Course Info
2010 Events
The 2010 Iceman Cometh Challenge
is a point to point mountain bike race
held traditionally on the first Saturday of
November. The race starts in downtown
Kalkaska, Michigan and finish es twenty
eight miles later at Timber Ridge RV &
Recreation Resort on the eastern edge
of Traverse City, Michigan. The course
consists primarily of dirt roads, two-tracks
(the majority of the course), abandoned
railroad beds, and the world famous Vasa
Nordic ski trail. It crosses only one paved
road (Williamsburg Rd at mile 16) as it
winds through the breath taking (literally)
terrain of the Pere Marquette State Forest
in Northern Lower Michigan. In 2009
4,586 athletes from 38 states and Ontario
participated!!
Iceman attracted competitive cyclists
from 38 states including Alaska, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois,
Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts,
Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,
Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West
Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, as well
as Ontario, Canada. Their ability levels
varied from first time racers to seasoned
professionals. Ages ranged from 2 years to
75 years of age.
The Meijer Slush Cup offers beginning
riders with a half frozen version of the
Iceman. Approximately 8 miles long, the
Slush Cup starts at Timber Ridge, follows
the Vasa 10K ski trail, and then merges
with the Iceman trail before winding up
back at Timber Ridge.
The Meijer Sno-Cone is geared for
riders 12 & under who want to discover
the thrill of bike racing. Each participant
receives a medal, number plate, and
stickers.
2010 Iceman Start Waves
With the new 2010 Iceman categories based solely on age, and wave placement based on
past results, we are anticipating that each wave of riders will be more evenly matched and
should stick together as they progress down the trail more than in years past. Thus, we are
increasing the number of start waves from 31 to 48 in order to reduce the number of riders
in each wave. With 4,000 participants and 48 waves, that breaks down to approximately 80
riders in each wave. It also means that waves of riders will start every three minutes compared
to every five minutes last year.
We will assign your wave number during the last week of October and add the wave assignment
to each riders' record in the rider confirmation system — So look for your wave
assignment beginning October 29th. New Iceman riders without a seed time will be placed
toward the back of the wave order and start with riders within their respective categories.
(Waves 32–44.)
In the meantime, please check the confirmation system to ensure that we have a seed
time for you if you have participated in one of the past five years of the Iceman Cometh
Challenge.
Iceman Course
Starting in downtown Kalkaska, the Iceman trail consists of paved roads, dirt roads, two
tracks (the majority of the course), abandoned railroad beds, and the world famous Vasa
Nordic ski trail. Approximately 28 miles long, the course crosses only one paved road (Williamsburg
Rd. at mile 17) as it winds through the breath taking terrain of the Pere Marquette
State Forest in North west ern Lower Michigan. Course highlights include "Steve’s Secret",
"Lombard’s Luge," "Cassle Cliffs," and "Ice Breaker" (the last hill to climb). The finish line
at Timber Ridge, just east of Traverse City, will be a welcome sight to all Icemen and Icewomen.
The course can be best described as a road race on dirt.
Grand Traverse Cycle is once again spon sor ing the Feed Stations! Watch for their catchy
signs on the course as you ap proach the three designated feed stations. The Ice House,
Oasis, and Ice Station Zebra are located at about seven, seventeen and twenty-three miles
into the course, re spec tive ly. Volunteer crews will be serving up loads of
Heed, cookies, fruit, and water for all!
Plans are underway to make the Oasis at Williamsburg Rd. a real
hap pen ing with its own an nounc er and PA so the entire crowd can
hear who’s made it that far. Slush Cup riders will use the last Iceman
feed station, Ice Station Zebra, located on the Vasa Trail.
As always, there will be a large recovery center at the finish line.
Three clothing bag trucks will be parked at Kalkaska Middle School.
Each racer will receive a num bered adhesive strip that cor re sponds to their
race number. That number is to be used for your clothing bag. The clothing will be transport
ed to the fi nish line and placed under the big tent for you to pick-up. Each rider is responsible
for providing their own bag. Please don’t place valuables in your bag as we cannot
be re spon si ble for lost or stolen items. The fi rst truck will be for waves 1-15, the second for
waves 16-30, and the last truck will be for waves 31-48.
