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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula June 25, 2005 Text and some photos © 2005 Michele Anderson. Other photos © 2005 Adam Johnson of Brockit.com, © 2005 Tom Lindley and © 2005 Chuck Delpier. Reprinted with permission.

Maasto-Churning Rapids, MTU Trails welcome Chain Drive mountain bikers

A Photo Essay by Michele Anderson, with guest photos from Adam Johnson, Tom Lindley and Chuck Delpier

HANCOCK -- The Keweenaw Chain Drive mountain bike races attracted about 236 racers for the June 18 distance events: 16- and 32-mile races on the Maasto Hiihto-Churning Rapids trails in Hancock. On Father's Day, June 19, the Michigan Tech Trails were the scene of the challenging Technical Time Trial and the Junior Chain Drive for kids ages 13 and under.

Steve Vizanko of Houghton, captured in mid-air by Adam Johnson's camera, meets one of the Technical Time Trial challenges on the MTU Trails June 19. Vizanko, 23, finished the Trial with a time of 0:09:53, coming in sixth in the 19-29 age group. Vizanko said he prefers the Time Trial to the Saturday race because "it's a lot more fun, more relaxed." (Photo © 2005 Adam Johnson. Reprinted with permission.)

The Chain Drive could not have happened without the hard work of volunteers in preparing the trails for the races and in monitoring the race and the aid stations during the events.

Dan Dalquist, volunteer coordinator, in a thank you email to volunteers, said their assistance "helped make this our most successful race to date!"

Adam Johnson's photo catches Steve Johnson of Houghton in "flight" during the Technical Time Trial on Sunday, June 19, at the MTU Trails. Steve Johnson, 19, finished the Trial with a time of 0:09:54, in seventh place for the 19-29 age group. (Photo © 2005 Adam Johnson. Reprinted with permission.)

Lianna Miller, MTU student, one of nine women in the 32-mile race, said this was her third summer racing and her first time participating in the Keweenaw Chain Drive.

"The really good part is that it was a lot of single track and that it was well marked," Miller said. "It's a real downer if you go to a race and get lost. At this race it was very clear at every intersection." 

She said she appreciated the single track trails at Maasto Hiihto since these are tailored for mountain biking. Miller, 23, finished the 32-mile race third in the women's expert category and third overall, with a time of 3:10:11.

Kathy Abbott of Atlantic Mine races through a stream on the Maasto Hiihto Trails during the 32-mile Chain Drive race. Abbott finished second in the women's expert category and second overall, with a time of 3:02:03. Like other bikers, she had to walk the bike through deeper parts of Swedetown Creek. (Photo © 2005 Tom Lindley. Reprinted with permission.)

Barbara Wheeler, a member of the Ski Patrol at Mont Ripley and at the Swedetown Trails in Calumet, volunteered at the Churning Rapids aid station during the June 18 distance races.

"It looked like it was pretty eventless as far as injuries go, which is good," she said.

Wendy Sharp of Atlantic Mine walks her bike through part of the stream during the 32-mile race. Sharp was first in her age group (40-49) and fifth overall, with a time of 3:22:31. (Photo © 2005 Tom Lindley. Reprinted with permission.)

Wheeler's son Leander, 5, participated in the .5-mile race of the Junior Chain Drive on Sunday, June 19.

Sue Ellen Kingsley of Hancock, participated in the 16-mile women's race for the first time this year. She finished second in the age 50-59 category, with a time of 1:45:58.

"I never thought I was competitive," Kingsley said, "but I did a lot faster than I anticipated."  

Chris Schmidt of Houghton seems oblivious to his bloody knees as he races through the stream on Maasto Hiihto during the 32-mile race. Schmidt finished sixth in the men's expert category and seventh overall, with a time of 2:32:23. (Photo © 2005 Tom Lindley. Reprinted with permission.)

Preceding the Junior Chain Drive, about 39 men and women participated in the Technical Time Trial event on Sunday, June 19, at the Michigan Tech Trails. Stunts included a challenging "Corkscrew," a "Mustache," and a "Triple Teeter-Totter," all built by Tony Schwenn and Nelson Sommerfeldt.

Lori Hauswirth, Chain Drive co-director, demonstrates a turn on the new "Corkscrew" stunt during the Technical Time Trial on Sunday, June 19, at the MTU Trails. Hauswirth had the best time of the five women competing in the event: 0:11:11. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

Lori Hauswirth, Chain Drive co-director with Christine Young, said the stunts were built to be a little more "rider friendly," allowing everyone the option of riding them. Last year's showcase stunts were limited to experts who qualified for them. In addition, materials from last year's showcase stunts were recycled and used again to build several 2005 stunts.

Shad Holland, 38, of Edina, Minn., negotiates the turn at the top of the "Corkscrew" stunt during the Time Trial. Holland may have recorded his feat with the camera on his helmet. (Shad, if so, send us the photo!) Holland finished the trials sixth in his age group with a time of 0:12:29. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

"It's been built, hopefully, to be permanent," Hauswirth said of the "Corkscrew," which has handrails for safety and is not attached to trees.

Will MacDonald of Houghton negotiates a turn at the base of the "Corkscrew." MacDonald, 22, finished first in the 19-29 age group for the Time Trial, with a time of 0:08:28. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

"Every stunt that they build is free-standing, so trees aren't harmed at all," she noted.

Continued on Page 2: More Chain Drive photos