Vermont Sports 2021 June Issue by AddisonPress

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E U S S I E K I B E H T

THE LITTLE SHOP THAT CHANGED

Bicycling

ALL-ACCESS

NEW TRAILS

How to

RIDE BETTER

S O U T H W E S T E R N V E R M O N T M E D I CA L C E N T E R RESTORING

ACTIVE +

LIFESTYLES

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NEW ENGLAND’S OUTDOOR MAGAZINE ON THE COVER: Tyler Cohen pegs his line at Mt. Peg in Woodstock. Photo by Ansel Dickey

PUBLISHER

Angelo Lynn - publisher@vtsports.com

EDITOR/CO-PUBLISHER

Lisa Lynn - editor@vtsports.com

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Shawn Braley

MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD

Dr. Nathan Endres, Dr. David Lisle, Dr. James Slauterbeck —University of Vermont Robert Larner College of Medicine; Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation; Jamie Sheahan, M.S., R.D.

CONTRIBUTORS

Brian Mohr, Phyl Newbeck, Leath Tonino, Wilson Vickers

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Lisa Lynn | (802) 388-4944 ads@vtsports.com

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VERMONT SPORTS IS A PROUD MEMBER OF

Elliot Demers takes flight at Bolton Valley. This summer the ski area will be open for lift-served biking for the first time in over a decade. Photo courtesy Bolton Valley

5 The Start

13 Pro Tips

Here's how Vermont's trails are becoming more accessible

If you're joining a group ride or doing an event, here are a few things experienced riders want

Gaining Access

6 News

Leveling the Playing Field

In May, three exciting new projects broke ground creating new opportunities for athletes of all abilities.

14 Golden Rules of Group Rides

you to know.

14 Feature

West Hill's Wild Ride

6 News

Over 50 years, this iconic bike and ski shop became a giant in cycling. Now, two Caldwells are taking it to the next level.

Bolton Valley opens its bike park, Vermont Huts adds a hut .

20 Feature

There are more than 34 skateparks in Vermont and these two guys skated them all. Here are

New Trails, Huts & Campsites

Health Running Past an Injury

This technique helped the author recover from a chronic injury.

Vermont's Best Skateparks

26 Featured Athlete

VMBA's New Leader

He's a Cat 1 racer with a Ph.D. and here's what Nick Bennette hopes to do as the new E.D. at the Vermont Mountain Biking Association.

29 Calendar

Race & Event Guide

34 Endgame

Ode to the Approach Shoe

What happens when the shoes you loved so much, that took you so far come to the end of their life?

five of their favorites.

ADVERTISERS! The deadline for the July issue of Vermont Sports is June 18. Contact ads@vtsports.com today to reserve your space.

JUNE 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 3

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GAINING ACCESS

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Kingdom Trails may be the first trail system in the country to designate a-MTB-friendly routes.

hen Zimmer Hayes was a ski racer at UVM and, later, a downhill mountain bike racer, he’d head to Bolton Valley resort to ride some of what he calls “the gnarliest trails out there.” He knows, as he helped cut some of those trails years ago. But as Bolton Valley changed hands, the trails were not maintained. People still rode them but the lifts didn’t run and trails just got, well, gnarlier. Now, two things are changing for Hayes and others: Bolton Valley Resort is committing to mountain biking and will start lift-served mountain biking on July 1. The other thing is that Hayes is riding an e-bike. “I have one and I just ordered another from Ranch Camp. I’m 41 now and if I can get a little pedal-assist, I’m all for it.” The good news for those who are riding e-bikes is that Gov. Scott signed into law S. 66, which states squarely: “An electric bicycle is not a motor vehicle and is a vehicle to the same extent that a bicycle is a vehicle.” This means that trails that have been closed to motorized vehicles are now open to e-MTBs, though some networks still prohibit them. At Kingdom Trails, for instance, e-bikes are not allowed though the organization is reviewing that policy and seeking input from users and landowners. “There’s a real patchwork of regulations,” says Nick Bennette, the new executive director of the Vermont Mountain Biking Association, whom we profile in this issue. VMBA hopes to have updates on e-bikes and the chapter regulations around them on its website. Around Vermont, there’s been a recent push to make trails more accessible – to e-bikes, handcycles, recumbent bikes and wheelchairs. The movement has been spurred by organizations such as the Kelly Brush Foundation, which works nationwide to create opportunities for people with spinal cord injuries to get back

into sports and Vermont Adaptive – which just broke ground in Sugarbush on its second adaptive sports facility. But it’s also getting a boost from local organizations such as Green Mountain Adaptive, based in Lamoille County or Adaptive Sports at Mount Snow, as well as from trail networks themselves. As Bennette notes, “The story we need to tell is that VMBA’s chapters are building trails that benefit everyone — hikers as well as riders.” With the state devoting $5 million to the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) grants this year, we are likely to see more trail growth similar to what the first VOREC grant rounds ($100,000 and $200,000) helped to kickstart in Randolph and other areas. The state hopes to award grants in every county. and a new program manager, Jackie Dagger, has been hired. New this year, non-profits are eligible to apply for the grants as well as municipalities. It’s through grants like these and the hard work of chapters and small towns that outdoor recreation has been growing in all corners of Vermont. And it’s not just trail networks. As Wilson Vickers writes in "Vermont’s Best Skateparks," we now have more than 34 skateparks in the state, including new ones in Brattleboro and Manchester. What these efforts all have in common – allowing e-bikes, creating adaptive programs and the facilities they need, and building new skatepark — is this: Vermont is broadening its appeal. It is working hard to make the outdoors more accessible not only to the hard core athletes the Green Mountains are famous for, but to everyone. And that’s something to celebrate.

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n May 3, Emma Austin, 10, piloted her electric wheelchair over the boardwalk, bridges and turns of the 1.2-mile Robert Frost trail as it wound alongside a river in Ripton. Eleven days later, Kelly Brush and Greg Durso powered their fat tires rides over sections of Kingdom Trails. And on May 20, Mike Murphy watched as shovels dug into the earth at Sugarbush’s Mt. Ellen base lodge breaking ground for a longawaited project: a new $2.5 million, 4,000-square-foot adaptive sports facility. All of them were celebrating new adaptive trails, programs and facilities that will change how they and others with disabilities recreate in Vermont. Murphy watched as Erin Hernandez, Exec. Director of Vermont Adaptive, took the podium to talk about the enormous impact the facility will have. “We literally started at Sugarbush in a closet at the Gatehouse Lodge nearly three decades ago, and then we moved to a picnic table in the open area at Mount Ellen, and then into our 400-squarefoot corner at the base lodge where we’ve been for the past 20 years… The new facility is going to make everything so much … awesomer!” Hernandez said with enthusiasm. For Murphy, whose father Jack Murphy helped found Sugarbush more than six decades ago, the message had a particular resonance. Mike grew up skiing at Sugarbush and became, as he modestly said, a good skier. But in 1977 he was in a serious motorcycle accident. “When I recovered consciousness, I looked down and saw I had one good leg and the first thing I thought to myself was, ‘Well, that’s good, I’ll still be able to ski,’” he said. At that time, there were not many programs for people with disabilities, though Murphy had seen adaptive ski programs out West and knew what was possible. He taught himself to ski on one leg and ended up making the U.S. National Team for adaptive skiers. In the 1982 World Championships in Switzerland, he won the silver in slalom. Murphy, who was in Colorado at the time, came back to Vermont and discovered Vermont Adaptive, the program that started at Ascutney. Later, he helped connect Sugarbush to the program. It’s a program that

LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELDS

IN MAY, THREE NEW PROJECTS HELPED TO MAKE SKIING, HIKING AND MOUNTAIN BIKING MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. BY ANGELO LYNN

Top, Kelly Brush leads a pack of riders at Kingdom Trails in May. Left, the new Vermont Adaptive wing of Sugarbush's Mt Ellen lodge will be three stories. Ripton's Robert Frost Trail is made for walking and rolling.

Sugarbush’s former owner Win Smith embraced and has helped foster for the past 20 years and which new general manager, John Hammond, has encouraged Alterra Mountain Company, to support. “Having an accessible building is key to accessible skiing,” says Murphy about the new facility which will encompass three levels as part of an addition to the existing Mount Ellen base lodge. It is the second such building for Vermont Adaptive, whose headquarters is in Pico. A third building, geared for summer water sports, is slated for the Burlington waterfront with easy access to the bike path. The organization hopes to raise $4 million to construct both buildings and ensure an endowment for their operations. Vermont is also making headway

in terms of adapting existing trails to accommodate a wide variety of a-MTBs (accessible mountain bikes.) “Over the past few months, trails manager C.J. Scott has been working with the great folks at Vermont Adaptive and the Kelly Brush Foundation to help identify ways to make the trails more inclusive,” said Kingdom Trails’ Lilias Ide. According to Greg Durso an avid mountain biker and program manager at the Kelly Brush Foundation, the main challenges for wider adaptive bikes are off-camber trails and narrow bridges. The bikes on hand for the demo ranged from a Fat Stinger, a threewheeled, fat-tire recumbent you pedal with your feet, to the hand-pedaled Fat Nuke E-Assist (electric-assisted) to the prone-position, 3-wheeled Hammerhead. The bikes cost $10,000

to $16,000 and up. According to Durso, the Kelly Brush Foundation was able to make grants for 12 e-MTBs this past year to participants around the country. Both Durso and Brush suffered spinal cord injuries and are avid riders. “The good thing about these bikes is they are also great ways for people to get out of their chairs and get closer to nature,” says Durso. Eventually, Kingdom Trails is hoping to add a legend to their trail map designating which trails are aMTBfriendly – what Ide thinks may be the first such effort in the country. Durso hopes other trail networks he’s working with will follow suit. Though the efforts at Kingdom Trails, Sugarbush and the Robert Frost trail are separate and funded outside of state government and they come with a hefty price tag. Brian Austin, an engineer with the U.S. Forest Service, helped design and build the half-mile section of raised boardwalk on the Robert Frost Trail that his daughter Emma wheeled down in her electric chair at the dedication on May 3. It took three years and $650,000-plus to build the 1.2 mile trail. Pilons had to be sunk 21 feet down in the deepest parts of the wetlands to support the boardwalk, turns gauged so that wheelchair pilots could easily navigate them. Sen. Leahy helped secure the federal funds for the project, which sits on the eastern edge of the Moosamaloo National Recreation Area. Monica White, interim commissioner of Vermont’s Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, was at the May 3 dedication to herald the renovation of a trail that brings opportunities to a special segment of the population. “An estimated one in five Vermonters is living with at least one type of disability,” she said, “and one in 10 of us has two or more disabilities.” White also noted that many of these trails also help older people get outdoors. “Vermont’s population is aging: It is estimated that over a quarter of our population (28 percent) will be over the age of 65 by the year 2030. Accessible exercise options are a key to health aging.” Additional reporting by Lisa Lynn.

JUNE 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 7

NEWS

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW FOR…

BOLTON VALLEY’S NEW BIKE PARK

For years, some of the best riders in the state have been making a pilgrimage to ride some of the early trails that were cut at Bolton Valley more than 15 years ago. Now, the ski area is resurrecting them, building more and will open for lift-served mountain biking on July 1. The existing trails are for intermediates and advanced riders —old-school, rough and rowdy with plenty of places to catch air. Bolton Valley is currently working with the state to secure the necessary permits for more than 7 miles of new trails, to be built in partnership with Gravity Logic. The Whistler, B.C.based trail firm has helped to design and build some of the biggest bike parks in the world, including Killington’s 36mile network. Bolton expects hopes to add more flow, jump lines and beginner green trails in the year(s) to come. Season pass sales for mountain biking went on sale in late May and were $100 for trail use and $280 for adults with lift access. Day tickets will also be available. Bolton is also planning host

8 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2021

President Lindsay DesLauriers at Bolton's new trails.

the Eastern States Maxxis Cup downhill and enduro race on August 1.

