Arrowhead 2016 Galleries and Racer Blogs
2016 Galleries, articles, blogs
Lots of good articles, blogs, and photo galleries.
Article about Sveta Vold – 3rd place female biker – nursing at checkpoints.
Article in New York Times.
Article in Star Tribune.
Article in Duluth News Tribune about Jim Reed and Scott Hoberg, co-1st place male runners.
Article in FasterSkier about Mike Brumbaugh, 1st place skier and new record holder.
Article in International Falls Journal.
Article by Melissa Friesen of the West End Weekly in Rainy River, ON.
Radio program in The Last Aid Station.
Articles by Christopher Tassava, a biker. First, and second (final?).
Article about Jill Martindale, 2nd place female biker.
Blog post by Jill Martindale.
Blog by Steve Cannon – a biker. Part I, Part II, and Part III. Note a picture of ‘the kill’ is shown…
Article in Salsa Cycles with Jay and Tracy Petervary.
Story by Lindsay Gauld.
Blog post by Jeff Rock, a runner.
Blog post by Ben Doom, a biker.
Article about Barry Buhr, a biker.
Blog post by Paul Zeigle, a biker.
Blog post by Judd Rohwer, a biker.
Blog post by Charlie Tri, a biker.
Blog post by Mark Scotch a skier, er biker this year.
Story by Kirk Ridenour, a runner.
Photos of bikers near Gateway by Lori Dobbs.
Photo gallery by Gear Junkie.
Photo gallery by International Falls Journal.
Video (from 2014) from Salsa, ‘The Push’.
Photo albums by Burgess Eberhardt, a snowmobiler volunteer. Album 1, Album 2, and Album 3.
Album of all finishers:
Story by Lindsay Gauld
Arrowhead Ultra 135, 2016
I want to tell you about a brand new race I just took part in this past weekend, the Arrowhead 135. Oh yes, I’ve completed it 5 time on my trusty snowbike. However, when my friend Charlie Farrow and I decided to enter the “foot “ division it became a whole new event for me, with all the new preparations and attendant anxieties that I never seem to get over even after 50 years of racing.
I decided that a kicksled was the way to go for me and approached my friend Pete McAdams to build it for me. He came up with a lightweight aluminum sled which we named Peterbuilt and I put in as much time as possible on it to fine tune my efforts and work out storage, handling etc.
I came down to IF about 2 ½ weeks before the race and Ken Krueger joined me to do the leg from the start to Gateway. It was a real slug with little snow and mild conditions and long stretches where no snowmobiles had been through. It was with some apprehension that I arrived for the race.
It’s always great to arrive and see so many familiar faces back for yet another year on the trail. This event is one of the highlights of my year and it’s as much about the people as the competition.
read more…
Story by Kirk Ridenour
Arrowhead 135
January 2016
This is my journey of the Arrowhead trail. 135 miles of mostly snowmobile trails in northern Minnesota. The race requires a nice list of required gear to take along. Most racers (like me) pull a sled. The sled will weigh anywhere from 25 to 40 pounds. Sixty hours to finish. Aid stations are about every 35 miles. Drop bags are left around halfway point at an aid station, but they can only contain food, and will be stored outside in the cold. You have to apply for the race, and then be chosen. It is my honor to have been chosen for the second time.
I love this stuff. There is no getting around it. The summer races and training are now for me to prepare for long winter nights, surviving out in the cold. The love I have for these races starts with the people. They are as tough as they come and their hearts are bigger. The way that they have let me into their lives usually makes me tear up. To think that this old man from the warm state of Ohio is so welcomed up north is something that I am thankful for every day. The list of friends grows each year but they started with Chris Scotch, Helen Scotch, and Roberto Marron. Chris and Roberto, I was lucky enough to share trail time at Tuscobia (my first winter race) so they had to talk to me. Helen was of course one of the race directors so she was forced to talk to me as well. I was so intimidated by the others that it took me a while to meet more. I mean really, what does a 54-year-old winter newbie walk up and begin to talk to Sue Lucas about? I could go on and on about this but I hope that EACH ONE of my winter friends know how much I love them and how much their friendship means to me. Let’s get to Arrowhead now.