Trans-Cascadia: 2017 Opens Today
Trans-Cascadia registration opens today at 9am! This five-day all-inclusive event is based around a blind enduro format and will offer a brand new course for 2017!
 | Blind racing is my favourite format and the incredible location and extensive trails in Cascadia are perfect for it. The great food, camping, and relaxed social atmosphere make for a really special experience. I can't wait for next year!- Geoff Kabush, 2016 Trans-Cascadia Champion |
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Participants will race for four days through some of the most incredible backcountry trails in the Pacific Northwest accessed both by shuttles and pedalling. A mix of well-known favourites and little known gems will weave them down steep loamy tracks, over rocky sections, across alpine meadows, through shaded old-growth canopies, and along high mountain ridges. Maps and course details are released nightly during the event and there are no allowances for practice runs.
The men and women’s pro fields equally share a prize purse of $16,000.
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| It is a privilege to work with Trans Cascadia, this is by far the most professional and well run race we have experienced. The organizers had the forethought and vision to make Trans-Cascadia the first backcountry stage race in the United States to have advanced medical staff following their racers on course.- Nic Hall, Operandi Medical, Crackerjack First Response Specialist |
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Big Mountain Enduro provides flawless and accurate timing using the Sport Ident Active Card timing system. And first response specialists from Crackerjack have created a comprehensive backcountry medical plan for the event, which is then carried out by active flight paramedics who are also high-level mountain bikers.
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Basecamp life at Trans-Cascadia is just as important as the roughly 32,000 feet of singletrack descending. Cut off from the distractions of the outside world, riders are treated to gourmet dinners created by Executive Chefs Chris DiMinno and Matt Christiansen, flowing beer and wine, and campfire camaraderie - all of this combined makes for an unforgettable and truly unique race experience. “Trans-Cascadia, for us, is one of those life experiences that truly stands out and we hope it does the same for every rider who comes out,” says Nick Gibson, Race Director.
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| In 2015 we came into the woods with an idea and learned a lot. In 2016 we knew what we were getting into and learned even more. I can't wait to show everyone what 2017 has in-store. - Tommy Magrath, Race Operations and Logistics |
Building on the already popular design, the Trans-Cascadia team will be taking it all a step further in 2017. “We’re constantly looking for ways to improve the event. This year we are making investments in tents and transportation. Providing tents for racers allows us to move camp more efficiently, which gives riders more time to relax and recover. Investing in transportation is key to the flow of our event; we can move racers efficiently with the right vehicles and the investment will be put to use for our trail work parties year-round,” says Nick. “We are also implementing a zero waste goal for plates, cups, and utensils.”
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| Our goal is to bring awareness to the great Cascadia region, promote trail advocacy, and leave behind a legacy of modern trails for the region. - Alex Gardner, Race Producer |
Trans-Cascadia was created to invest in the bike industry and support the local communities it operates in. This last year the Trans-Cascadia team worked alongside their sponsors, the Forest Service and local trail builders to open 14 miles of new trail in the Oakridge and MacKenzie River area – logging over 1500 hours of volunteer labor in the process. Through the event they have also raised and donated over $20,000 towards trail advocacy and invested $5000 to build a tool library dedicated to Trans-Cascadia’s local trail efforts.
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| Trans-Cascadia is one of those life-changing experiences that is the highlight of the year for us and we want to share that with every rider who comes out. - Nick Gibson, Race Director |
The event has sold out two years running; last year in less than 90 minutes. Registration for Trans-Cascadia 2017 opens today at 9am (pst) – don’t miss out! Further details about the event and registration, visit the Trans-Cascadia website.
Sponsors:
Shimano, Santa Cruz, MODUS Sport Group, PRO, Chris King, Pearl Izumi, FOX Shox, ENVE, PUSH, evo, SMITH, Travel Oregon, Clif Bar, Stiegl, Clif Family Winery, Stumptown, The U.S. Forest Service, DAKINE, OBRA, and Oregon Adventures.
About the Trans-Cascadia Promoters:
MODUS Sport Group – MODUS Sport Group understands that mountain biking is more than just a sport, it’s a way to grow an appreciation for the world that we live in, we feel that this is critically important and we understand that it takes effort and work to insure this experience for the generations of riders to come. As Trails Stewards we hope our work will open up new areas of riding and contribute to maintaining current trials in order to create lasting and sustainable riding areas that will be ridden and enjoyed for years to come. For more information on the Modus Sport Group visit www.modussportgroup.com
MENTIONS: @TransCascadia / @shimano / @chriskingbuzz / @foxracingshox / @ENVE / @evo / @SmithOptics / @CLIF / @dakine
Author Info:
Member since Sep 2, 2015
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If its a legit non-profit then the $2200 makes some sense . . . why have a sell-out in 90 minutes at $1200 if you can ration the entries via higher prices, sell out in 30 days instead, and raise 75% more money for Oregon trail work?
