Are you yeti for this?
A sprint distance triathlon unlike any you've experienced in the area before; a winter triathlon! Utilizing 12 miles of trail system at Cannonsburg Ski Area, our race will consist of trail running, fat tire biking, and cross country skiing. We have options to pick two events (ski/bike, bike/run, run/ski), single discipline, and relay-so there will be something for everyone! Mark your calendars and check the website as more information will be provided as we get closer to race day!
Events
Triathlon: 2 loops on run course (approx 5k), 1 loop on fat bike course (approx 10k), 1 loop on cross country ski course (approx 2 mi).
Duathlon: your choice of XC ski/Bike, Bike/Run, or XC ski/Run. 1 loop on the bike or ski course, or 2 loops on the run course.
Single discipline: 1 loop on bike or ski. 2 loops on the run course
Relay: Team of 3-each team member completes the appropriate distance of their assigned event (run, bike, xc ski).
Aid Stations
There will be one aid station at the transition area as you exit. Due to the time of year and the difficulty of the trails there will be NO AID STATIONS on any of the courses.
Packet Pickup
Packet pick up will take place Saturday February 18 from 1-6pm behind the patrol building (between the patrol building and the creek), and Sunday Feb 19 from 6am-7:30. If you have added the option of snowshoes to your registration you will pick them up at packet pickup along with your bib.
Race Start Times
We are going to try and stagger our race starts to help spread out people on the trails. Start times will be based on your registered event.
8am: Full tri and relay start
8:10: Duathlon start (bike/run)
8:15: Snow bike start (xc ski/bike)
8:20: Snow Run start (xc ski/run)
8:25: Run ONLY
8:30: Bike ONLY
8:35: Ski ONLY
Courses
Bike and Run courses will be all single track, please follow proper trail etiquette while out on course. If someone is attempting to pass you, please allow them to do so when SAFE by pulling over to the side. Courses will be marked with their own unique color for signs and flags, please pay attention to what color and course to follow.
Run Course
The run course will take place on the Dirt Dawg and Haunted Forest trail located in front of the main parking lot and will be marked with BLUE flags and signs. This course can get technical, especially over in the Haunted Forest section. Some sort of traction device is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if there is snow! There are some steep hills and quick turns you will need to navigate. You will complete TWO LOOPS to get 5k travelling counter clockwise. There will be signs, markers, and volunteers to help direct you.
Bike Course
If you have ridden the fatbike trails at Cannonsburg then you will be familiar with our bike course. A big thanks to Bill Norman for helping us plan out a 10k section for the race and for grooming! There will be some intersections with the cross country course. Bikers will have the right of way in these sections, but please slow down and look both ways to avoid collisions! We will have signs to mark intersections and volunteers at these locations to help, the bike course will be marked with ORANGE flags and signs. For up to date trail conditions please follow West Michigan Trail Conditions on Facebook.
Cross Country Ski Course
We will utilize the 2 track trails throughout the property. The final course will be slightly less than 2 miles long. There will be some intersections with the bike course. Bikers will have the right of way at these intersections, please make sure to look both ways before crossing. These intersections will be marked and have volunteers to help navigate these sections. We will not have cut in tracks for classic skiing, but of course people are welcome to do whatever style of cross country skiing they are comfortable with. The ski course will be marked with GREEN flags and signs. Please follow our facebook or instagram page for updates on when the ski course will be marked and groomed to practice on.
Transition
Transition area will be open to multiple discipline racers only, no single discipline racers are allowed in the transition area. Transition will open at 6:30 am to allow for racers to set up, and close at 7:45am. Please make sure you have everything in place before the transition area closes. We will have bike racks like those you would find at a summer triathlon. 6 bikes to a rack, no assigned spots.
Some things to consider for your transition:
Run to Bike – Be sure that your bike equipment is easy to use with gloves on. Putting on a heavier glove and/or jacket for the bike section is often necessary to stay warm. You are not allowed to mount your bike until you get to the mount line, so it helps to practice running with your bike in the snow!
Bike to Ski – You are allowed to ski with your bike helmet on. Ski boots are not the fastest or easiest shoes to take on and off, and you must carry your skis and poles out to the mount line. Practice makes perfect!
Age Group Awards
We have some nice embroiderd fleece beanies we will be giving out for age group awards! Awards will go to top 3 male and female for the triathlon race in the following age ranges:
29 and under
30-39
40-49
50-59
60 and up
Awards will happen around 11am. If it's not too cold we will try to have awards outside. Hopefully as the race grows in future years we will be able to offer awards to our other race events as well!
Snowshoes
If you added snowshoe rentals to your registration, you can pick them up at packet pickup with your bibs. At the end of the race, please drop them off at the packet pickup table and have a volunteer check off that you have returned your snowshoes. In the event we don't have snow, or don't have enough snow to justify using snowshoes, we will offer a $10 refund. However, please consider donating this $10 to the Cannonsburg Ski patrol to help with training, membership dues, and textbooks.
Weather Policy
If the weather is bad...expect to be out in it! Unless we have weather that could cause safety concerns (extreme wind or ice) we WILL plan on holding the race! In the event there is no snow on the trails, we will continue with the run and bike portions as planned, the only event to be altered will be the cross country ski. For those in the triathlon race, you will RUN the ski course. For those that chose skiing as a duathlon option, you will have the option to run/bike, switch to a single event, or defer to next year. For those that chose skiing only, you will have the option of switching to another event, or deferring to next year. But of course, we WILL have snow!
Post Race Celebration
Make sure to bring a change of clothes after the event to celebrate. Archival Brewing will have a tent set up outside with Chili for registered participants, and extra for purchase for family and friends. Saugatuck Brewing will also be providing complementary post race beers for participants. Again, family and friends may purchase beers if they would like to join in the fun. Meijer has donated food and we will have s’mores stations set up at various bonfires at the base of the ski hill and on the deck. We will have age group awards (swag to be announced soon!) and these will take place outside if the weather cooperates. The lodge will be open for participants to use, and the ski area has been making some pretty amazing brunch specials that will be available for purchase.