Motorcycle races coming back to Silver Mountain
For the second year in a row, Stix and Stones Off Road will be hosting a hard enduro-type motorcycle event on Silver Mountain over Father's Day weekend (June 17-18).
This event is very unique and one of the only events of its type in the Pacific Northwest, but Greg Ragsdale believes that the terrain that Silver Mountain offers is too good to not hold events like this.
“The terrain on the mountain; it is quite steep, hilly, rocky and thickly treed,” Ragsdale said. “The course is very technical, but also very rideable. Speed is not the objective in this event. Consistency and slow and steady are your friends here.”
Ragsdale, the owner of Stix and Stones has been hard at work getting the second edition of this event ready, especially considering that there are very specific restrictions that come with getting a course like this ready and according to Ragsdale that has been quite the project. “We are not able to utilize the already-cut mountain bike trails; so we have spent countless hours crafting the custom cut course by hand using pickaxes, shovels, machetes, and chainsaws,” Ragsdale said. “At this point we have over 15 miles cut out for race course on the mountain, with some of the course accessing Kellogg Peak and Wardner Peak as well.”
Ragsdale projects that the event should draw riders of all ages from all across the Western United States.
“We have participants signed up from all over the west including Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming, California, Utah, Idaho, Montana and Washington,” Ragsdale said. “There are classes for all ages and types of riders, from expert and pro, to women’s, and even 60 and over Masters.”
Silver Mountain marketing coordinator Willy Bartlett is excited for the event to be back and believes this one will be even better than last year's simply because of the experience they gained last year.
"We had overwhelmingly positive feedback from racers, spectators, and locals last year, and we’re excited to have the Stix & Stones crew back for an even bigger race this year," Bartlett said. "We learned a lot last year, and we feel privileged to have such a huge, and unique event right here in Kellogg."
Before the races begin the bikes will leave the Gondola Village parking lot at 9:15 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday mornings in an organized parade through Kellogg and up to the lodge at the top of the mountain.
The starting line will be at the base of a ski run just below the lodge and the races will begin at 11 a.m. on both days.
After the race ends, bikes will be led parade-style back to the parking lot, with an awards ceremony to follow in Noah's Loft at 6 p.m. Spectators can access the mountain via the gondola and use chairlifts 1 and 2 to move about and view different sections of the course.
More information can be found, including an event schedule can be found on Stix and Stones’ website under the EVENTS tab at www.stixstonesoffroad.com or contact Silver Mountain for lift prices and further information.