That said, personally I won't be paying $2200 for an event like this, regardless of the (non)profit direction of $$.
We are a non-profit and we are entering our 3rd year as an organization. One of the assumptions people make is 100 spots open, means 100 spots paid at full price. I can tell you this is not the case, for example, the first year 3 of the locals attended at NC. We were way stoked to have them and the race couldn't be done without them ...but just one example of the realities and nuances that is overlooked when it comes to critics view of revenue generation. This is an expensive race to put on, there is a long list of Budget items that include Portable Hot Showers, Food Costs, Transportation costs, Forest Service Fees, CC Transaction fees... the list is long and feels endless. On top of the expenses needed to run an event, we spend time and $ on trail development and rehabilitation. Our last press release mentions over 20K spent on trails and over 5K on tools to do the work. Everyone we've worked with in the local community, whether its small business owners, riders, or trail builders, can attest to our supporting local economies and how Trans-Cascadia impacts their bottom line. There's no BS here, the fact is, this is an indulgent event where all you have to do is show up, open your hand, and take a beer(S). All of the planning, trail work, course routing, meal planning, shuttle planning etc is done for you so that when you come out you can kick back, relax and celebrate. Blind Racing, not knowing what you're riding next and the people that attend make for an incredible experience, everything added creates an experience that will last you a life time. It's not for everyone, no doubt. But I assure you this is a very legitimate organization with good intentions and everyone this event crosses paths with can attest to this.
As a non-profit, are you registered as a 501(c)(3)? ie, can I deduct trailwork contributions?
In what state are you registered as a non-profit? Is it under the name Trans-cascadia, Inc or some other entity?
DoD have a good organization, and you can take a lesson from their structure: registered w/ state of Oregon, registered 501(c)(3), etc. and the transparency that goes with it.
I'm not doubting you've got good intentions. But given the stature of your sponsors and the claimed level of experience of Modus Sports Group, I'm pretty surprised at the amateur approach to the non-profit thing, especially 3 years in to the work.
Pardon my sensitivities, but I spent 5 years of my life founding and running a $M international non-profit. I've witnessed all sorts of abuse of the term.
Having a state registration, you deserve credit for being administratively one step ahead of the Trump Foundation.
The first day both years so far was a ride the locals call the "Sawtooth Struggle". Many of them often make a point of pedaling up to the top of things most of us would rather shuttle. So I consider it a bit of a warning when they call it a struggle.
This year they also cut out a couple stages, so it could have been even more difficult.
I've been to Whistler half a dozen times, have ridden all over N. America and it was without a doubt the most fun bike related thing I've done. Not sure about the new price but I don't think many who have done it would say it's anything but one of the best put on events anywhere.
Could help the non-industry people a chance to race this.
I understand the blind enduro format requires secrecy about the course before the event, but I don't understand why it requires secrecy AFTER the event. Why do the promoters go to such great lengths to ubfuscate the trail networks they are using?
I've ridden Oakridge 20 to 30 times since 1998 and have visited WVM more times than I can count. Although I'm not a local, I'm close enough that I'm familiar with much of the trail networks. Clear identification of new trail opportunities is a big incentive to return to Oakridge and spend my money there on food/lodging/etc. Why bury the info in press releases? Why not do a press release which specifically mentions a trail opening (Lawler extension, Grasshopper) and link it to Trailforks or MTBProject? This would help 100's of semi-local riders, all of whom are candidates for your race and trailwork fundraising.
Suggesting that one consider a race entry as a means to learn the trails used is ridiculous. $2200 is an expensive guidebook.
The folks at the Mercantile are definitely helpful, but often pre-trip planning is remote and online, so impractical to spend 30 minutes at the store peering over maps (not to mention potentially wasting the employees time).
If you're doing good work, getting trails improved or created, my humble suggestion is to PROMOTE those trails by documenting them via all the most common resources that riders use, and not hide descriptions of them in press releases.
I understand when local build trails and keep them secret, but I've never understood why people/organizations build trails, or develop rides/events using trails, proceed to tell the world how wonderful the riding is, and then make it as hard as possible for others to go enjoy the same PUBLIC resource.
It is kinda funny that the press releases didn't mention O'Leary - Castle Rock - Kings-Castle by their names, since the big grand reopening was a week before down at McKenzie Bridge, with free shuttles and a party at the Tokatee Golf Club. It's also part of an IMBA Epic from back in 2011 or so, and the USFS McKenzie district of the Willamette National Forest put out a big press release about the reopening.