For years, the remote campsites at the Waterbury Reservoir were sort of a locals’ secret. And occupying them was on a first-come, first-served basis. But as the word got out, they became more popular. This year, Vermont State Parks is requiring advance reservations for the 27 waterfront sites, many of which can be only accessed by boat. Butternut Cabin, one of Vermont Huts' newest. “We’ll have a park ranger there to monitor usage,” says Rochelle Skinner, of Vermont State Parks. To reserve, call 1-888-409-7579. You can also make reservations now for the newest hut in the Vermont Huts system. Butternut Cabin is located just off the trails of Huntington’s Sleepy Hollow trail network, a one-mile hike, bike or ski in from the Sleepy Hollow Inn and Cross-Country Center. The hut is equipped with a wood stove, mattresses to sleep 8, an indoor table and an outhouse but plan to carry in your own water as there is no local source. The cost to rent the hut is $100 a night and, in the winter, includes trail passes for four people (with a. 15% discount for Vermont Huts members). Additional passes are $20 each. You can book at Vermonthuts.org. Now is also the time to start booking the Green Mountain Club’s rustic cabins at Bolton (Bolton Lodge and Bryant Camp, atop the Bolton Valley backcountry trails) and at Wheeler Pond, in the Northeast Kingdom. Wheeler Pond’s Beaver Dam lodge is undergoing renovations but the year-round HadselMares camp is open. The cabins each cost less than $100 a night and can sleep up to 8 but they book up quickly with early reservations and 20% discounts offered to GMC members. To reserve, visit greenmountainclub.com

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GOLDEN RULES of

GROUP RIDES

s a recreational rider, I never spent much time racing against the clock or riding with a group. I rode with friends. Occasionally, we would use a pace line and sometimes sprint for town linesbut it was never anything organized or consistent. Having ridden for many years with friends I was a bit intimidated by the prospect of joining a group ride. But when I finally got up the gumption to do so, I was amazed at how much I actually enjoyed it, how much better my riding got and how many new friends and biking buddies I added to my world. So, about 20 years ago I started to do the Wednesday night ride with the Green Mountain Bike Club (GMBC). All of a sudden, I was riding in groups of 10 to 15 people, pushing hard on hills, holding my position in the line and taking my turn out front. Riding in a pack, I had a chance to let the person ahead be a windbreak. By

10 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2021

IF YOU’RE JOINING A WEEKNIGHT SHOP OR CLUB RIDE OR JUMPING BACK INTO BIG GROUP RIDES, YOU’LL WANT TO HEAR SOME OF THE LESSONS THE AUTHOR LEARNED AFTER YEARS OF RIDING WITH THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB

riding in a slipstream, you not only save energy (as much as 40 percent by some estimates) but you also help that person ride faster. Paul Doherty, senior scientist at Exploratorium explains, “The interesting thing is by filling in their eddy you improve the front person’s performance as well. So, two people who are drafting can put out less energy than two individuals (who are not drafting) would to cover the same distance in the same time. While the lead cyclist gains some advantage in this situation they still need to expend much more energy than the cyclist who is following.” Thus, getting sucked along in a pace line as a group we could move much faster than riding alone. Plus, watching the pedaling motion of the rider ahead helped me adjust my cadence. This led to joining some of the longer group rides and organized events around Vermont. After all these years I have

BY STEVE GLADSTONE

learned a number of things about riding in a pack which may seem obvious to those who have a racing background but are a bit of a revelation for amateurs. This summer, group riding will be back. And for those who want to join in, here are a few tips I wish someone had shared with me so many years back.

1. COMMUNICATE “Car back,” ”On your left,” “Hold your line,” “Slowing,” “Dropping,” and all the related hand signals (see page 12) are the lifeblood of a pack. There is no way that a group of people on bikes going 15 to 20+ mph can avoid catastrophe without constant and clear communication. There is no such thing as too much information—knowing how to clearly and precisely transmit knowledge and information to others is a real skill that cannot be overstated. At times I find it is the more

experienced racers and riders who do not always communicate since they just assume you know and will do what is expected. Which leads to the next….

2. BE PREDICTABLE A corollary to the communication among the pack is the assumption that your actions and others in the group are predictable. Hold a straight line when you peddle, avoid rapid accelerations or (worse) decelerations, pull out to the left when you want to drop back—the list is long of actions that you need to make very deliberately and predictably. “No surprises” is really the motto here. There is a general protocol as well as rules-of-the-road that need to be learned. Don’t be afraid to ask and learn from others in the pack. The more you ride with a group, the more you will learn and the easier it is to avoid the unexpected.

Riders in a Farm to Fork Fondo moving into a loose, double paceline on a quiet road. Courtesy of Farm to Fork Fondo

3. KNOW YOUR LIMITS Quite often I find myself deciding if I can hold with the group. Is the pace and overall energy something I can sustain? Or, as I often say, “I think I am riding beyond my pay grade.” It is critical to know what energy level you can sustain for a long period of time. You may be able to hold on for a few miles, but then you pay the price later on. It is important to listen to your body and determine if you are up for it. If necessary, back off and find others more in line with your aerobic capacity and tolerance for pain.

4. PUSH THOSE LIMITS Part of being able to hold with ”that group” is the ability to ride smart and efficiently. Many people have heart, cadence and speed monitors to measure effort and stay efficient. I find that in most cases we all know our limits without the need to check any devices. I can feel when I am at my limit and my

body is not subtle about delivering a clear message. But if I can stay just below that zone and keep rolling, I am amazed at how far I can go as I push just below the point of exploding. The ability to run my engine almost into the red is a skill I have learned to appreciate and embrace.

5. BE EFFICIENT, KEEP THE RHYTHM Part of pushing that limit is running efficiently. Just as your car has an “Eco-Drive” indicator where you get the best gas mileage, so too does your body have a zone of optimal efficiency. By paying attention to my cadence and power output, I am always working to be in the most efficient gear and to ride with the least amount of exertion. Once I find my rhythm, I try to hold it steady and adjust my gearing so the exertion level does not change until the road gets steep or the pace quickens.

6. TAKE YOUR TURN OUT FRONT Part of that efficiency is being smart about your pulls. As the pace line flows and you find it is your turn at the front be ready for it. Try to be consistent. Pay attention to the speed of the pack before you get out front and are expected to hold the pace. This may require some gear shifting and, probably, an increase in exertion. But don't speed up unless you feel the pack is with you. And be sure to not overstay your welcome. A short pull is fine—especially if the group is larger. If you can’t hold the speed then pull through and drop back quickly. Nobody benefits from your long slow pull. The group slows, the pack grumbles and you are exhausted as you pull out and try to catch the train as it accelerates by you.

7. PAY ATTENTION TO THAT WHEEL IN FRONT OF YOU I must admit there have been times where I finish a ride and can barely remember

any of the scenery. However, ask me about the rider in front of me and I can tell you all about the sponsors on their jersey, the slight wobble in the rear wheel, the clicking of the shifters and the kink in their left knee. It may not be the case for more experienced riders but I find it hard to relax when I am less than two feet from the wheel in front of me. I am getting better at looking forward and noticing where we are going but there is a constant vigilance to what is right in my face. How close should you get? The effects of drafting (getting sucked along in the slipstream of the rider ahead) get minimized the farther back you are. Strong riders will hover between 6 and 12 inches off the rear wheel of the rider ahead.

8. EAT AND DRINK EARLY AND OFTEN Once you feel hungry or thirsty it is too late. I find a constant flow of a little water and a little food helps keep things

JUNE 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 11

If you plan on riding in a group — even if it's not an organized ride — it helps to know the hand signals that experienced cyclists us to communicate in a pack. Learn these and watch the rider ahead.

in balance. I use the little gel cubes or mini shots. The bigger bars and GU are hard to swallow down when I am fully engaged just staying with the group. If there are stops or times when the group slows, I take those opportunities to consume quantities of food and gulp down the liquids.

9. MANAGE YOUR FLUIDS

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There is nothing worse than getting a face full of water as the rider in front of you takes a drink and sprays water in all directions…No there is one thing worse, when said rider decides to clear their throat and/or nostrils without regard to where such liquids are heading. If Covid has taught us anything, it is that bodily fluids travel a great distance. Don’t be that person.

10. HYDRATE THE NIGHT BEFORE It is amazing what drinking a large quantity of water the night before does to my overall hydration and energy during the ride. I am less sensitive to what I ate the night before, but I do try to not be stupid—a couple of Heady Toppers, a cheeseburger and Ben and Jerrys does not lend to fine form the next morning. I, for one, also need to have a full breakfast before a ride. I do much better fighting a little indigestion from my morning egg sandwich than the alternative of riding on an empty stomach. Add in a large cup of coffee and I am good to go.

11. DRESS FOR THE END OF THE RIDE, NOT THE BEGINNING In cross country skiing there is a saying that, “if you are not cold at the start you are over-dressed.” Biking in summer is not that extreme. But realize that the difference between a cool morning and the midday sun is huge. So dress in easy -to-adjust layers that can be removed during a ride—arm warmers and vests offer a full range of combinations to match the weather.

12 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2021

12. BRING MONEY AND MAPS While the latest GPS systems have pretty awesome coverage, I still find myself on rides where the old paper map is the best way to navigate, modify a route, and adjust for the latest paving project. Do not assume that you will be with others who know the route or that you will have cell coverage or that the local store takes your debit card. Cash is still king in the Northeast Kingdom.

13. REMEMBER IT IS NOT A RACE, BUT NEITHER IS IT A TOUR There is a fine line during these rides of what happens when the pace is too fast for some riders—does the group back off to accommodate the slower riders? After all, it is not a race. Or does the group keep going and drop the slower members—after all, this is not some Sunday tour. There is no hard or fast rule for any of this and I have been on both sides of the debate—the person being dropped and part of the group doing the dropping. Perhaps the best advice is to realize stuff happens and while discussing things before the ride is always a good thing, once people get on their bikes the best of intentions are not always kept. So, don’t take it personally if you find yourself in no man’s land as the pack leaves you in the dust.

14. FOCUS ON THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION…OR YOUR AVERAGE SPEED Enjoy the ride and the experience and the way your body feels afterward. Those are the rewards. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “To finish the moment, to find the journey’s end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom.” Emerson never rode in a pack but he was right about enjoying the process and not to focus too much on the results or your average speed. Those all disappear as soon as you reset the bike computer for your next ride.

HEALTH

RUNNING PAST AN INJURY

TAKING A CHIRUNNING CLINIC HELPED THIS RUNNER COME BACK FROM AN INJURY AND GET HER FLOW BACK. NOW SHE’S SHOWING OTHERS HOW IT CAN HELP THEM TOO. BY SARAH RICHARDSON

unning had been a part of my regular routine for 20 years until I tripped in a pothole in during an adventure race in 2008 and injured my ankle. Being injured was a new experience. Each time I tried to start running again, my body would not let me go more than two miles without pain. This was my first serious injury. It sidelined me for four years and sent my world into a tailspin. Running is just a thing I do to feel good. I’m not competitive, I’m not fast, but I love how it feels when I’m running consistently. So, what happens when a life-long runner goes from running marathons to not being able to run two miles? Depression. Anxiety. A 50-pound weight gain. My physical and mental health took a steep nosedive. The decline felt scary and frustrating. I needed a solution. I scoured bookshelves and the Internet and there it was: ChiRunning. ChiRunning is a specific technique for running that integrates the movement principles of T’ai Chi, such as body sensing, alignment and relaxation, and focuses on gradual progress. The two major themes throughout ChiRunning are energy efficiency and injury prevention. These are accomplished through proper form (body mechanics), and running position. This allows a runner to not only utilize the force of gravity, but also neutralize the force of the oncoming road. Rather than meeting a force with a force—as overstriding and heel striking do— the legs swing to the rear with ease, eliminating impact, all while gravity assists in pulling you forward in a controlled fall. ChiRunning, I read, had helped thousands of runners improve their form, reduce and prevent injuries, and decrease recovery time. Runners of all ages and levels could improve their efficiency and performance. It was as applicable to a newbie runner just getting started as to an avid runner looking to become more efficient. And it was especially helfpul for a runner looking to solve chronic injuries. And chronic injuries were what I was facing. I searched for a local clinic and that brought me to ChiRunning’s cofounder, Danny Dreyer, in Boston.

THE PRINCIPLES OF CHIRUNNING Twenty years ago, Danny Dreyer and his wife Katherine developed the ChiRunning technique. Danny, faced

hamstring felt pain, I shortened my stride. If my hips ached, I leveled my pelvis using my core. I was able to problem solve while running, and that felt wonderful.

