Team BOREALIS sends bike racers to state championships

Ely’s high school and junior high mountain bikers wrapped up their regular season races as Team BOREALIS competing at Cloquet earlier this month.

On Oct. 5-6, there were 43 teams with nearly 1000 riders gathered at the Pine Valley mountain bike trails for the final regular season race of the Minnesota Cycling Association. The race course at Pine Valley took riders on a 3.2 mile tour of ski trails and technical single track and included 330 feet of climbing each lap. Races took on the typical MCA format with junior high riders each racing a single lap, while high school riders completed two or more laps depending on their category.

The dry conditions present across northern Minnesota were in evidence on the trail resulting in dusty conditions throughout the weekend. Loose gravel in the corners and on steep climbs made this race the most technical of the courses Team BOREALIS has competed on so far this year. While some Team BOREALIS riders were participating in their first race many were attempting to punch their ticket to the state championship races Oct. 12-13 at Redhead Mountain Bike Park in Chisholm.

To qualify for the state championship riders must achieve a regular season score among the top 100 in the state in their race category. Points are awarded based on finish position at each of the regular season races the team attends.

More information on the state championships can be found at minnesotacycling.org.

Team BOREALIS results at Pine Valley – Oct. 5-6 Name Race Category Place

• Wyatt Carlson* 6th Grade Boys 23

• Sawyer Anderson* 6th Grade Boys 33

• Beck Sponholz* 7th Grade Girls 7

• Max Ice 7th Grade Boys 51

• Hokan Lunn 7th Grade Boys 58

• Addison Kannas* 8th Grade Girls 10

• Amelia Strom* 8th Grade Girls 19

• Siiri Nelson* 8th Grade Girls 23

• Grady Anderson 8th Grade Boys 20

• Frank Udovich 8th Grade Boys 52