Established in 1983
Beginning in 1983 with only 27 cyclists, Chequamegon has now grown to become one of the more revered off-road MTB festivals in the country. Below is a history of the race and the stories made in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.
How about a bike race on the Birke Trail?
In a unique attempt to hatch a post-season tourist draw to the area Telemark employees Tom Kelly, Dan Hunt, Mike Cooper and Phil VanValkenberg and Phil Rasmussen of the Lakewoods Resort brainstormed the idea of a bicycle race on the American Birkebeiner ski trail.
The Chequamegon MTB Festival was born as a featured point-to-point 40 mile off road event from Main Street Hayward, WI to Lakewoods Resort in Cable. Contrary to popular belief, Gary Crandall, aka “The Fatman” and soon to be long time event director, did not dream up the event concept, however he did race in it the first year and finished a very respectable 12th. Admittedly there were only 27 riders but not bad for his first off-road race.
If ever there was a case of the right people, in the right place, at the right time, coming up with the right idea, this was it. Mountain bikes were coming into popularity, the American Birkebeiner trail offered a challenging race course, accommodations and volunteers were plentiful, and it doesn’t get any more beautiful than Northern Wisconsin in mid-September. The originators thought it couldn’t miss and 25 years later it is clear that they were right
How about a bike race on the Birke Trail?
In a unique attempt to hatch a post-season tourist draw to the area Telemark employees Tom Kelly, Dan Hunt, Mike Cooper and Phil VanValkenberg and Phil Rasmussen of the Lakewoods Resort brainstormed the idea of a bicycle race on the American Birkebeiner ski trail.
The Chequamegon MTB Festival was born as a featured point-to-point 40 mile off road event from Main Street Hayward, WI to Lakewoods Resort in Cable. Contrary to popular belief, Gary Crandall, aka “The Fatman” and soon to be long time event director, did not dream up the event concept, however he did race in it the first year and finished a very respectable 12th. Admittedly there were only 27 riders but not bad for his first off-road race.
If ever there was a case of the right people, in the right place, at the right time, coming up with the right idea, this was it. Mountain bikes were coming into popularity, the American Birkebeiner trail offered a challenging race course, accommodations and volunteers were plentiful, and it doesn’t get any more beautiful than Northern Wisconsin in mid-September. The originators thought it couldn’t miss and 25 years later it is clear that they were right
How about a bike race on the Birke Trail?
In a unique attempt to hatch a post-season tourist draw to the area Telemark employees Tom Kelly, Dan Hunt, Mike Cooper and Phil VanValkenberg and Phil Rasmussen of the Lakewoods Resort brainstormed the idea of a bicycle race on the American Birkebeiner ski trail.
The Chequamegon MTB Festival was born as a featured point-to-point 40 mile off road event from Main Street Hayward, WI to Lakewoods Resort in Cable. Contrary to popular belief, Gary Crandall, aka “The Fatman” and soon to be long time event director, did not dream up the event concept, however he did race in it the first year and finished a very respectable 12th. Admittedly there were only 27 riders but not bad for his first off-road race.
If ever there was a case of the right people, in the right place, at the right time, coming up with the right idea, this was it. Mountain bikes were coming into popularity, the American Birkebeiner trail offered a challenging race course, accommodations and volunteers were plentiful, and it doesn’t get any more beautiful than Northern Wisconsin in mid-September. The originators thought it couldn’t miss and 25 years later it is clear that they were right
1985: Off-Road Pros Head to Chequamegonland
The pinnacle of the off road professional ranks discovered Wisconsin when the Chequamegon was sanctioned as the first Midwest Off Road Championship by NORBA in 1985. Joe Murray, Jammin’ Jim Deaton and George Theobald from the fledgling Fisher Bicycle pro team arrived in Cable for their first Midwestern appearance.
Murray, one of mountain bike racing’s early icons was the man to beat on the NORBA sanctioned off road pro circuit. A spring 1985 Fat Tracks article invited the top regional riders to “Beat Joe Murray” and contained a friendly challenge to give the national guys a run for their money.
In his first attempt at Chequamegon 40 fame, Murray, the reigning National Off Road Champion was beaten to the finish line by defending champion Mark Frise of LaCrosse, WI. In a return visit Murray took third in 1987. His appearance helped spread the word that the Chequamegon was a quality event worthy of national level riders.
While not a nationally sanctioned big cash purse event, the unique mass start point-to-point nature and quality reputation of the Chequamegon 40 has attracted a number of off road and on road professionals over the years. To name just a few of the cycling racing and historical luminaries who have attended: Mountain Bike Hall of Fame Inductees Joe Breeze, Ned Overend, Steve Tilford and David Wiens, Klein’s Rishi Grewal, US Postal Service Tour de France veteran Marty Jemison, Trek VW rider Susan Haywood and National Champions Travis Brown and Jeremy Horgan Kobelski, Tour de France participant and commentator Bob Roll, Subaru/Fisher riders Heather Irmiger and Australian National Champion Mary Grigson, bicycle speed record holder John Howard and in the early years Raleigh pro Margaret Day and the “Ross Indians” team members Casey Cunselman and Joe Sloup.
Of course, we would be remiss if we failed to mention that three time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond cut his first off road teeth at the Chequamegon, but that is another great Chequamegon story.
