The race started and finished just up the road from Papa Charlie’s at Lutsen Mountains.
Normally the parking lot in front of Papa Charlie’s on Lutsen Mountains is quiet at 7:00 a.m. on a Saturday. Not so on Saturday, June 11 as about 75 mountain bikers signed in, stretched and socialized before heading to the starting line for the inaugural Lutsen 99er.
As rock music blared, the countdown began and George Nelson of Lutsen joined the emcee at the starting line. Nelson, who established Lutsen Mountains Ski Hill when he returned from serving in the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army in World War II, was introduced as “The man who made all this possible!”
Nelson grinned as he took the mike and welcomed the racers to the Lutsen99er. He said the race was the fulfillment of his dream to see Lutsen Mountains as a year-round recreational facility. After starting the race, he called out to the racers as they began the Ski Hill Road descent, “See you next year! You’ll be back, I know you will!”
The racecourse took riders on a hodge-podge of roads and trails—the Ski Hill Road, a short jaunt on Highway 61, up the Caribou Trail, across forest roads, and rugged trails. According to Race Director Adam Harju of Life Time Fitness, the course included 5,300 feet of climbing.
George Nelson, founder of Lutsen Mountains, was there at the start—and the finish of the first Lutsen 99er. Celebrating at the finish were (L-R) Dan Dittmer (2nd), Sam Beveridge (1st), Todd McFadden (3rd), Nelson and Race Director Adam Harju.
Satisfying for the most experienced of racers, such as Mark Barrett of Victoria, MN, who finished 8th in the 99-mile race with a time of 6:40:46.44. Barrett has been racing since 1995. He and his wife have a home in Lutsen and he has enjoyed riding here for many years. It was he who encouraged Life Time Fitness to work with the Cook County Visitors Bureau and Lutsen Tofte Tourism Association to create the Lutsen99er.
So asked if he liked the route, Barrett acknowledged he was biased, but said, “I loved it!”
Barrett said the course has something for everyone, “long sustained climbs that not many other races can boast, technical and semi-technical minimum maintenance roads, all supported by the beautiful backdrop of Lake Superior.”
Barrett said some of the racers were even lucky enough to have spotted a bull moose grazing in a pond along The Grade.
Another great thing about the Lutsen99er, said Barrett, is that it not only offers the 99-mile competition, but the 39er as well. “There is the 39er for the less competitive racer or those not interested in the long distance. And there’s the 99er for those who prefer 8 – 10 hours of gut-wrenching fun!”
The top three finishers in the 99er were Sam Beveridge, Edina, MN (6:05:05.13); Dan Dittmer, Savage, MN (6:05:07.16) and Todd Mc Fadden, Duluth, MN (6:10:55.54).
Only two Cook County riders entered the 99er, joining racers from all over Minnesota and Wisconsin. They were Corey Berg of Grand Marais (7:18:12.90) and Tim McGrath of Grand Marais (9:29:38.05).
More local riders took part in the 39er, with John Alt of Grand Marais (2:31:12.76) coming in second just about a minute behind 1st place finisher Chad Witt of Hudson Wisconsin (2:30:20.16). In 3rd place was Aaron Nelson, Hudson, Wisconsin (2:39:02.91).
Other Cook County riders were Kerrie Fabius, Grand Marais in 5th (2:44:37.43); Bill Lane, Tofte (2:57:44.46), Tim Kennedy, Grand Marais (3:08:12.35); Laurie Kigner, Lutsen (3:22:10.06); Max Wahlers, Grand Marais (3:37:22.25); and Kim Carlsted-Gillis, Grand Marais (4:16:31.55).
So, is George Nelson right? Will racers return to the rugged Sawtooth Mountain terrain again? At least one racer, Mark Barrett, said yes. He replied, “You couldn’t keep me away.”
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