Riders wishing to drop out of either the Slush Cup or the Iceman are asked to do so at any
one of the road crossings with course marshalls present. If you abandon the race at any
other location, we cannot be re spon si ble for returning you to the fi nish line.
For the personal safety of all riders, the Iceman course will close at 2:00 PM at Williamsburg
Rd. Those riders (except for Pros) failing to meet the 2:00 PM cut off time will be directed
off the course and into a waiting bus to continue on to the fi nish line.
First Aid personnel will be located at each food station and at the start and fi nish lines for
each event. Mobile emergency vehicles and medical service volunteers will be stationed
along both the Iceman and Slush Cup trails. Be sure to extend a special "thanks" to the
safety crew volunteers as you pedal by!
We cannot be responsible for clothing, tools, or bike parts left at food stations or along the
trail. We will make our best effort to get these articles to the lost & found box at the fi nish
line but cannot make guarantees. Wear clothing you won’t mind losing!
Unfortunately, we cannot provide maps of the course before the event since the course is
convoluted enough that even locals with maps have gotten very lost in the Pere Marquette
State Forest. All it takes is one wrong turn to ruin an outing. The course is marked on the
Thursday before the race.
The weather in Northern Michigan during November is often very volatile. Eight of the past
twenty Iceman events have been held in very snowy (sometimes up to fi ve inches) and cold
(19 degrees) con di tions. Hands, toes, and water bottles are likely to freeze. It may be 50
degrees and sunny, but it is best to plan on gnarly (dude) conditions. Ap pro pri ate fall/winter
cycling clothing is strongly en cour aged. You won’t go wrong with cycling tights, long sleeve
jerseys, long fi ngered gloves, outer wear, shoe cover booties, and something to cover your
face. DON’T FORGET YOUR HELMET, YOUR SHOES, OR YOUR BIKE!!!
If you plan on partying at the Celebration Zone, pack for cold weather and toss your winter
outer wear in your bag!
It doesn't seem like much to dispose of an energy gel wrapper
by dropping it during a race. "It's only one" must be the mind
set. It seems like that mind set also occurs when folks are
just out recreating as foil wrappers appear on the trail all
year long.
Race staff and volunteers spend a whole day cleaning up the
trail after the big race. We understand that there is bound
to be stuff left on the trail, but recently it has gotten a
bit out of hand. If one out of four racers use an energy gel,
and 1/2 of those drop the wrapper, that's 250 packs of slimey,
guey, sticky, and covered with ants and dirt (why do you think
they named it that way) foil wrappers that have to be picked
up afterwards. That's almost 10 wrappers per mile!
Don't ruin a pristine forest, take the two seconds to put
the gel pack back in your pocket so it can be properly disposed
once your adventure is finished.
Principles of Leave No Trace:
Plan Ahead and
Prepare
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
2011 Saturday, November 5
TART Trails Update 2010
Hello Iceman participants,
TART Trails is again proud to be working with Iceman Promotions on one of our region’s
great events- the Iceman Cometh! This challenging event is a rite of passage for many and
is an annual highlight for area and regional cyclists. The famed Vasa Pathway is maintained
by TART year-round and is even busier in the coming winter months attracting thousands of
cross-country ski enthusiasts. The trail grooming program run by TART is top-notch and is a
tourism draw all winter long.
What have we been up to since last year’s Iceman? We’ve been busy working on a new
strategic plan for the organization that envisions growing our trail system, programming,
advocacy and outreach efforts. Through the strategic planning process, we develop a vision
statement, “Happy, active people enjoying a world-class trail system” and established a set
of core values.
We believe in…
Outdoor recreation — Get outside and exercise. Experience wildlife, enjoy the natural
environment, breathe fresh air and have fun.
Making connections — To nature, to work, to school, to people, to places, to ourselvesnow
and forever.
Sustainable transportation — Empower individuals and decision makers to make choices
that benefi t personal and community economics and the environment.
Equitable access — Always open and safe for everyone.
