This Race Report from the 2016 Frosty Bottom 25 mile and 50 mile races up in Anchorage, AK is brought to you by fat-bike.com Fatbassador, Mr. Travis Hubbard! Thanks for the coverage, Travis!
On Saturday, January 16, 2016 the 10th Annual Frosty Bottom race was held in Anchorage, AK. The Frosty was to be held on January 2, 2016 but was postponed due to lack of snow. The Frosty is a multi-sport race for bikers, runners, and skiers. Racers could enter in either the 25 or 50 mile version. The majority of participants were fat-bikers. The race was put on by 9:zero:7 / Chain Reaction Cycles and sponsored by Broken Tooth Brewing.
The 25 mile course took riders from Kincaid Park at the west side of Anchorage through town to Hilltop Ski Area on the eastern hillside. Participants in the 50 mile race followed the same course to Hilltop Ski Area, then returned to Kincaid Park. The race was supposed to start with approximately 2 miles of groomed ski trails at Kincaid Park. Due to the race being postponed starting on the groomed ski trails was not an option, as Nordic races were taking place. It was a mass start with Frosty 50 racers leaving at 9:00am and Frosty 25 racers leaving at 9:10am.
In the weeks leading up to the race there was much speculation that the race would have to be canceled. The last three winters in the Anchorage area have been dismal, with well below average snow fall. The plan was to make the call on Wednesday to cancel or move forward with the event. After a month of warm temps and rain left all of our trails covered in ice, Ullr finally sent snow. It started snowing Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday we had a few inches of snow, the Frosty was on!
One interesting aspect of the Frosty is that the race is not a closed course. The race is held on a variety of city bike trails and BLM multiuse trails on the Anchorage hillside. Chain Reaction Cycles works diligently to permit this race each year with the Municipality of Anchorage, BLM, and The Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage. A lot of effort goes into making the race happen. The race started at Kincaid Park on the Coastal Trail, it was a neutral start until the bottom of the hill then the race was on. Being an open course on public trails all racers were asked to be on their best behavior and respect other trail users.
It was 12 degrees and dark at the start. There was a brisk north breeze blowing, racers faced this icy headwind for the first 10 miles. There were a total of 226 participants this year, 210 were on bikes, and 16 runners. 9:zero:7 and Fatback where well represented. Let the fun (suffering) begin!
50 mile racers lining up for the start.
25 mile racers lining up.
Race on!
Leaders hit the Tudor bridge.
Racers arrive at Hilltop Ski Area on the Anchorage Hillside.
The following pic’s are of the finish of the Men’s 50, it was an intense battle up a long climb to the Kincaid Chalet.
Will Ross won the 2016 Frosty Bottom 50 in 2:42:21. In a PHOTO finish Josh Chelf (Bib# 36) placed 2nd and Jason Lamoreaux (Bib# 15) took 3rd place in 2:42:22. You couldn’t ask for a more exciting finish. Will had a bike length and Josh and Jason were neck and neck to the line. This was a big win for Will as he has come close in the past. Will placed 2nd in 2013, 5th in 2014, and 3rd in 2015. Below is a link to the Alaska Dispatch News article with a great interview with Will Ross, check it out!
http://www.adn.com/article/20160116/ross-withstands-challenges-win-frosty-bottom-50-miler
Women’s 50 winner Megan Chelf at the finish line with a time of 3:01:10. Megan’s time put her in the top 20 overall, this lady is FAST!
Laura Fox on her way to 2nd place in the Women’s 50 with a time of 3:04:45.
The awards party was held the next day at the Chain Reaction shop. Broken Tooth brewing hooked it up with 2 kegs and a mountain of Moose’s Tooth pizza!
Frosty Bottom 50 Bike – Women
- Megan Chelf 3:01:10
- Laura Fox 3:04:45
- Jill Simek 3:18:51
Frosty Bottom 50 Bike – Men
- Will Ross 2:42:21
- Josh Chelf 2:42:22
- Jason Lamoreaux 2:42:22
Frosty Bottom 25 Bike – Women
- Amber Stull 1:35:34
- Sheryl Loan 1:38:59
- Carey Ballard 1:54:42
Frosty Bottom 25 Bike – Men
- James Stull 1:33:33
- Brian Senez 1:33:48
- Patrick Wolfe 1:34:27
For complete race results and photo gallery check out the Chain Reactions BlogSpot.
http://www.chainreactioncyclesevents.blogspot.com/2016/01/2016-frosty-bottom-results.html
Huge thanks to 9 zero 7, Chain Reaction Cycles, and sponsor Broken Tooth Brewing for all the hard work it took to host a great event. It was an amazing action packed race and Fat-Bike fun for all.
Race Coordinator Mike Jipping of Broken Tooth Brewing. Thanks Mike!
Gomez would probably say that no winter fat bike race report is complete without some ice beard pics, just for you Uncle G!
At the awards party Will showed me a prototype of the 9zero7 100mm carbon rim that’s in the works. It weighs in at a cool 650g!
I’d like to thank my wife, Lorrie, for helping me out with the coverage. She got up early on a cold Saturday morning and ran all over town with her Fat-Natic husband snapping pics like a woman possessed. I had issues with my new camera, very few of my pics came out. Most of the pics in the report were taken by Lorrie. Thanks love!
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