TRAINING A NEW GENERATION TO RUN

The author will be hosting a ChiRunning clinic at Onion River Outdoors, June 24. Courtesy ChiRunning

with some running issues of his own, dove deeper into his T’ai Chi practice and began studying distance runners. The movement principles of T’ai Chi helped to heal his body, and the data he gathered from his studies confirmed that mindful movement, alignment, relaxation, and using the pull of gravity while cooperating with the force of the oncoming road were the keys to efficient running and preventing injuries. His clinic followed the ChiRunning formula: the running was intentionally designed to help runners of all types access proper form. The day was filled with fun exercises and drills, such as the pull-down exercise, body looseners, pool running and knee bending. Our body sensing improved as Danny talked us through what our tripods (the three points in your foot that hit the ground) felt like, what being relaxed versus engaged felt like in our shoulders and legs, and how to find and move from our center. The goal, Dreyer said, was for each runner to know the difference between conventional running and ChiRunning and to feel the difference in their body. Eight lessons introduced the overall concepts: the physics of running and the keys to effortless, injury-free running;

proper posture; leading with your center; ChiWalking (which is a lowimpact form of walking and emphasizes good biomechanics including good posture, loose joints, an engaged core and relaxation of the arms and legs; arm swing); stride length and gears; cadence and then putting it all together. Each lesson built upon the former and focused on maintaining proper alignment of the body’s column, because the more aligned you are through your column, the more you relax your extremities. The idea is to shift the workload out of the legs and into the core and bring ease and flow to the legs where most running injuries occur. Additional topics discussed during the day included hills, training plans, core strengthening, sneakers and motivation. That first clinic in Boston changed everything for me. I was shown how my ankle injury had changed my alignment. My left foot splayed out significantly, my stance had widened and my stride elongated—all in compensation for my injury. As I continued to compensate, it led to other misalignments and more pain in other places. Once I realigned, and listened to my body, the relief was instant. If my left foot hurt, I adjusted my tripod so my foot fell evenly. If my

Over the years, the Dreyers have trained and certified hundreds of instructors all over the world. In 2014, I became one of them. The process for certification was both rigorous and rewarding. I had to be able to model the techniques consistently and correctly as well as effectively teach the movement principles so that students could feel the difference between conventional running and ChiRunning. Then last year, the Dreyers announced their retirement from ChiLiving. In an effort to preserve their life’s work, four other master instructors and I purchased the company. It was important to us to maintain the integrity of the curriculum and continue to share it with our local communities. I now teach ChiRunning and my favorite part is to begin and end the clinic with a personalized video analysis that shows each runner how they came into the clinic, and any changes they made during the clinic. It is rewarding to see the “a-ha” moments as a runner sees what they can do to become more efficient or solve a discomfort. One client in particular struggled with chronic injuries her whole life, believing pain, injury, and even surgery, was part of being an athlete and distance runner. Over the last two years, she fully implemented the principles of ChiRunning. She not only has remained free of injury during this time but has learned a new way to communicate with her body. ChiRunning is not a quick fix, as lasting change rarely is. But I’ve learned how to feel good in my body as it is, and feel proud of the incremental accomplishments. It shifted my relationship with running. It helped me to reconnect with my body and turned running into personal practice, a mindful meditation.

Sarah Richardson is the author of From Sidelines to Start Lines: The Frustrated Runner’s Guide to Lacing Up for a Lifetime is a master ChiRunning instructor, owner and coach. She teaches ChiRunning clinics in Barre, VT and throughout New England. She also hosts ChiRunning and ChiWalking retreats on Lake Champlain, and provides ongoing coaching services as

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FOR DECADES IT HAD NO HEAT OR RUNNING WATER, BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP THIS TINY SHOP FROM BECOMING A LEGEND IN NEW ENGLAND CYCLING AND CROSS COUNTRY SKING NOW, ZACH AND AMY CALDWELL ARE BUILDING ON THE SHOP'S 50-YEAR LEGACY. BY LISA LYNN

Gunnar Caldwell, a Stratton Mountain School cross-country racer, is already reperesenting his parents' new shop. Photo by Todd Miller

"The shop was more of a clubhouse than a business," says Bevan Quinn who worked at West Hill for 27 years. After the Tour of the Valleys, the party was back at the shop. Bevan and his brother Jeremy helped bring Jake Burton's new boards into the shop. Jeremy, who passed away of cancer at 47, later managed a number of snowboard and skate shops in the region. Photos by Bob George

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n a sunny afternoon in May, Zach Caldwell squats outside the West Hill Shop in Putney reattaching a kickstand to a customer’s e-bike. The customer came in for a longer stem. Amy Caldwell, Zach’s wife and business partner, found one and now Zach is giving the bike a once-over before sending it off. “When I got into the ski business, I figured I better know how to do everything. Now that I’m in the bike business, it’s the same thing,” says Zach, glancing up. Zach Caldwell is a scion of America’s first family of Nordic skiing. His uncle John Caldwell was a Nordic combined athlete who competed in the 1952 Olympics. John Caldwell literally wrote the book on cross-country skiing and coached Olympic gold medalist Bill Koch, Bob Gray and a host of other top racers. John’s kids—Tim, Sverre, Jennifer and Peter—all raced at the collegiate level and beyond; with Tim going to the Olympics and Sverre becoming coach to the Stratton Mountain School T2 team. It was Sverre who then trained World Cup racers such as his own daughter Sophie and nephew Patrick, Jessie Diggins, Simi Hamilton, Ida Sargent and more. Zach’s wife and business partner Amy (whom he calls “the athlete in the family”) is a former cross-country ski coach at Stratton Mountain School and head coach at Canada’s Olympic training center, Callaghan, in Whistler. She is also a two-time amateur World Champion triathlete. The couple have been called the “ski whisperers,” by Outside Magazine. More than a ski shop, their Caldwell Sport is a consultancy to top-level crosscountry ski racers; offering coaching, as well as selling and servicing equipment. The couple are so attuned to the technology that goes into race skis, the technique of World Cup ski racers and the nuanced impacts of waxes, camber and flex that racers from around the world have made pilgrimages to Caldwell Sport to buy skis or get them serviced. Until recently, that “shop,” has been basically a garage attached to the family’s home in Putney. Then, in 2020, the Caldwells, both Middlebury College varsity ski racers, heard that after 16 years of ownership, Jim and Diny Sweitzer were selling the West Hill Shop, the iconic bike and ski shop down the road. “It complemented what we do, it would allow us to grow and it just

seemed to make sense from a business standpoint,” Zach says. The Caldwells bought West Hill in the fall of 2020 and in the months since, they have started to apply their scientific approach and insights from their years in the ski world to cycling. “You know suspension telemetry is something that is done in high level gravity racing and now some in crosscountry too,” Zach says. It’s a topic Zach plunges into with gusto. “It’s interesting for me because suspension is dynamic and cross-country skis are too. When you start trying to engineer motion into something like a ski camber, or bike suspension, you have the opportunity to create really personalized solutions.

Anderson were co-workers at the Guilford-based book design firm, R.L. Dothard Assoc., which had produced John Caldwell’s book on cross country skiing. Quinn, the story goes, became so inspired by Caldwell’s The CrossCountry Ski Book as he was working on it that he picked up skiing. It was a passion Anderson then fueled by getting Quinn into cycling to stay in shape in the off season. “Bob Anderson, who was from Boston, was a bike racer and involved in the Northeast Bicycle Club, and he and Becky really started it all,” remembers Robert George, at the time another Brattleboro cyclist and early West Hill Shop partner. George and his wife Barbara, the Quinns and Andersons

"I couldn't imagine better new owners for this shop,"says Diny Sweitzer, second from left. After 16 years of ownership, she and her husband Jim (far left) sold the iconic Putney shop to cross-country ski gurus, and their Putney neighbors, Amy and Zach Caldwell of Caldwell Sports. Photo by Lisa Lynn

Bike suspension is super interesting, very involved and advanced in ways that are way, way beyond my expertise,” he says. He pauses and then adds, “But not in ways that I am afraid of. In fact, the ski stuff has given me insight into bike suspension and the bike suspension has given me insight into the dynamic properties of skate skis.” You can almost hear the wheels whirring in his head.

THE WEST HILL LEGACY The Caldwells represent Phase 3 for a shop that has spawned a brain trust of talent in cross country skiing and cycling, whose owners have gone on to race in the Olympics and to edit the country’s top cycling magazines, whose events have drawn some of the nation’s top racers, and which has been a leader in the New England cycling community. In 1970, Neil Quinn and Bob

began doing weekly rides and time trials, along cross-country ski racers Bob and Sue Gray, Martha Rockwell and others. A West Hill group ride in the early 1970s might have also included Bill Farrell, who went on to develop the FitKit and the floating mechanism for cleats or Richard Sachs, who went on to build bike frames, or Brattleboro local Ed Pavelka, who later became the editor of Bicycling Magazine. “The one problem back then? It wasn’t easy to find the equipment they needed for their bikes so they decided to start a bike shop and import their own,” says Bevan Quinn, Neil’s son. Neil Quinn started Snail Cycles. Meanwhile, Olympic cross country skier Bob Gray (father to Vermont’s Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray) had a ski shop in an old schoolhouse on West Hill. In 1971 the four families—the Quinns,

Andersons, Georges and Grays—joined forces in what became the West Hill Shop, each kicking in $500. In 1973, West Hill Shop moved into its present location, a shed in a field just off Exit 4 on I91. The place had no insulation, its only source of heat was a wood stove and there was no bathroom or running water – and it stayed that way for three decades. The shop was a co-op of sorts with everyone pitching in to sell gear, fix bikes and to host time trials and races. Becky Anderson sewed the shop’s first jersey with the iconic orange and red stripes. It still hangs in the shop today. Barbara George began writing up the races for local publications and Bob George took the photos. Neil Quinn left his job as a book designer and ran the shop until he sold it in 2004. He died of cancer in 2018. “They started the shop at a time when bike riding was something kids mainly did and a ‘bike’ usually meant a Schwinn,” says Bevan Quinn, Neil's son, who started working at West Hill Shop at age 15 and ended up working there for 27 years. The shop began buying some of the best European bikes and parts of the era— Gitane, Campagnolo, Cinelli. “Everyone who was into cycling in New England knew about the shop,” remembers Jim Langley, who worked there from 1978 to 1982. “I jumped at the chance to work there. They had all the latest and best bikes and tools and Neil was just the greatest, most easy-going guy. As a coop, the shop had an open door policy. Anyone could come in and borrow tools and work on their bike there,” he remembers. The shop carried high-end European bikes. “It was fun to work on those bikes and meet the people who owned them,” Langley recalls. The artist Jim Dine was one of his customers and author John Irving and musician Joe Walsh (of The Eagles) frequently came by for help with their bikes. Olympic ski racer Bill Koch was a regular. West Hill also became known for its events. A road race, the Tour of the Valleys, grew and grew. “It attracted up to 700 racers, some of the best in the East, racing all these back roads in southern Vermont,” says Bob George. “One year I remember being in the lead car with Neil in front of a pack of 80 cyclists going 40 mph. We came to a town where a cop was standing, arms crossed, in the middle of the road. Everyone just blew right past him,”

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Clockwise from top: The West Hill Shop played a role in nearly every type of bike riding over the years. The Tour of the Valleys attracted 700 racers at one point. An early partner in the shop, Barbara George (pinning a number on a rider) wrote the Northeast Bicycle News—which she and her husband Bob turned into Velo News, still the authority on bike racing. Former head mechanic Don Cuerdon (a.k.a. Captain Dondo), who went on to write for Dirt Rag, Mountain Bike and Bicycling) clowning around with shop founder Neil Quinn. Alicia Dana, the Paralympic medalist and World Champion handcyclist has been a West Hill Shop sponsored athlete. Bob Gray, the Olympic cross-country skier, and one of the shop's founders. Author John Irving, a client, wore a West Hill t-shirt for his TIME magazine cover shoot. West Hill Shop's fall cyclocross race, the Vermont State championships, would have celebrated its 30th year in 2020. The race is back in 2021. All photos (except TIME cover) by Robert George.

