race is going to be great, but I'm really looking forward to the infamous Party Bus after the race.”
“Iceman is a good way to end the MTB season,” said Tristan Schouten. “With lots of prize money to make us feel good, and one last chance to see friends again before the season ends. And who could miss the Bells party?”
As the MTB season comes to a close, everyone is looking forward to next year. Each of the Pros agreed that the 2010 US Cup race at Mount Morris in Wisconsin – traditionally the WORS Subaru Cup – is an event to look forward to. In addition, several said they would love to make it to the other Triple Crown races, the Ore to Shore and the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, if their racing schedule would allow it - and Amanda Carey has already added the Chequamegon 40 to her 2010 calendar. In the meantime, with these competitors at the line on Saturday, the expectations are for another great event that no one will leave disappointed.
For the complete transcripts of each of the interviews, check the WORS homepage at http://wors.org.