Improving health — Active transportation and outdoor recreation improves community
health and personal well-being.
Another big change at TART is that our long-time Executive Director, Bob Otwell, stepped
down and I took the reins in July. I moved from Charlotte, North Carolina where I served as
Director for the Greenway Planning & Development Division for Mecklenburg County Park
and Recreation. The job gave me lots of hands-on trail building and capital planning experience
that I’m excited to apply to my new position.
I will be experiencing my fi rst Iceman this year (albeit from the sidelines) and have the
pleasure to lead the TART organization on numerous upcoming projects like completing the
Leelanau Trail, extending the trail in Acme, continuing the Boardman Lake Trail, and more!
We wish you the best of luck with your event and hope you will continue to support our
efforts by using and enjoying our fantastic trail system. Enjoy your ride in the northern Michigan
woods!
Happy Trails,
Julie Clark, Executive Director
Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails
Juniors Take Center Stage
The Michigan Youth Cycling Program would
like to recognize six student athletes (male
& female) at the completion of the 2010
Iceman Cometh Challenge. These cyclists
have made a commitment to cycling and
represent the values of good character,
courage, goal setting, and self-discipline
through friendly competition. We recognize
that young racers sacrifice time, money,
and energy to represent their team, family
and cycling, often with little support from
those outside the cycling community.
Kids Race Sports Development, proud
sponsor of the Michigan Youth Cycling
Program would like to recognize this hard
work by awarding scholarships to deserving
individuals in an effort to support their
educational endeavors. In 2010, Michigan
Youth Cycling is once again offering college
scholarships for the top three finishers in
the "MYC Scholarship Men 12-18" category
for males and the "MYC Scholarship
Women 12-18" for females.
The "MYC Scholarship 12-18" categories
will kick off the Iceman racing as the first
wave at 9:00 AM so we can all cheer on the
future of cycling! ."There is always a ton of
excitement surrounding the very first wave
of the Iceman each year and we thought
that we should showcase the younger athletes
this year. These riders are just plain
fast and deserve the recognition of all the
adult Iceman riders that follow", said Matt
Baroli, Michigan Youth Cycling's Executive
Director. "It will give me goose bumps to
hear the National Anthem and then see
these fine athletes tear out of the start line."
REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN FOR JUNIOR
RIDERS WITH A LIMITED AMOUNT OF ENTRIES
AVAILABLE. DON'T MISS OUT! For more info
go to www.michiganyouthcycling.org
Bus Schedule Expands
Last year I walked into the Ice Cycle Expo at about 10:00 PM the night before the race and
somebody asked me about the possibility of taking the bus from Kalkaska to Timber Ridge.
It took me about half an hour to figure out why they asked that question! When I finally
figured it out, I realized that it was a brilliant question.
So this year, you can now park in Kalkaska and have your support crew ride the bus to
Timber Ridge while you are pedaling like a fiend to get there before they do! That way your
crew can get dropped off right at the front door at Timber Ridge and you can all ride the bus
together back to your car in Kalkaska. There's no messing with parking at East Junior High
School and riding that shuttle into Timber Ridge! We are also extending the hours of the return
trip to Kalkaska from 4 PM to 6PM so riders can enjoy the festivities of the professional
awards celebration and still catch a ride back to Kalkaska.
Of course, we will still have the remote parking lot at East Middle School and provide a
quick and easy shuttle service to and from Timber Ridge. Everybody who utilized the East
Middle School parking lot was amazed at how easy it was!
We are also working on plans to provide bus service from Grand Traverse Resort & Spa to
the start line in Kalkaska. Bike transportation will be provided as well so you can simply park
at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, take the shuttle to Kalkaska, ride, and then ride or shuttle
back to Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. Check out the partial bus schedule on page 15.
Watch for additional detailed information in pre-race emails.
Porta-johns
Porta-johns will be located at the starting venue at the Kalkaska Municipal Parking lot
AND at the Kalkaska Middle School. The units will be placed along the south wall of the
Middle School gymnasium so they will be easy to find and will be accessible from a number
of parking locations. There will be 25 units placed at both locations with two handicapped
portajohns added to the mix at the start.