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Langley recalls. Ahead, though, was a roadblock with four cop cars, lights flashing and some angry, red-faced officers. “Neil gets out and walks up to them and I was sure someone was going to be arrested,” Langley says with a chuckle. “But within a few minutes they were all laughing and smiling. That was the effect Neil had on people.” As a race, the Tour de Valleys outgrew the area, but later came back as a self-guided, scenic 56-mile ride. A cyclocross event the shop started in 1990 has continued, celebrating its 29th year in 2019 and attracting the top talent in the Northeast as the Vermont state championships. That race and the West Hill Gravel Grinder continued until Covid caused a 2020 hiatus. But both are coming back for fall of 2021. In the first decade of the shop, one by one, the original partners sold their shares and Neil Quinn became the sole owner. Bob and Barbara George had started Northeast Bicycle News which they expanded to cover the nation and it became Velo News, one of the first nationwide bicycling publications and still the authority on bike racing. The Georges still live in Brattleboro and in 1994 Barbara was inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame. Bob Gray competed in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics and later moved to a farm in Newbury, Vt. The Andersons moved on but remained in the area. In 2004, it became time for Neil Quinn to sell. “The shop was really more of a clubhouse than a viable business,” says Bevan Quinn. Jim and Diny Sweitzer had been customers of the shop, making the drive from Massachusetts for many years. Jim had a chance to work in the area and they bought the shop in 2004. Langley took a job in a shop in California and began writing books about bikes and fixing bikes, including Bicycling Magazine’s The Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and his most recent, the Your Home Bicycle Workshop. He also served as Bicycling Magazine’s technical editor, working at the magazine with another former Brattleboro local, editor Ed Pavelka. and later, another West Hill employee, Don Cuerdon (who earned the nickname Captain Dondo while at West Hill). In 2021, Langley marked his 10,000th consecutive day of bike riding —a 27-year streak. “I had no idea at the time that it [working at West Hill] would change my life and lead to a real career in the

"Amy's the athlete in the family," says Zach of his wife, who has coached at Stratton Mountain School and is a two-time World Champion (amateur) triathlete. Both were varsity skiers at Middlebury College. Photo by Todd Miller

Amy Caldwell works with Todd Miller, the shop's bike fit expert. The shop has a separate area devoted to dialling in bike fit. Photo by Todd Miller

industry I love,” Langley told Bicycle Retailer on the occasion of Neil Quinn’s passing in 2018. The Schwinn Jaguar that Langley converted into an 'off-road' bike in 1979 still hangs from the ceiling. “I’d ride it all over the cross country ski trails. I think it was the first mountain bike on the East Coast, and no one has told me otherwise yet” he says.

Zach Caldwell brings the intensity he has devoted to analyzing the world's best cross-country skis to bikes and their suspension set-ups. Photo by Todd Miller

50 YEARS AND GROWING “I was born in 1970, a year before West Hill was founded,” says Zach Caldwell as he finishes work on his customer’s e-bike. “I lived four miles down the

road and remember coming here as a little kid,” he says. Buying the shop in the midst of the coronavirus turned out to be a blessing in disguise. “It gave us a breather on

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"There's an opportunity to really dial in suspension and customize it for each rider," says Zach Caldwell. Caldwell tests out his theory on the shop's Banshee Spitfire with EXT suspension.

events and a chance to do a slow launch, to try different brands and experiment since pretty much everything we could get in here we sold.” This past year as supply chains ran dry, the shop sometimes had to build up bikes with whatever parts they could get which forced experimentation. But one thing hasn’t changed, alongside the many e-bikes and the hybrids that are the bread and butter of any bike shop are some of the most tricked-out bikes on the market from Specialized, Transition, Evil, Mondraker and some lesser known brands. There is an alloy Banshee Phantom Zach has built up with Italian EXT suspension. Upstairs, a Specialized S-Works Racing Shiv, time trial bike that retails for around $13,500 is

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waiting to be fitted to its new owner, four-time Olympic cross-country ski racer Kris Freeman, now a triathlete. The bike fitting is a project for Todd Miller, a physical therapist, college professor and photographer, who oversees the shop’s bike fit program. On the wall hangs a Giant TCR Advanced SL 1 race bike with a composite frame that comes equipped with a power meter. “If you are an athlete and are into metrics this actually measures the wattage you put out,” notes head mechanic David Townsend. Earlier in the season, Townsend could be seen wheeling around the shop's Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty 3 gravel bike. Few bikes stick around the shop long, these days, but other than the

new bikes and gear, much of the shop looks and operates like it has for decades. Pip Bannister, a gray-haired retired architect who has won the 60+ age group at the Cyclocross Nationals multiple times, is working on a bike. “I’m retired and really just here parttime,” he insists. The day I visit, Townsend, head mechanic, is building a wheel. Jordan Hughes (who in addition to his shop experience has a master’s in acupuncture and Chinese herbs) is taking a break to stalk flies with a pellet gun. And Jim and Diny Sweitzer, the former owners, are there to help out. The only two employees missing that day are Kirsten Jeppesen, a wellness coach who rides and skis pretty much everything, and Todd Eastman, a

Photo by Todd Miller

mountain guide and the former race services director at the cross-country ski company Madshus USA. It’s a team that the Caldwells have inherited and have kept intact. And the Sweitzers come in to help out. “I couldn’t think of better owners for this place,” says Diny Sweitzer as we walk through the shop she helped build out. “We had a good run but now we’re tired and it needed new young blood.” The same could have been said in 2004 when the Sweitzers, then customers who would come up from Massachusetts, bought West Hill from Neil Quinn. At the time, the shop still had no heat or running water, or even an outhouse. “I remember sending a woman who wanted to try on bike shorts over to the

Neil Quinn with his sons Bevan (left) and Jeremy (right) who both worked in the shop. Photo by B. George

neighbors’ house. She had to climb over a snowbank to get there. I think she was horrified but she bought the shorts.” The original part of the shop, not much more than a shed, still has posters covering every square inch of ceilings and walls. And a wood stove, the shop’s only source of heat for more than 30 years, still warms the old part of the shop in the cooler months though the Sweitzers added on, put in solar panels (enough to

make the shop 14 percent net-negative in terms of its electricity usage), heat and a bathroom – a space Diny is particularly proud of. They tore down a leaky old warehouse and built the airy two-story main section of the shop. “What the Sweitzers did with this shop during the 16 years when the bike industry was going through an upheaval and everything was going online is mind-blowing,” Zach Caldwell says. The Sweitzers grew the shop all

while working hard to keep it part of the community and make cycling accessible to more people. Diny helped launch women’s rides from the shop. Pip Bannister started a mountain bike club for local kids and the Sweitzers decided that any kid should be able to participate so they did a bulk buy of 12 bikes of different sizes and created a lending library of bikes. A photo of Putney’s Alicia Dana, a World Champion handcyclist and Paralympic medalist hangs on the wall, one of the athletes the shop has sponsored. The Caldwells are continuing that philosophy, “We want this to be a place where everyone comes to ride,” says Amy Caldwell. Son Gunnar, a crosscountry racer at Stratton Mountain School, now pushes his parents on their family bike rides. “We want local kids here on the pump track, too,” says Amy. Next to the brand new pump track that went in behind the shop this past spring, Zach plans to put in a container that can serve as storage for the shop. He's also designing a way to launch into the track from the container’s roof. “We also want to have a fleet of e-bikes that folks can take out with selfguided tours pre-programmed into the

Old posters still line the ceiling and a wood stove still heats the original part of the shop. Photo by L. Lynn

GPS,” Zach says. “Community building is part of the role of every bike shop. In short, we’d love for the West Hill Shop to maintain our small-town culture but also be a cycling destination, someplace you drive to, park and ride from.” That, in fact, is what it has always been.

In mid-May pro BMX racer Jamie Cooper-Ellis (far right) and Chris Oberther built the new pump track behind the West Hill Shop. Then they had to test it out . Photo by Todd Miller

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t s e B s ' t n o V e r m TE P A R K S SKA EW ONES N F O R E B M U AT E A N D A N T S E H T D N U E LEGACY. S ARO T K A R K A S P A E T G A K IN S D IS BUIL HAN 34 WITH MORE T MING ONLINE, VERMONT ER CIRILLI CO TOS BY PET O

CKERS | PH

VI BY WILSON

here are 34 skateparks in Vermont, and I’ve skated every single one of them,” says Holden Barth, 25. Barth is a Burlingtonbased social media manager for a number of companies including Vans Snowboarding and Howl Supply. Last summer, he and freelance photographer Peter Cirilli (who has worked for the likes of Burton, Darn Tough, Thrasher Magazine, and

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Nordica to name a few) set out to skate every park they could find in Vermont. Inspiration came from Anti Hero Skateboard’s 2004 video "Tent City," in which the skateboard team travels across Australia, from Brisbane to Melbourne, camping along the way. Barth and Cirilli now have plans to turn their quest into a book. “We get stuck in this cycle up here in Burlington of skating the waterfront

(A_Dog), skating Winooski, and then skating, you know, Essex every once in a while,” says Barth. “But it's kind of a routine. A_Dog is amazing...but there are also moments where I'm like, ‘I want to try something different.’” To identify all of the parks scattered throughout the hills and valleys of Vermont, Barth enlisted the help of friends, social media, and Google Earth. The result was a Google Maps

tab with each of the 34 park’s locations —and a burning desire to skate them all. “It was an opportunity to take the common space of skating with your friends to a new location,”says Barth. “And then everyone gets to sit there and try to figure something out. Everyone has a different style. Someone's better at transition and someone else’s has got a really good ledge game. So, you can sit back and watch how they approach

Sam Watson airs out of a quarter pipe in Manchester. The first phase of this new park was completed in late 2019. The town hopes to raise $600,000 to build out two more phases but is already hosting skateboard camps and events at the park.

skating the different parks.” “And a really cool thing is just to see the other people who skate these parks every day.” Cirilli adds. No matter how crusty, or lumpy, or deteriorated your home park is, it likely holds a special place in your heart. No two parks are the same, even the prefab parks that dot the state have their own little unique quirks and features. And in the past two years, new parks

have popped up in Brattleboro and Manchester. Skateboarding in Vermont wasn’t always as popular as it is now, but that is not to say that passionate skaters haven’t been making do with whatever they had. Vermont has turned out its share of pros. Brothers Marc, Andre and Tino Razo grew up skating their driveway and the streets of Bennington before

moving to New York and later Los Angeles. They went on to become artists at the core of the skateboard world with Andre designing the adidas x Max Fish sneaker that celebrated the iconic New York skateboard bar, Max Fish. Tino moved on to Los Angeles where he produced Party in The Back, a book about skating Los Angeles’ abandoned swimming pools. Chris “Cookie” Colburn started skating at

Talent in Burlington before becoming a Mountain Dew pro who travels the world for videos. Jordan Maxham, a Barre native, is another sponsored pro, and the Mull brothers of Manchester, have made a name for themselves in the skateboarding industry with their company, Worble. “You know, there's always been a solid street skating scene [in Burlington],” says Brendan Foster,

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Katie Burroughs used to skate the streets of Brattleboro or drive to New York City to find good places to skate. Now, she spends four or five days a week at the new skatepark atop Brattleboro Ski Hill. Photo by Lisa Lynn

co-owner of Maven Skate Shop in Burlington. “As far as skate parks, that was something definitely lacking.” There was a time in which there weren’t as many parks, and people had to make the best of what they could build or find in the streets. Skateparks allow for people of all ages to come together to learn and enjoy skating in a safe space. “It's really cool to have a community space. I can go to A_Dog skatepark anytime of the week and I know someone’s gonna be there who I know, or I'll make that connection. And it's always really exciting to see new people,” says Barth. “I feel like the skatepark provides a safe environment for kids of all ages— adults too— to share a common bond. And for every time you slam, you learn to get back up and try it again. I think that's a pretty powerful tool. So. if you give these kids a place and an outlet to skate, that's really rad.” While Cirilli and Barth are working on their own list of parks throughout the state, these five have stood out for them; chosen because of their quality, proximity to other parks and activities, and the fact that they are worth making the sometimes long drive to skate them.

PERSEVERANCE SKATE PARK, BRATTLEBORO As you drive up the road that winds its way up the Brattleboro Ski Hill, a small slope accessed in the winter by

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Before the skate park went in, locals Katie Burroughs and Abel Ford would skate the streets of Brattleboro or at the local Boys and Girls Club. Now they skate four or five days a week at Perseverance. “We skate all over New England,” says Burroughs. “And this is our favorite spot.”

MANCHESTER SKATEPARK, MANCHESTER

Peter Cirilli (left) and Holden Barth spent the summer of 2020 skating every park in Vermont, camping out along the way and photographing the parks for a book. Photo by Lauren Offenberg

a T-Bar, you come upon Perseverance Skatepark. Located in Brattleboro’s Living Memorial Park, Perseverance is Vermont’s newest skatepark. The park was built by Parker Construction, Inc. of Hardwick, and opened in October of 2020. Its spot high on the hill provides expansive views of rolling green mountains to the north and east. “That was a park where I was like, yes, this is worth the trip,” remarks Barth. “You're pretty much driving to Massachusetts. If you're in Burlington and are like, I'm going to go to Brattleboro like I'm committing a whole entire day to it. But it's dope.” Barth got the chance to hit it after

its opening. “Brattleboro park is so sick. There’s a really good street section flow that kind of angles off into this bowl, and then a bowl corner, mini ramp, and then it just like, kind of flows back into the street like a weird, offset ‘L’,” he says. “Everything feels smooth. And there's different weird wall rides to try out and it's sweet.” Building the park was a seventeen year process. The community raised over $350,000 and Tony Hawk's The Skatepark Project donated $5,000. Without that community support, this park would not have been possible. It is obvious how the park got its name. This was no simple task, but it showcases the power of perseverance and community dedication.

