Courtesy of William J. Baggett
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC – “We have double the race registrations compared to this time last year,” said Shawn Spencer, chair for the 2nd annual US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship, scheduled March 11-13 in Wrightsville Beach. “So far we have racers from South Carolina, Delaware, and a number of cities in North Carolina.”
Spencer has limited registration to 100 racers. Click for race information and registration
Bikers in the US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship will compete in three divisions covering distances of 24-miles, 16-miles, and 8-miles to accommodate expert, sport, and beginner skill levels. All races will begin and end at the host hotel, Blockade Runner Beach Resort.
Weekend activities begin with adventure riding on the island, maintenance and race tips, and an evening social on Friday; demo biking, races, entertainment on the beach lawn, and the awards ceremony on Saturday; concluding with a 12-mile sunrise ride on the beach on Sunday.
Ben Brown, last year’s champion in the 24-mile expert division, registered early and will defend his title. “I had so much fun at the inaugural event, the 2016 race was one of the first events I put on my calendar,” said Brown, who finished 11th in his age group earlier this year at USA Cycling’s 2016 Cyclocross National Championship.
A one-mile oval course will be laid out on Wrightsville Beach between the piers, said Spencer. Obstacles will be placed at strategic locations, creating a variety of demanding conditions for the racers and increasing the thrill-factor for all. Constantly changing sand surfaces will test the endurance of the bikers. The course design will provide spectators and media front row opportunities to follow the action and cheer their favorites.
Courtesy of Shawn Spencer, Bike Cycles, Wilmington
Fat bikes represent the fastest growing market segment in the cycling industry, according to Outside Magazine, with the number of companies making fat bikes doubling between 2013 and 2014. In May of this year, Outside Magazine featured Wrightsville Beach as one of six fat bike friendly beach towns in the United States.
“We expect The US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship to grow rapidly and become one of the top races in the country,” said Spencer. “Wrightsville Beach is a highly desirable destination and Blockade Runner Beach Resort, home of the Carolina Cup, is serving as the host hotel.”
The 2nd Annual US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship will benefit the Wrightsville Beach Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public parks and community amenities.
Click for race information and registration
Click for Ben Brown Interview, Media Photos, Logos
Contact:
Shawn Spencer, Event Chair and Race Director
The US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship
E: Shawn@BikeCycleShop.com
P: 910-256-2545
Robert B Butler, Communications | PR
www.NCPressRelease.org
www.RBButler.com
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