Intrepid reporter, Mark Peterson, was at Day 2 of the Global Fatbike Summit in Ogden, UT Saturday for the Fatbike Race, Sponsor and Vendor Corral and ensuing festivities. Overwhelmed by the massive turnout and the sheer spectacle of the event, Mark decided to let pictures do most of the talking but did add in a few select blurbs to add color to an already colorful event. On with the show! (All photos Mark Peterson unless otherwise noted.)
After photoing the start, with over 80 racers taking the green flag, I trekked out on foot about 1.5 miles during the race. The race flew past me in a blur of running the course backwards and taking pictures on the fly. With a huge turnout of participants, there was no shortage of action.
Lots of conversation and just plain having a good time meant that I did not get back for the finish but here are the results for those of you more interested in competition than a good time!
Men’s Elite
James Stull – Anchorage, AK
Geoffery Montague – Prove, UT
Brent Pontis
Women’s Elite
Tory Canfield – Ketchum, ID
Niki Milleson
Mo Mislivets
Men’s Novies
Jacob Wahry – Bozeman, MT
Brian Jenson – Providence, UT
Sean Riley – Crested Butte, CO
Women’s Novice
Gina Rau – Sandy, UT
Beth Shaner – Crested Butte, CO
Judy Allen – Salt Lake City, UT
It bears mentioning the many organizations that made this event possible:
Title sponsors – Quality Bicycle Products, 45 North, Surly, Salsa
Presenting sponsor – Borealis Bike, TRP brakes
Trailblazer sponsor – 9zero7
As well as Ogden City, Ogden Weber Convention and Visitors Bureau and GOAL Foundation.
We also had help from Bar Mitts, The Bike Shoppe, Paul Component Engineering, Race Face, SRAM, Scott USA, HED, Enve Composites, Rock Designs and fat-bike.com all supported in big ways.
I got out on a test ride on Durango Bike Company’s new Hooey fatbike. The bike was amazing. Slack headtube, slack seattube, shory stays and a suspension fork should all appeal to the gravity crowd. Heck, it was developed for the Durango downhill set so it OUGHT to please!
What would a fatbike event be without a bit of bucket ball!
The festival crowd turned out in force and the GOAL Foundation did a great job of organizing the event and the activities available. There was no shortage of sponsor & vendor tents adding to the festival feel. I spent more than a few moments chatting with Ogden’s Mayor Mike Caldwell and he is determined to get the Global Fat Bike Summit & Festival back next year. Ogden has been energized behind the outdoor lifestyle and is intently reaching for the next level. Fat-biking is officially an Ogden Passion!
Everyone should get a chance to experience an event like this. The 2014 Global Fat Bike Summit has been a huge success! Ogden will never be the same, neither will I. Fat Bike events have a bright future!
Bucket Ball! I like it!
Holy shit a lot of people came out to support & learn about Fat Bikes. Pay attention because these kind of events are going to step up the way the cycling community interacts with the public. Hands down, the Global Fat Bike Summit and Festival has been the coolest collection of interaction and community bonding that I have ever witnessed. Ogden has changed forever. A debt of gratitude to Mayor Mike Caldwell for supporting the future and just flat out being a totally Cool Dude!