If you head south down Route 30, just before arriving in downtown Manchester, you’ll see a turnoff for Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park. The park has a brand new track, soccer fields, basketball courts, a swimming pool, and the stoic grandstand of Applejack field. And if you drive through the park, you’ll come upon the gem that is Manchester’s skatepark, with Mt. Equinox towering in the background. After over five years of fundraising and planning, phase one of Manchester’s new park finally opened on August 31st, 2019. On a typical day you might find a mix of younger skaters: a couple of kids on scooters, some of the area’s older locals, and a crew of groms who have made their way over from Burr and Burton Academy or the Manchester Elementary and Middle School, located just down the park’s gravel path.

On Barth and Cirilli’s trip, Manchester was one of their favorite parks. “It’s really fun watching people figure out the two volcanoes that go into a spine,” recalls Barth. The park is small, not that that is a bad thing, but on a crowded day you’ll have to wait your turn to drop in. If you happen to catch a solo session, or pull up with friends to an empty park, take advantage of it. Bill Strecker, the owner of Arson skate shop in Manchester believes that the new park is already having an impact on the community. “I think families are considering moving here [because of the park],” says Strecker. “There’s a park, there’s a shop, there’s [skate] camps, there’s that kind of activity going on.” The park still has two more build phases before it will reach its planned size. In order to reach that goal, almost $600,000 in additional funding is needed.

WARREN SKATEPARK, WARREN There are DIY parks scattered across the state, but what has been built at Warren is something special; it’s a true community effort. Ever since the beginning, the Warren park has had a grassroots, do-it-yourself mentality. “That this is a community of skateboarders who care enough about their park to literally build it from the ground up is really rad,” says Barth. Barth grew up skating at Warren near his family’s condo. And even after he moved to Burlington to attend Champlain College, Barth would rally his friends to make the hour drive to the Warren skatepark. Back in 1997, the area behind the elementary school on School Road where the Warren Skatepark now sits was only a slab of bad asphalt, painted white, and used as a skating rink in the winters. But Pierre Hall, one of the skatepark’s original pioneers (as well as a fundraiser, builder, and skater of the park), and his friends didn’t care, they still skated it. Around that time, local parents, along with Mad River Valley Rec District, petitioned the town of Warren to repave that area. Mad River Valley Rec kicked in a little money, some parents built some fun blocks, and the Warren Skatepark was born. “Since we first started building in 2005, it became apparent there was a real desire to have a skatepark in the area,” remarks Hall. “More kids started skating and adults we're getting back into it. We've got it more built out, and over the last couple of years we've seen increased travel. People are coming from all over New England to skate here,” he says.

A_DOG, BURLINGTON

Sean Dillon, a friend of Cirilli's who joined them for part of the tour, airs over one of the volcanoes at the Manchester skatepark.

“The valley is a pretty special place in general, just being a really small town surrounded by mountains,” says Travis Kerr, owner of Splinters Boardshop in Warren. “And obviously we have a very tight community in the winter.” It seems natural that in an area where winters revolve around being

on the mountain, people would look to skateboarding as an alternative in the warmer months. A large section of the park has been under construction in order to replace the recycled asphalt that was poured some 23 years ago with smooth concrete. The park reopened in early June.

The best park in Vermont? Sure, you can debate this, but based strictly on size (21,000 square feet), design, and quality, A_Dog can’t be beat. “A_Dog is world renowned,” said Barth. Since the park opened in 2015, it’s been skated by pros like Tony Hawk (whose foundation helped fund the park), Curren Caples, Sean Malto, and Vermont legends like Chris ‘Cookie’ Colburn and Jordan Maxham. Aside from that, the park’s location on Burlington’s waterfront provides iconic views of Lake Champlain and sunset sessions that are hard to beat. The park was designed by Grindline Skateparks, a Seattle company with contributions to hundreds of parks around the world, and built by Artisan Skateparks, of Kitty Hawk, NC, in 2015. “The layout of it is so good,” said Justice Hedenburg, of Winooski, co-owner of the Elevate Movement Collective in Stowe, and a stuntman for films and TV shows. “I think it's cool, when a park has a little bit of everything for everybody. You can get gnar in the deep end [of the bowl] if you want to or you can just slap around on some little coping and some of the, you know, little quick quarters they have there as well.” This park, like many in the state, didn’t just come together overnight. “Immediately, when we opened Maven, we were like, ‘Okay, we need to get the waterfront skatepark updated’,” recalls Brendan Foster, owner of the Maven skate shop. “Because wooden parks with sheet metal definitely don't work. Not up here in Vermont.” That was back in 2005. It wasn’t until 10 years later that A_Dog opened. Since then, the park’s reputation has only grown. “It's kind of put Burlington on the map as far as, like, where you would travel to skateboard,” remarked Foster. The park was named after local DJ and skater, Andy ‘A_Dog’ Williams, whose passion, dedication, and persistence were instrumental in getting the park built. Sadly, Andy passed away of leukemia before the park was finished. “He was just always very positive and helpful with these things,” says Foster. “He DJ’d, he was passionate about skateboarding. He invigorated the skate scene. He was so important to this project, and that's ultimately why it was named after him.”

UPRISE AND NVU, LYNDONVILLE:

Sean Dillon makes the arch at Warren Skatepark look easy with a frontside tailslide up and over.

In Vermont, it is rare for a town to have two skateparks, especially for a town the size of Lyndonville. “Lyndonville is sick because you can go skate either at the school...and they have lights, [or] skate at the Outing Club, which is a small space but well

JUNE 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 23

Dillon launches massive backside air at Burlington’s A_Dog skatepark

At night, the metal ramps and features at Northern Vermont University's park are lit up by massive lights. A second park, Uprise, is just a few minutes away in Lyndonville. Photo by Holden Barth

designed,” remarks Barth. Uprise Skatepark at the Lyndon Outing Club was built in 2011 by Who Skates Skateparks of Maine, in part due to a $15,000 donation from The Skatepark Project. This small, 4,500-square-foot, concrete park sits at the base of the small, volunteer-run, ski hill. “[Uprise Skatepark] was cool. Kind of that tiny skatepark, but just on the base of a little hill,” recalls Cirilli. “It was more or less the scenery that makes these parks beautiful.” The concrete park has stunning views from Shonyo Hill, and the Outing Club also has some great trails for hiking and biking. In 2011, a second, metal prefab park was also built at Northern Vermont University, formerly Lyndon State

24 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2021

College, by American Ramp Company of Joplin, MO. This 6,000-square-foot park is slightly larger than Uprise Skatepark and boasts lights for skating at night. “Everything at the bottom [of the ramps] is smooth. The only one thing is it's like slightly on a slope” says Barth. “Everything slopes down to the left, which is good for drainage. At the same time, you can make the joke that you’re pushing uphill, but it’s really minor.” Especially given the size of Uprise Skatepark, it’s amazing that Lyndonville has another park only seven minutes away. Wilson Vickers is a recent graduate of Champlain College and a former intern at Vermont Sports.

Mike Cortigiano with an ollie north over the gap at Uprise Skatepark at the Lyndon Outing Club.

What are the best ways for mountain biking to grow here? The opportunities are enormous and varied and a lot of these have started to crystallize as I’ve had the chance to talk with all of our 27 chapters and some of the partners. I view what we do as this really interesting sort of amalgam of stewards of the forest, fostering outdoor recreation and health and also driving economic development in rural places. But the reality is there are real challenges in terms of sustainable development so one of our biggest challenges and opportunities is to tell our story.

FEATURED ATHLETE

VMBA’S NEW LEADER Name: Nick Bennette Age: 38 Family: Wife, Carrie; son Theo Lives in: Waterbury Center Works as: The executive director of the Vermont Mountain Biking Association Primary sports: Mountain biking, cyclocross, road riding.

hen Tom Stuessy stepped down in January after nearly a decade leading the Vermont Mountain Biking Association, there were big shoes to fill. It looked like it would be tough to find someone to take over the role of executive director. Then Nick Bennette, a Cat 1 road rider with some serious cyclocross and mountain biking cred, threw his name in the hat. It didn’t hurt that the former McKinsey consultant from Seattle had also been an active member of the Evergreen MTB Alliance, Washington’s equivalent of VMBA. Bennette has a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Princeton and has worked with a variety of nonprofits in the health, environment and sustainability sectors. This past spring he moved to Waterbury Center with his wife Carrie, a skier and cyclist, and son Theo. So how did you get into cycling? I was a punk BMX kid when I was in my early teens in St. Louis, MO. There were not a whole lot of trail assets there back in the 90s and so I’d ride my BMX bike around town. I was fortunate enough that we had a bike shop in the neighborhood that was really getting into mountain bikes. I would go to the bike shop, buy parts and I’d put them on my bike outside the shop. One day the manager asked me if I wanted a summer job. They taught me how to work on bikes and helped me get my first mountain bike. It was a really cool environment. Even today, when I walk into a bike shop, I just have this instant emotional connection. I feel like I grew up in the basement of a bike shop. So how did you become such a good racer — in road and cyclocross? I went to Boston University for undergrad and one of the things I loved is how close all the schools were in the Eastern collegiate cycling conference. We’d have mountain bike races in the fall and road races in the spring. It wasn’t a varsity sport or anything and we were like this Mystery Machine/ Scooby-Doo band that would just head

26 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2021

Nick Bennette, current Washington state cyclocross champ, riding with his son Theo, out West.

out anywhere to ride on weekends. Eventually, I gravitated toward more road racing. I loved doing the Burlington crit in the Green Mountain Stage race. And I loved cyclocross. I am the current Masters’ champion in Washington state. In 2019, the Masters’ Nationals were in Lakewood, Wa., my home turf. I went in hopes of winning and the first 20 minutes of the race were some of my best in racing. I had this plan, executed it and moved through the pack to the front and thought “Wow, I’m here.” Then, I had the worst 20 minutes as I tried to do damage control going through the same sections but I ended up in the top 10. I hope this fall I can dust off the cyclocross bike again. So what draws a guy who has a Ph.D. from Princeton in chemistry and who’s worked for McKinsey, the management consultant giant, to move from Seattle to take a job at VMBA? A lot of my career has been driven by the desire to make a difference. That’s what originally took me to get my graduate degree and work on a project to create renewable energy through biofuel from algae. But to get there was going to be years away. What drove me to McKinsey was the idea that I really wanted to be involved in sustainability and the environment but I was much

more drawn to working with solutions that were actually on the shelf and could be implemented in my lifetime. After McKinsey I went to work for a boutique firm that focused on non-profits and mission-driven organizations and I was also doing a lot of work with Evergreen, Washington state’s mountain bike organization. What I started to focus on is this: what I’d really like to do is to help get more trails built and connect people to the things that I love about the environment. How did you hear about the VMBA job? During Covid, the impact investing boutique I’d been working at ground to a halt. So, in August of 2020 we sold our house in Seattle and piled in a Sprinter van to go see some of the West. We had no real plan, other than to travel and ride various trail networks. A friend called me and told me about the VMBA position. My wife’s family has been in Vermont for 20 years. We’d been married here in 2011 and my son Theo was saying ‘please don’t make me do remote schooling again’ so we had been thinking of coming back here anyway. As I started to do my homework, I realized that the trail network here in Vermont had just exploded since 2011 when we had moved to Seattle, largely due to the good work of Tom Stuessy.

What is the VMBA story you would like to tell? The chapters don’t need to be doing anything different. There’s good community engagement and the trail building has become incredibly good. I could talk about things like progression and creating networks that engage new riders, but I think the narrative we really need to get across is that we are building assets in the woods that are not purely for mountain bikers–walking and hiking paths. The chapters are the ones who are educating me on this. They are the ones who are saying that they know that our ability to have credibility in a community is tied to that. And that’s the narrative we need to get out there as we still face enormous hurdles on the regulatory front. We still haven’t really dealt with Act 250 and it's still difficult to build a new trail. If you had a magic wand, what would you change about Act 250? I'd love to see an alternative process for trails. They should be subject to best management practices, absolutely, but they also should be self-regulated by the approved organizations that are part of the Vermont Trail System. It’s super important that there are best practices. But it is completely unreasonable to put every trail building organization through an arduous permitting process up front. You can put them in charge of meeting requirements for trails, parking lots and congestion and if those requirements are not met, the trail gets closed. Did you encounter anything like Act 250 in Washington state? No, and the big difference in Washington, is you know, the vast majority of trails are on public lands. In Vermont, 70% to 80% of our trails are on private land so Act 250 is really important. Don’t get me wrong, Act 250 is not bad— it’s an immense reason why Vermont is what it is. But because Evergreen has such a strong relationship with the state, they don’t have to go through the same permitting hurdles and can turn the dollars they raise into trails like magic.

