2017 Women’s Elite Champion Zdenka “Zoe” Cahojova-Worsham of Raleigh, NC – Photo Robert Butler
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC – Three years following the inaugural race, the US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship has achieved national recognition as a Top-20 Festival & Event by the Southeast Tourism Society.
“Fat bike beach racing in the one-mile oval format is an exciting sport for both athletes and spectators,” said Shawn Spencer, race chairman. “The number of entries, the fitness level of the athletes, and the crowd size on the beach has improved every year. In 2017, racers from seven states participated.”
The 4th annual US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship will be held March 16-18, 2018, in Wrightsville Beach, with activities and races based at host hotel Blockade Runner Beach Resort. There is no admission charge for spectators.
“Fat bike racing, especially in the elite division, requires incredible conditioning and stamina,” said Spencer. “We’re seeing CrossFit and triathletes use fat bikes as an alternative method to stay in shape. Pedaling for miles on a fat bike in soft sand at the beach is exuberantly painful.”
The women’s elite division will be an exciting rematch from 2017. Mountain-biker Zdenka “Zoe” Cahojova-Worsham of the Crank Arm Brewing Team in Raleigh will defend her hard-earned 24-mile championship against a very determined Philicia Marion from Mount Airy, NC. “My goal is to win the elite women’s division in 2018,” said runner-up Marion, member of the Carpe Diem Professional Race Team. 2016 champion Jesse Piersol from Downington, PA could be another contender for the women’s title.
The competition will be equally fierce in the men’s division with a deep lineup of elite bikers all able to seize the day. Possible contenders include 2015 champion Ben Brown of Wilmington, NC; 2016 champ Robert “Fear the Beard” Marion of Mount Airy, currently recovering from a bike injury; and 2017 winner Andrew Bailey of Piney Flats, TN.
2017 Men’s Elite Champion Andrew Bailey of Piney Flats, TN – Photo by Robert B Butler
The 2018 format is changing from a specified distance to timed events. The 8-mile race becomes a one-hour event; the 16-mile changes to a one-hour and thirty-minute contest; and the elite 24-mile race converts to a two-hour competition. Race slots will be awarded to the first 100 online registrations.
“Many popular obstacles from last year including the sandbag minefield, keg jumps, and snake pit will be on the course this year,” said Spencer. “Of course, we’ll have some fresh surprises to challenge the bikers.”
New to the schedule this year is a children’s fat bike beach race followed by a skid-contest, both limited to bikers 12-years of age and younger. There is no registration fee for children’s activities.
“To date, most bikers are signing up for Saturday’s two-hour race,” said Spencer. “Fat bike racing is looking more like an endurance sport.”
Friday, March 16, racers will have an opportunity to walk and test-drive the soft and packed sands followed by an evening social and equipment discussions. Sunday will feature a laid-back group ride to the North end of Wrightsville Beach.
The start and finish lines for Saturday’s races will be located beachside at Blockade Runner Beach Resort.
The 4th annual US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship will benefit the Wrightsville Beach Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public parks and amenities for residents and the island’s hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Click for race information and registration
Click for Media Photos, Archive Data, Logos
Contact:
US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship
Chris Hidalgo, Race Director
Hidalgo.Christopher@gmail.com
Shawn Spencer, Event Chair
Shawn@BikeCycleShop.com
910-256-2545
Robert B Butler, Communications | PR
www.NCPressRelease.org
www.RBButler.com
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