Bikers!
I have to admit that your editor has a deep
down pet peeve.
There is no verb "to bike". Thus, one
does NOT "go biking" and people riding
bicycles are NOT "Bikers". Bikers are guys
& gals on Harleys, blub, blub, blubbering
around town. People riding bicycles are
cyclists just as our sport is called cycling;
not biking. Just imaging "biking" in the
Olympics. Finally, one RIDES a bike instead
of the aforementioned verb.
I already feel better having gotten that
off of my chest. Now, help me spread the
word, and when you hear somebody saying
either of those two words, please remind
them that we are cyclists!
Michigan Youth Cycling's History
The idea of the Michigan Youth Cycling
(MYC) program was forged on a cold December
night ten years ago when a diverse
group of cyclists, parents, and health enthusiasts
met in a living room in Pinckney,
MI to lay the foundation of what would become
Kids Race Sports Development Inc.,
now a 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization.
Though each person in attendance brought
different personal, professional, academic,
and cycling experiences to that initial
meeting, all believed in the need to support
junior development while promoting cycling
as a lifetime activity to children and youth
throughout Michigan. Because this need
has so many different components, the organization
formed two separate programs:
a community based initiative to introduce
children to cycling and .a junior development
team devoted to junior cyclists.
Along that same path MYC wanted to
start recognizing student athletes by awarding
scholarships in an effort to support
their educational endeavors. With that, the
Iceman Cometh Scholarship award was
formed in 2005. The award is given out
each November at the Iceman Cometh,
where junior cyclists race to be the top 5
fastest male and female riders in hopes of
earning a monetary scholarship ($4,000.00
in Scholarships this year) for their future
educational endeavors. In addition to the
Iceman Cometh Scholarship, this year we
will be offering a scholarship for the top
3 male and female riders in our MBRA -
Michigan Challenge Junior Scholarship Series
Awards ( $4,000.00), Wolverine Junior
Development Program ($500.00), Michigan
Tailwind Cyclocross series competition,
($500.00) and the Michigan Youth Cyclist
of the Year Award $1000.00 Scholarship.
To date, MYC has awarded $8,500 in scholarship
to student athletes. This year alone
MYC expects to award $10,000 to student
athletes!!!!
Another development that MYC is really
excited for is the partnership that has been
formed with the Wolverine sports club. Together,
the MYC/Wolverine Junior Developmental
team will expand in new and bigger
ways. The goal of the program is to aid in
the development of youth as a student,
community member and athlete. Team
members will be monitored for academic
performance. Additionally, community
service will be required.
"The vision of the program has evolved
and grown quite a bit since that cold night
in December," says Matt Baroli, executive
director of MYC. "We just want to get kids
involved, whether that's taking them to the
level of going to Nationals and or just taking
them out on the local Tuesday night training
ride for their first time."
MYC is not only an advocate for physical
activity and access to healthy competition
but they are also about life balance. Along
with balance, MYC is dedicated to providing
the forum for the development of skills
such as teamwork, self-discipline, sportsmanship,
leadership and socialization that
our youth so desperately need in this day
and age.
Festivities in Kalkaska and the
Kalkaska Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast
The Village of Kalkaska would like to
welcome to all Icemen race participants,
their families, and friends back to downtown
Kalkaska for another exciting start to
the Iceman. It is truly an honor to host the
start of one of the greatest bike races our
country has to offer. Considering, that 50%
of the land in Kalkaska county is state forest
land, it seems like a perfect fit. Kalkaska
county is well known for its miles and miles
of biking, hiking, snowmobile, horse, and
ATV trails.
Once again, the Village of Kalkaska has
a vibrant atmosphere being cooked up for
the starting line in downtown Kalkaska.
There will be refreshments, your favorite
coffee, entertainment and much more. The
Village of Kalkaska would like to welcome to
all Icemen race participants, their families,
and friends. Make yourself at home!