How does VMBA measure up to what you saw in Washington state? Washington has seven times as much area and 12 times as many people, yet our statewide mountain bike organization, Evergreen has the same number of members as VMBA. So, if you compare the straight numbers (and I haven’t extrapolated for people from out of state) more than 1% of Vermont’s population are members of VMBA, which is bananas. That’s a significant constituency of people who want to ride bikes in this state. Anywhere you go you feel that community presence and involvement in mountain biking. What about the trails and riding here, how does that compare? Outside Seattle you can drive to 20- and 25-mile loops that take you to places where there is no development and you have big views of Mt. Rainier, the Cascades or Olympics. Vermont doesn’t have that. But you also don’t need to get in your car to drive somewhere to do a big ride. In some ways, we are more advanced in that we have all these trail networks that are connected to communities. The chapters are doing really awesome things like creatin trail networks so kids can take greenways from their schools to their trails.

What about the Velomont trail? Ground-breaking on the new Rochester segment just started. Do you see that proposed statewide trail becoming something like Moab’s White Rim Trail, a bucket-list destination ride? It’s a long-term project that I hope will be a legacy thing, like the Long Trail for hiking. What Caitrin Maloney and Angus McCusker and the folks who are working on Velomont have planned is incredible. For now, what’s really cool about that proposed trail for me is that it represents a physical handshake between chapters and a chance to connect existing networks. There are currently three initial priority segments: along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, from Rochester down to Killington and then in the southern part of the state down to the Massachusetts border. But the beauty of this is that unlike the White Rim Trail, which has no real stops along the way, you don’t have to do the whole thing at once– you can do segments. And as we get the Vermont Huts System aligned with it, we can build it up in stages where each stage is a destination.

“E-bikes are bad” is not necessarily a good understanding of what e-bikes are right now and so we’re putting up on our site some guidance to help educate members and anyone who wants to go to the site what e-bikes are like, how they operate in Vermont, and what are the rules because now they have such a patchwork.

Bennette, wheeling into VMBA.

Photo by Luke Awtry

E-bikes: good or bad? Are you happy about the new legislative ruling that classifies e-bikes as “non-motorized?” I think a blanket statements like

Vermont lost its two large mountain bike festivals, VMBAfest and NEMBAfest. Do you see those returning or the new festival at Ascutney taking their place? There’s a really important role that a festival of that size plays but there’s also limited energy and bandwidth among riders so to have two or more of them seems too much. I am glad that Ascutney Trails and Mountain Flyer are putting on Flow State this year. What I do feel strongly about is that a mountain bike festival in Vermont of that scale belongs to the chapters and the collective ridership in Vermont and that wherever a festival is going to hosted that those trails and that chapter become the lead on the logistics. But I would like to see a festival —it’s a great way to get a lot of people excited about riding bikes. —L. Lynn

[ MANSFIELD ORTHOPAEDICS ]

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AND PRESENT

THE VERMONT MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL

ASCUTNEY TRAILS BROWNSVILLE, VT

FRI. JULY 30 – SUN. AUGUST 1

Join Mountain Flyer and Ascutney Trails Association for a familyfriendly, three-day festival with guided rides, live music, camping, food trucks, a beer garden and more. @FlowStateMTBFest

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28 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2021

5/26/21 3:02 PM

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SPORTS

LISTING YOUR EVENT IN THIS

CALENDAR IS FREE AND EASY. VISIT VTSPORTS.COM/SUBMIT-AN-EVENT OR E-MAIL EDITOR@VTSPORTS.

COM. ALL AREA CODES ARE 802.

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FEATURED EVENTS, IN YELLOW, PAY A NOMINAL FEE.

RUNNING JUNE 6-13 | Virtual Covered Bridges Half Marathon, Woodstock Run 13.1 miles anywhere you please. The event will be held virtually this year due to COVID concerns. Registration for 2020 deferred runners opens February 28 and for new runners opens March 8. cbhm.com 12 | 43rd Annual Capital City Stampede, Montpelier Central Vermont Runners hosts this 10K road race out and back, half on paved roads and half on dirt. Cvrunners.org 5 | Colchester Causeway, Colchester Run a 5K, 10K or 15K race on the beautiful Colchester Causeway. Colchestervt.com/ events 19 | NH-VT Covered Bridges Half Marathon, Colebrook, N.H. Choose a half-marathon, a 16.2-mile race or a 5K, all on the same scenic course in Vermont and New Hampshire. Nhvthalfmarathon.com 19 | 20th Annual Basin Harbor 5K & 10K A 5K and 10K at beautiful Basin Harbor – a spectacular seasonal resort on the shores of Lake Champlain. Racevermont.com 20 | Solstice Trail Race, Charlotte Formerly the Equinox Trail Race. Try out some new terrain in a fun, yet challenging 5 or 10K Ntrail run through fields, singletrack and old sugar wood roads. Gmaa.run 24 | ChiRunning Clinic, Montpelier This free talk at Onion River Outdoors with Master Instructor Sarah Richardson will cover the “Three Keys to Feel Good Movement,” and introduce you to both ChiWalking and ChiRunning. Learn how alignment and relaxation can happen together and minimize the workload of your legs and improve your efficiency while preventing injury. Onionriver.com

RACE & EVENT GUIDE

26-27 | Catamount Ultra, Stowe Run a 25K or 50K trail race on wide, hardpacked dirt trails that roll through highland pastures and hardwood forest at Trapp Family Lodge Outdoor Center. The 50K course is two laps on the 25K course rolling through highland pastures and hardwood forest, complete with maple sugar tap lines in place and ready for the spring “run.” catamountultra.com

AUGUST

JULY

7 |Shelburne Sugarworks 5K/10K Trail Run Racevermont.com hits the trail in the 3rd Annual Sugarworks Trail Run at Shelburne Sugarworks and Four Season Outdoor Center. Choose the 5K, or run the 10K (two loops of the 5K). The course is rolling mostly through the sugar woods , but there is also a portion around a pond and through fields surrounded by Queen Anne’s lace. There are no huge uphill runs, but it’s not totally flat. Racers can present their bib for an ice cream at the finish. racevermont.com

4 | Clarence Del Mar 5K, South Hero This is the 39th running of this July 4 tradition. Don’t miss it! Gmaa.run 17 | 43rd Annual Goshen Gallop, Goshen This exceptional backcountry course on the trails of the Moosalmoo National Recreation Area starts and finishes at the Blueberry Hill OutdoorCenter and benefits the center. From a natural obstacle course to a stunning surprise view from the south end of Hogback Mountain, the Gallop’s elevation profile and rugged terrain have earned the race the nickname “the toughest 10k in New England.” The 5K is equally exhilarating, and you can still brag (just half as much). Goshengallop.com 16-18 | Vermont 100 Endurance Race, West Windsor Featuring unrelenting rollers that add up to 17,000 feet of climbing, the VT100 trail race winds its way over country roads, through forested trails, and alongside breathtaking views of the southern Green Mountains. Vermont100.com 24 | Round Church Women’s Run, Richmond A 5K walk or run along Cochran Rd. with the start opposite the round church. Gmaa.run 30 | Moosamaloo Ultra Run 14 miles or tackle the ultra, 36 miles of mostly singletrack jn the Moosamaloo National Recreation Area. The race is based out of the Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center and will have free camping onsight on Friday and Saturday night (or stay at the Blueberry Hill Inn). Moosamalooultra.com

7 | The Point to Point, Powered by VSECU, Montpelier Pull on your running shoes for a half marathon or ride a century, half-century or 25-mile road ride, a 40-mile gravel grinder from the statehouse lawn to fight hunger in Vermont with a virtual option Thepointtopoint.org

29 | Race To The Top Of Vermont A 4.3- mile, 2564 vertical ft hill climb up the tallest mountain in Vermont - Mt. Mansfield. Every August the North Face Race To The Top Of Vermont draws as many as 800 hikers, mountain bikers, and runners to

climb Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak. The course climbs up the historic Toll Road, is 4.3 miles in length, and climbs 2564 ft. . Rttovt.com

SEPTEMBER 11 | Groton Forest Trail Run, Groton Offering three technical, beautiful race distances on the trails of the Groton State Forest. The 26.5 mile run starts at 7AM, the 15 mile run starts at 9AM and the 6.2 mile run starts at 10AM. ultrasignup.com/ register.aspx?did=79687 19 | Trapp Cabin Trail Races, Stowe Join us for this idyllic event! All races begin and end in the Trapp Family Lodge Meadow. The 5K follows Lodge Spur to Luce Hill Loop, following the single track trail back to the finish. Walkers welcome! The 10K continues on to Tap Line, follows Chris’s Run to the cabin and returns on Growler and Tap Line to the finish. The half-marathon is by far our most popular race and attracts over 60+ racers from all over New England. The course does a double-loop of the 10.5K. greenmtnadaptive.org/events/trappcabin-5k-10k-and-half-marathon-trailraces-2021/

E STA B L I S H E D 1 9 7 1

WEST HILL SHOP PUTNEY • VERMONT

celebrating 50 years

20-24 | Spartan Death Race, Pittsfield This adventure race bills itself as the most difficult race in the world. In 2018, racers faced 3,000 burpees, an overnight trek over Bloodroot Gap, a 30,000-foot rope pull and set a Guinness World Record for a 12-hour crawl under barbed wire. Peakraces.com

www.westhillshop.com 802-387-5718

JUNE 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 29

19 | TAM Trek, Middlebury There is a race for everyone at TAM Trek. Our 19-mile Trail Around Middlebury attracts serious trail runners from, around the state, and outside of Vermont. We also offer a challenging 10K course for runners looking for a shorter and equally scenic race. Our 2-mile family fun run attracts families and run/walkers from around Addison County. Starts and finishes in Wright Park and celebrates at the finish line with live music, GREAT local raffle prizes, andt postrace buffet. maltvt.org/tam-trek 26 | 28th Vermont 50 Ultra Run & MTB, West Windsor This 50 mile trail race lets mountain bikers and ultra runners enjoy a challenging and scenic Vermont landscape course that is like no other. There is something for everyone. Net proceeds go to Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. Vermont50.com

OCTOBER 16 | Trapp Mountain Marathon, Stowe The Trapp Family Lodge has some of the smoothest, most runnable trail around, but also boasts some incredible single track. This half or full marathon features steep climbs and descents and a newly updated climb to the highest point on the Trapp Lodge Property; Round Top Mountain. The 13.1 mile loop course is approximately 2/3 double track wide trails and dirt roads, and 1/3 serpentine, rugged single track. Full marathon racers will traverse this loop twice. This is a challenging trail race with significant elevation gain and loss. Trappmountainmarathon.com 24 | Vermont City Marathon & Relay, Burlington Marathoners and relay runners can safely conquer 26.2 miles in a new, two-looped course that includes many of the highlights runners have loved about the course for over 30 years. runvermont.org

BIKING JUNE Now through June 19 | Virtual Vermont Adaptive Challenge (formerly Charity Ride), Killington Join in the virtual ride (or choose any other challenge of your own) and help raise money for Vermont Adaptive. Join the Vermont Adaptive Strava Club (or track your progress on your own) to win prizes. Charityride.vermontadaptive.org

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11-13 | Tour de Kingdom, Derby Four days of riding: The 3-day Tour de Kingdom including The Moose, a 103 mile “timed event” on wide open roads and our one-day Fly to Pie, a 26.2 mile “timed event” on mostly dirt roads through “The Gut” of the Kingdom. kingdomgames.co 12 | Women’s MTB Clinic, Montpelier Join Onion River Outdoors and Christsonthy Drellos of Blue Sky MTB for a series of fun, supportive clinics for women and non-binary riders to hone your skills, learn to corner and get your wheels off the ground on the Montpelier trails. First session is on fundamentals. July 17th is on cornering and Aug. 7th pumps and jumps. 9 am-1pm . Onionriver.com 13 | The Ranger, Tunbridge Ride 38, 18 or two-to-five miles in this epic gravel riding celebration. The 38-mile gravel enduro race is a loop of dreamy hardpacked dirt roads and minimally maintained Class IV riding. Registration is now open for those who were registered in 2020 and opens March 20th to the public. therangervt.com 19 | VT Monster, Ludlow This is a challenging course primarily on quiet gravel roads, with plenty of climbing, flowing descents and epic vistas. Monster is best attacked with a cyclocross bike, though road, mountain or fat bikes are also capable of handling the courses: 77 and 50 miles of epic and very challenging off-road riding. The 50-miler includes about 5,000 feet of climbing and the 77-miler features over 9,000 feet of climbing. Vtmonster.com 19 | Bike for the Lake, North Hero Ride 30, 60, 80, and 100 mile routes along the northern shores of Lake Champlain supporting the efforts of the Friends of Northern Lake Champlain, clean water advocates. Rest areas and lunch provided. Friendsofnorthernlakechamplain.org 26 | 100/200, North Troy First ridden in 1984, the 100/200 spans Vermont, north to south, following scenic Route 100. The first 100 miles roll by fairly quickly, but save your reserves, as the big climbs kick in during the second half of the ride, and the 12-mile Mt. Snow climb. 100-200.org 26 | Bikes & Beers, Stowe This second annual event features a 15, 30, and 50-,ile ride from The Alchemist and traveling through the beautiful region. All rides will feature rest stops with refreshments and will finish up back at The Alchemist. This is a ride for everyone - All riding levels welcome! Bikesandbeers.com

