Evil Kenevil at the 2010 Ice Crit
Photo © Cog Wild
This weekend at 7pm in the parking lot of the Wanoga Snow Park south of Bend, expect to see up to one hundred riders in one of the wackiest informal races Central Oregon has to offer: the Ice Criterium.
The Ice Crit started about twenty years ago in the parking lot at Swampy Lakes Snow Park. A Hutch’s Bicycles employee had the idea for a winter bike race. Back then, according to Mike McMackin, General Manager of Hutch’s, the Ice Crit was more of a competitive race where riders cared about winning.
“For the first ten years it was held as more of a true criterium and less of a parade. It was a twenty lap race. If you got lapped, you got pulled.”
If You Go
Where: Wanoga Snow Park (14 miles southwest of Bend)
When: Saturday, February 26
Time: 6pm registration, 7pm start
Cost: $10, proceeds to benefit COTA
Course: 10 minutes plus 5 laps around the sledding hill parking lot
What to Bring: Bicycle (of any stripe), headlamp, costume, adventurous spirit
More Info: Ice Crit Facebook page
The now family-friendly Ice Crit has evolved over time to become a spectator-oriented event including costumes (and the total lack thereof), a fire-pit jump, and on occasion kegs of malted adult beverage. Sometime about six to eight years ago, as Hutch’s stepped away from organizing the event, Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) under the leadership of Kent Howes took up the banner. It’s been a COTA fundraiser ever since.
This year is no different. Melanie Fisher from Cog Wild says that 100% of the profit will go towards COTA, whose non-profit, volunteer efforts are aimed at maintaining the multi-use trails that have helped make Bend a mountain biking mecca. The race will be a mass start with competitors running on foot towards a bike pickup. Last year, the event was ten minutes plus five laps and included an optional jump over a bonfire. Fisher adds,
“If you’re going to head up to Wanoga for the Ice Crit, bring the family, bring $10 and your bike. Chances are, you’ll want to ride once you see how much fun you’ll have.”
Prizes will be awarded to the top three costumed riders based on popular vote, and racers might get a little something too if someone can keep track of who won.
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