Everyone knows there's nothing like
the smell of pancakes, eggs, sausage and
coffee to get you going in the morning. And
again this year, it will all be waiting for you
within 100 feet from the start line. Be sure
to pay a visit to the 2nd Annual Iceman
Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast located inside
the old village office building (your race
packets will be handed out in the same
building). The Kalkaska Kiwanis Club's
primary service projects are to support
children and community. All the proceeds
from the Pancake Breakfast will help fund
their efforts on these projects. The Kiwanis
Pancake Breakfast is open to cyclists,
supporters of the cyclists and our very own
Kalkaska citizens and offers a great chance
to meet some of the athletes!
The Village of Kalkaska is also excited to
welcome the folks at Mighty Fine Coffee,
who will be setting up a coffee tent at the
Iceman start. Make sure you stop by and
get yourself a warm drink to carry you
through the morning, whether you're waiting
for your race to start, or waiting to cheer
on your loved one.
There will be more information in
your packets about all of the activities in
Kalkaska! Prior to the race, you can find
out all about the festivities on the Village
of Kalkaska website, www.kalkaskavillage.
com. Welcome to our community!
Meijer Traverse City Renovations
Meijer customers' shopping habits have
changed in the last couple of years and
Meijer has responded by remodeling stores
in key communities in order to better to
better meet the needs of their clientele.
Locally, the entire Traverse City Meijer has
recently completed a total renovation that
took 1 year of planning and 6 months of
construction to implement.
"To put things in perspective, we have
replaced every single floor tile in the whole
store. We listened, and now, we
have responded, creating a better shopping
experience for our customers. The end
result is that everything, including service,
has moved, expanded and improved', said
John Spaulding, Traverse City Store Director.
(John is an eight year Iceman veteran
and living legend on Alpine skis).
The four major areas that Meijer has improved
include the Food section, the Pharmacy,
Pets, and the Home section. The
Pharmacy has moved to the front of the
store near our north entrance along with a
highly requested drive-thru window. They
have also located their Health and Beauty
Care items to this area and have increased
the selection of products available.
The entire "Foods" section has been
enlarged by several hundred square feet
which allowed for numerous enhancements.
The Grocery department has added
several aisles so that they'll can stock all
of the items you're looking for. Customers
have always loved the famous Meijer
Produce department so Meijer doubled
the fresh produce area and is now offering
even more choices. The Meat department
has all new display cases that really show
off the all-inclusive Meat and Seafood selection.
The Dairy section has also swelled
in size along featuring many specialty
cheeses and is really fresh and exciting.
The Deli now has a huge fresh case along
with a larger area for "grab and go" hot and
cold foods. Finally, the Bakery has doubled
in size and they have combined all breads
and sweet goods together into one area.
Additionally, the Starbucks has tripled in
size and now includes tables for relaxing
and enjoying your favorite beverage. Meijer
didn't neglect wine or beer either. The Wine
area has morphed into a complete Wine
Shop with many new exciting choices. Additionally,
Meijer now boasts a "cold case"
88 feet long chocked full of cold beer and
microbrews ready to "grab and go".
One of the most exciting changes is the
arrangement of all Pet food and accessories
in one location.
The new Home area has pulled all the
items together in a very organized one-stop
shop for customers' needs. Meijer has
created a new dedicated space in the store
called "E/4". It brings all your Electronic
and Media needs (and desires) to one location
along with an expanded Photo section.
The 12 workspace photo shop kiosk allows
customers' creativity to soar. The new book,
magazine, and school supply selection
is outstanding. Greeting cards and floral
offerings are now displayed in one location.
Customers really enjoy shopping this area.
Finally, Meijer has added a number of
overall refinements that will enhance your
trip to Meijer including a new seating area
where you can spend more time making
your choices. The Checkout area has been
completely redesigned making it easier to
complete your order. In fact, cold beverage
coolers have installed for each check lane
for your convenience.
"We feel we are a big part of our community
and are honored to deliver our
customers' needs. We are proud to sponsor
the Meijer Slush Cup and Meijer Sno-
Cone races as a way to support events our
customers enjoy throughout the our five
state region. Next time you are in your local
Meijer store, let them know you are an Iceman
participant and share your race experience",
concluded Spaulding as surveyed
the store with a knowledgeable eye.