26 | Tour de Grace, Townsend This is a family ride, over trails, through pastures, with country roads and covered bridges. It is ideal for all ages Great volunteer support along the way. Total distance is approximately 15 miles, with no long climbs. Start and finish at Grace Cottage Hospital. gracecottage.org/getinvolved/tour-de-grace-bicycle-rally/ 27 | Central Vermont Cycling Tour, Montpelier An original gravel grinder, this ride takes you either 15, 30 or 60 miles of country roads. Look forward to great food, convenient rest stops, well-marked courses, maple creemees, and hula hoops. All to raise funds to build the Cross Vermont Trail. Crossvermont.org. 27 | Coyote Hill Classic NECS XC Series Race, West Fairlee Coyote Hill Mountain Bike Camp hosts a cross country mountain bike race series on its trail system. coyotehillcamp.com

JULY 1-11 | The Prouty (Virtual), Hanover, N.H. Ride 20, 35, 50, 77 or 100 miles on roads in the Upper Valley, or wherever home may be. Tackle a 70K or 100K gravel ride. Golf 18 holes, walk 3k to 10k, or even row 5-15 miles. The Prouty may be virtual, but there are still many ways to participate. dhmc. convio.net/ 16-19 | Farm to Fork Champlain Islands Adventure, South Hero Ride a guided tour past stunning lake and mountain views, fresh and fantastic local foods/ farmtoforkfitness.com 7 | Raid Lamoille, Craftsbury A challenging 25 or 55 mile route that includes a significant amount of packedgravel riding and some major climbing segments. Some would call it a dirt road randonee, others a gravel grinder, we just call it a Raid. This is not a race. 17 | Women’s MTB Clinic, Montpelier Join Onion River Outdoors and Christsonthy Drellos of Blue Sky MTB for a series of fun, supportive clinics for women and non-binary riders to hone your skills, learn to corner and get your wheels off the ground on the Montpelier trails. This second session is on cornering and join onon Aug. 7th pumps and jumps. 9 am-1pm Onionriver.com 25 | 41st Annual Guilford Gravel Grinder (G3), Guilford 545 Velo hosts the fourth iteration of this 40mile course featuring 4,800 feet of elevation

gain, with 93 percent of the riding falling on dirt roads. Bring a bike with tires that are 28-35mm or wider in width. bikereg.com/ guilford-gravel-grinder-the-g3

AUGUST 30-1 | FLOW STATE, Brownsville The trails at Ascutney Outdoors play host to Flow State, the Vermont Mountain Bike Festival, a three-day celebration of all things mountain biking put on by Mountain Flyer. Flowstatemtbfestival.com. 1 | Eastern States Maxxis Cup, Bolton Valley Join in or watch the top riders in the East compete in downhill and enduro on the raw and rowdy trails at Bolton Valley Resort, the only Vermont stop on this summer’s tour. boltonvalley.com 1 | Rooted Vermont, Richmond Join Ted and Laura King for a weekend long celebration of gravel roads, community and all things VT, with necessary Covid precautions in place. Race the long course (82 miles) and 8,000 feet of climbing or go your own pace and do the 48-mile short course. And an epic afterparty featuring local foods and brews follows. rootedvermont.com 7 | Tour de Slate, Middletown Springs Ride a regular or metric century, 36 or 25 miles -- or ride the D&H Rail Trail. This is a great way to explore the emerging trails and quiet roads of Slate Valley. There is also a virtual option for this event. tourdeslate.org 17 | Women’s MTB Clinic, Montpelier Join Onion River Outdoors and Christsonthy Drellos of Blue Sky MTB for a series of fun, supportive clinics for women and non-binary riders to hone your skills, learn to corner and get your wheels off the ground on the Montpelier trails. This second session is on pumps and jumps. 9 am-1pm . Onionriver.com 7 | Vermont Gran Fondo, Bristol Ride Vermont’s infamous four gaps in the Gran Fondo with 130 miles and 11,ooo feet of climbing or opt for an 85 or 40-miler. All will take you over heart-stopping hill climbs with breathtaking views. Vermontgranfondo.com 7 | The Point to Point, Powered by VSECU, Montpelier Get on your bike or pull on your running shoes and register for a century, halfcentury or 25-mile road ride, a 40-mile gravel grinder or a half-marathon run from the statehouse lawn to fight hunger in Vermont with a virtual option Thepointtopoint.org

15 | Coyote Hill End of Summer Race and BBQ, West Fairlee Coyote Hill Mountain Bike Camp hosts a race on its trail system followed by a celebratory BBQ. coyotehillcamp.com 21 | 48th Annual Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb, Albany, NH This 7.6 mile race to the summit of the highest peak in the northeast is a fundraiser for the Tin Mountain Conservation Center. The race is known as the toughest hillclimb in the world with an average grade of 12%. www.mwarbh.org 23-25 | Outerbike, Killington Demo bikes, ride the trails at Killington, take part in this all-things-MTB two day festival that brings all sorts of gear and bike manufacturers to Vermont. Outerbike.com 29 | Vermont Overland Grand Prix, Ascutney A 50-mile dirt road bicycle race featuring 6,000 feet of climbing, seven sectors of “Vermont pavé” (unmaintained ancient public roads), two well-fortified sag stops, a magnificently scenic route and an awesome party afterwards. Vermontoverland.com 29 | Cycle 4 CMT Shelburne Enjoy one of the largest cycling event fundraisers in VT! Cyclists enjoy a light breakfast followed by cycling either a 15, 25 or 40 mile route through beautiful/ challenging areas of Shelburne, Charlotte and Hinesburg VT. After party catered lunch, live music, free beer and opportunities to bid on silent auction items provided by local sponsors. CMT (Charcot Marie Tooth) is a progressive neurological disorder affecting over 300 Vermonters and 3.0 million people worldwide. 31 | Slate Valley Epic, Poultney A 40+ mile, 5,000+ vertical mountain bike race on Vermont’s newest and best single-track trails in the Slate Valley of southwestern Vermont. slatevalleytrails.org

SEPTEMBER 11 | Kelly Brush Ride, Middlebury The 15th annual edition of this fundraising ride takes riders through various courses from 25 miles to 100 miles in scenic Addison County. Kellybrushfoundation.org 18 | Tour de Farms, Vergennes This year’s biking farm tour will feature two distances—a 30-mile route and a more relaxed, family-friendly 10-mile distance. You’ll pass through the beautiful pastoral landscape of the Champlain Valley and visit three to seven farms depending on your distance. Each farm stop will host additional food and beverage producers. Riders sample everything from maple iced coffee and farm-fresh salads to mapleglazed ham and Vermont’s famous cheeses! acornvt.org/tourdefarms

MULTI-SPORT /WATERSPORT /DAM RELEASES JUNE 19 – 21| LCI Father’s Fishing Day Derby The 40th anniversary of the Lake Champlain International Father’s Day Fishing Derby, and the event is about so much more than catching fish. Mychamplain.net/fathers-day-derby 20 | Winni Slalom, Northfield, N.H. Live music, whitewater clinics, beer, free morning yoga, food and camping right in town and two days of whitewater races. Don’t miss the Winni Slalom on Saturday, a race through suspended slalom gates and Class II rapids on the Winnipesaukee River. Nessrace.com 26 | Vermont Sun & Lake Dunmore Triathlons, SalisburyTry your hand at the USA Triathlon Vermont State Championships at the Vermont Sun Triathlon: Swim 0.9 miles, bike 28 miles, and run 6.2 miles. You can also just do the Aqua Bike option with just the swim and the bike or do the Lake Dunmore Triathlon (600 yard swim, 14-mile bike, 3.1 mile run). The classic, pristine course starts and finishes at Branbury State Park. Participants swim, bike and run around beautiful Lake Dunmore. vermontsuntriathlonseries.com 27 | Brattle Paddle Canoe, Kayak & SUP Race, Brattleboro Enjoy a nine or 3.5-mile flatwater race on the Connecticut and West Rivers to benefit the West River Trail. neckra.org

JULY 3 | The Great Race Triathlon/ Duathlon, St. Albans The Great Race is a canoe Triathlon/ Duathlon which is a tradition 41 years in the making. This family-friendly sporting event was recently taken over by the Town of St. Albans. Run 3 miles, bike 12 miles and paddle 3 miles on beautiful Lake Champlain. Stalbanstown.com

7 | Missisquoi Paddle-Pedal, Richford This family-friendly event combines 6.5 miles of paddling down a designated Wild & Scenic section of the Missisquoi River and 5 miles of cycling on the adjacent Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail. northernforestcanoetrail.org 14 | The Bitter Pill, Craftsbury, A summer adventure race for teams of two or three with lhiking, biking, and time on the water – as well as requiring you to continually navigate. We are known for being able to really challenge experienced teams while providing a great race for the first-timers. If you have never done an adventure race before, this is a great way to get started. gmara.org 15 | Vermont Sun & Lake Dunmore Triathlons, Salisbury Swim 0.9 miles, bike 28 miles, and run 6.2 miles. You can also just do the Aqua Bike option with just the swim and the bike or the Lake Dunmore Triathlon (600 yard swim, 14-mile bike, 3.1 mile run). The classic, pristine course starts and finishes at Branbury State Park. Participants swim, bike and run around beautiful Lake Dunmore. vermontsuntriathlonseries.com

SEPTEMBER 19 | Josh Billings Triathlon, Great Barrington, MA A 27-mile bike / 5-mile canoe/kayak/SUP / 6-mile run in the beautiful Berkshires of western Ma. 44 Categories for Teams & Ironpersons-separate divisions for canoes, kayaks & SUPs. Bikers race 27 miles on backcountry rolling hills thru 5 towns in the Berkshires, paddle 5 miles around Stockbridge Bowl, finish with a 6 mile run around the lake to Tanglewood then celebrate at the Josh ‘Bash’ with awards, food, live band, vendors and a free Kid’s Fun Run. Josh ‘matchmaker’ will help find teammates. joshbillings.com

West River Dam Release, Jamaica, Vt. Sept. 24-26 Celebrate two seasonal dam releases at the Ball Mountain Dam at Jamaica State Park. Shuttle service is provided for those who run the Class II-Class IV stretches of the West River. Vtstateparks.com Fife Brook | North Adams, Mass. The Deerfield’s Fife Book section ranges from 700 cfs to 2000 cfs, at which point it becomes class III-IV. Scheduled releases are: June 12-13, 17-20, 23-27, 30; July 1-4, 7-11,14-18, 21-25, 31; Aug. 1, 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 26-29; Sept. 1-5, 8-12, 15-19; Oct. 1-3, 6-10, 13-17. Releases start between 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m and are a minimum of 3 hours. https://amcbostonpaddlers.org/ documents/river-releases/ Deerfield River | #5 Station Dam, Monroe, Mass. A mile south of the Vermont-Mass border, is the #5 Station Dam. Friday releases are for 4 hours beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday releases last 5 hours and begin at 10 a.m. Sunday releases are 4 hours beginning at 10 a.m. Flows alternate among 900, 1000, and 1100 cfs.. Releases are scheduled for June 13, 19-20, 25-27; July 2-4, 9-11, 17, 25; Aug. 1, 6-8, 14, 21-22, 27-28; Sept. 4-5, 11-12, 19;

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16 | Branbury Classic & Lake Dunmore Triathlons, Salisbury Paddle 1.5 miles, bike 14 miles, and run 3.1 miles or do the Lake Dunmore Triathlon (600 yard swim, 14-mile bike, 3.1 mile run). Our classic, pristine course starts and finishes at Branbury State Park. Participants paddle, bike and run around beautiful Lake Dunmore. vermontsuntriathlonseries.com

AUGUST 1 | New England Championships, Canoe, Kayak, SUP Races, Brattleboro Enjoy a 12 mile flatwater race on the Connecticut River or a 5 mile recreational race. Neckra.org

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IKE SHOPS

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Burlington

99 Bonnet St., Manchester Ctr, VT 802-362-2734 | battenkillbicycles. com Manchester's bicycle shop since 1972, Battenkill Bicycles is a Trek and Specialized Bicycle dealer offering advice and sales to meet all your cycling needs. The service department offers tune-ups and repairs for all brands of bikes. Come to the shop to rent a bike or get information about local group rides or advice on where to ride your bike in the Northshire. Battenkill Bicycles is the number one e-bike seller in Southern Vermont and is an authorized Bosch e-bike systems service center.

BERKSHIRE OUTFITTERS

RR 8, 169 Grove St., Adams, MA 413-743-5900 | berkout@bcn.net We are a full-service bike shop at the base of the Mt. Greylock State Reservation. We also border a beautiful 12-mile paved rail trail. We carry Jamis, Rocky Mountain and G.T. We offer sales, repairs and hybrid bike rentals for the rail trail.

BOOTLEGGER BIKES

60 Main Street Jeffersonnville, VT 802-644-8370 | bootleggerbikes.com A full-service shop near Smugglers' Notch. We offer new, used and custom bikes as well as custom-built wheel builds for mountain, road, gravel, fat bikes, bikepacking and touring. Rentals offered at our Cambridge Junction shop on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Bikes are a passion here.

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CHUCK’S BIKES

45 Bridge St. Morrisville, VT 802-888-7642 | chucksbikes802. com Putting smiles on people's faces for over 35 years. Bikes by Jamis, Transition, Norco, KHS, Davinci, Raleigh, Marin and Diamondback. Hours: Mon - Wed & Fri 10-5, Sat & Thurs 10-2. Be well by being smart.

EARL’S CYCLERY & FITNESS

2069 Williston Rd., South Burlington, 802-864-9197 | earlsbikes.com Earl’s Cyclery has been serving Vermont's cycling and fitness needs for more than 65 years. With over 12,000 square feet at the new location, Earl’s has the largest selection of bikes from Trek, Giant, Scott, Bianchi, Electra, Haro, and more. The service center at Earl’s has professionally trained technicians who are certified to work on all makes and models of bicycles, not just the ones we sell. Whether you need a flat tire fix or a suspension rebuild, the service staff is ready to help. Estimates are always free! Stop by our new location at 2069 Williston Rd, South Burlington, or call us.

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BRADLEY’S PRO SHOP SKI & SPORT

The premier bike shop in Southern Vermont, located in Manchester Center. Known as your go-to ski shop we are now your go-to bike shop. We have one of the best bike mechanics in Vermont on staff, Dan Rhodes — many of you know of his reputation as a master bike mechanic. We carry the full lineup of Cannondale and GT bikes—mountain bikes, gravel, e-bikes, BMX and hybrids. We are a full-service operation with sales, service, accessories and rentals including e-bikes. We always offer a great bike tune-up price so be sure to bring your ride in. As always: THINK DIRT!

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EAST BURKE SPORTS

439 Route 114 East Burke VT 802-626-3215 eastburkesports.com We are the original home to Kingdom Trails, located in the heart of East Burke. We pride ourselves in expert knowledge and friendly customer service to help get you outside to have fun! Come get your bike fixed at our full-service repair shop, rent from our fleet of Santa Cruz, Juliana and Trek mountain bikes (with direct access to Kingdom Trails), and shop for clothing, parts and accessories in our retail shop. Open 9-6 every day.

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AROUND THE REGION advertising section

FROG HOLLOW

74 Main St., Middlebury, VT 802-388-6666 | froghollow bikes.com Take advantage of the most advanced and courteous service in our region, with quick turn-around time in our service shop downstairs. Upstairs in the sales room, we offer the best in new and used road, mountain, lifestyle, and children’s bikes and new gear. We carry brands that offer superior products that balance innovation and performance with reliability and value. Hours: Mon. - Sat. 9:30 - 5:30, Sun. 11 – 4.

THE GEAR HOUSE

16 Pleasant St., Randolph, VT 802-565-8139 gearhouse.com The Gear House brings fresh energy and excitement to the state's cycling scene. Located in the center of Vermont, we offer Rocky Mountain, Bianchi, Yamaha e-bikes, a rotating inventory of consigned bikes and gear, and a full service repair shop. Randolph has newly revived mtb trails that combine classic old-school singletrack with machine built zones. Start the 12/12a loop from the shop for 38 miles of well maintained road miles, or map out a day ride entirely on the gravel. The shop is also home to RASTA's outdoor trail hub which features topographical and printed maps. Stop by and plan your next adventure!

GREEN MOUNTAIN BIKES

105 N. Main St. Rochester VT 800-767-7882 | greenmountainbikes. com

Located in the center of Vermont, in the heart of the Green Mountains, we are surrounded by terrain that calls to mountain and road bikers alike. Whether you ride twisting trails or back to back gaps, we service, sell, and rent all styles of bicycles, featuring Kona, Jamis, Juliana, Raleigh, Santa Cruz, Transition, and Hinderyckx bikes hand crafted by our own Rochester boy Zak Hinderyckx. So STOP READING and RIDE YOUR BIKE! Hours: 7 days a week, 10 – 6.

HANOVER

11 ADVENTURE TOURS 713 US 5 N., Norwich, VT | 802-359-2921 | hanoveradventuretours.com

More than a full-service bike store, we are a full-service adventure center. With an expertise in electric bicycles, we live and breathe outdoor exploration through our offering of e-bike rentals, sales, and tours including doorstep delivery and a full-service shop (all bikes welcome). Over 100 electric bicycle rentals, demos, and tours available for individuals and large groups, short and long-term. Open year round with seasonal options. Explore one of the largest selections of e-bikes with Yamaha, iZip, and Magnum.

HITCHHIKER

331 North Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT 802-863-4475 | oldspokeshome.com

394 Mountain Road Ste. 6, Stowe, VT | 802-585-3344 hitchhikerbikes.com

Hitchhiker Bike Shop is Stowe's newest shop. We carry bikes from Rocky Mountain, Cervelo, Otso Cycles, Chromag, Open Cycle, and Gazelle E-bikes. If you are looking for a tuneup we offer service for just about every type of bike and budget. Service appointments are encouraged, but not necessary. You'll also find great clothing, parts, and accessories in our shop that is pedaling distance from the Cady Hill trails. See our website for more up to date information on the shop, services, and pricing or stop by and check us out next time you're in Stowe!

HIGH PEAKS CYCLERY

2733 Main St., Lake Placid, NY 518-523-3764 | highpeaks cyclery.com The Adirondacks' source for bicycling and outdoor gear since 1983! Sales, service, rentals and tours. Bikes by Salsa, Giant and Yeti. Your advenutre center for mountain biking, gravel and road riding adventures. Dirt, gravel, road and e-bike tours, Basecamp Lodge and dirt camps.. Hours: Mon – Fri 9 – 6, Sun 9 – 5.

MALLETTS BAY BICYCLE & SKI

794 W. Lakeshore Dr. Colchester, VT 802-863-2453 | Malletts Bay mbbicyle.com es��

Bicycle & Ski

Service, rentals and sales. Located on the shores of beautiful Malletts Bay, our shop offers expert repairs, top quality rentals, a fine complement of accessories and new bicycles from KHS, SWIX, Free Agent and Manhattan. Rent a bike and ride from the shop via the town rec path to the famed Colchester Causeway, the "Jewel of the Island Line Trail".

OLD SPOKES HOME

MOUNTAINOPS

4081 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT 802-253-4531 mountainopsvt. com

We offer bike sales along with fast, friendly service. Dealers of Niner, Scott, Devinci and Jamis, we carry a large assortment of mountain and gravel bikes including a 60 bike Demo Fleet. Our techs have years of experience and our local trail knowledge is second to none. Our converted 1893 barnturned-bike-shop houses a huge selection of bike and lifestyle clothing along with parts and accessories. Looking for a more mellow ride? Rent one of our cruisers for a trip down the legendary Stowe Rec Path right from our parking lot!

Vermont’s best selection of professionally refurbished used bikes and new bikes for touring, bike packing, commuting, fat biking, and simply getting around town. Named one of the country’s best bike shops for it’s “plain-talk advice and no-nonsense service.” A nonprofit as of January 2015, Old Spokes Home uses 100% of its revenue to run programs creating access to bikes in the community. And don’t miss their famous antique bicycle museum! Hours: Mon. – Sat. 10 - 6, Sun.

OMER & BOB’S

20 Hanover St. Lebanon, NH 603-448-3522 | omerandbobs.com The Upper Valley's bike shop since 1964. Offering mountain bikes, gravel and road bikes, hybrid bikes, e-bikes, and kids bikes from Specialized, Trek, and Electra. Featuring a full service department, bike fitting, mountain and e-bike demos, and a kids trade-in, trade-up program. Hours: Mon.-Friday, 9am-5:30pm, Sat., 9am-5pm

ONION RIVER OUTDOORS

20 Langdon St. Montpelier, VT 802-225-6736 | onionriver.com ORO is Central Vermont's premier bike, car rack, and outdoor gear shop. Friendly and knowledgeable sales and service. We carry Specialized, Niner, Rocky Mountain, Salsa, Surly, and Yuba, and a large variety of clothing and accessories, including Giro, Smith, Club Ride, Patagonia, and more.

OUTDOOR GEAR EXCHANGE

37 Church St., Burlington, VT 802-860-0190 | gearx.com Voted this year's MTBVT Best Bike Shop, OGE is a premier bike shop with knowledgeable, friendly and honest staff. We have affordable commuters from Batch Bicycles, gravel grinders from Marin, BMC and Niner, mountain bikes from Marin, Niner, Pivot, Rocky Mountain, Transition and Yeti. We also offer a wide consignment selection as well as a demo fleet so you can try it before you buy it. Our service department is capable of everything from tuning your vintage road bike to servicing your new mountain bike, and offers full Fox shock service. Come see us on Church St! Hours: Mon-Thurs 10-8, Fri-Sat 10-9, Sun 10-6

POWERPLAY SPORTS

35 Portland St. Morrisville, VT 802-888-6557 powerplaysports.com North Central Vermont's Trek and Giant Dealer nestled in the heart of bike country. Selling new and used bikes for every budget and every type of rider from beginner to expert. We service all manner of bike and sell tons of accessories and apparel. Bike rentals for the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail just 200 yards down the road.

RANCH CAMP

311 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT 802-253-2753 | ranchcampvt.com Ranch Camp is Stowe’s mountain bike base lodge and your hub for bikes, gear, and culture! Ranch Camp offers a full-service mountain bike shop, tap room, and fresh-casual eatery, featuring sales and demo bike from Specialized, Ibis, Yeti, Evil, Revel, and Fatback. Looking for top of the line mountain bikes and components? Got ‘em. How about local brews from new England’s finest purveyors of craft libations? You bet. And if you need a thoughtfully crafted grab-and-go meal for your ride, or a place to sit down and refuel afterwards, Ranch Camp has you covered. Best of all, Ranch Camp is situation trailside with its very own public access entrance into Stowe’s iconic Cady Hill trail network.

SKIRACK

85 Main St. Burlington 802-6583313 skirack.com Locally owned since 1969, Skirack provides gear, clothing, expert fitting and accessories for all cyclists, with full service tuning and repairs...plus complete bike suspension service on most forks and rear shocks. Designated one of America’s Best Bike Shops, Skirack is blocks from Lake Champlain. Open 8 a.m. Mon. - Sat. for bike service, car racks and rentals.

STARK MOUNTAIN

9 RTE 17, unit b Waitsfield, VT 802-496-4800 Find us on Facebook

Located at the lowest spot in the Mad River Valley so you can coast in when you break your bike on a ride! 21 years of advise,directions and fixing anything that pedals. Thinking about a Yeti? Come ride one of ours,we have been selling Yeti since 2006! Hours: Tues-Fri 9-6*, Sat 9-4, and Sunday 10-2. *Close at 5 on Thursdays for the Shop Ride.

24 TYGART

57 Pond St. STE 1, Ludlow, VT (802) 228-5440 Info@tygartmountainsports.com, Tygartmountainsports.com

We are a full service bicycle sales and service center. We carry a wide selection of Scott and Kona bikes and a variety of accessories from Scott, Giro, Louis Garneau, Blackburn, Park Tools and others. We offer service and repairs on all makes and models including in-house suspension service, wheel building, and full bike build-outs.

VILLAGE SPORT

25 SHOP

511 Broad St. Lyndonville, VT 802-626-8448| villagesport shop.com

Family owned and passion driven since 1978 we are a 4 season shop with 2 convenient locations. Focused on making everyday your best day with full service bike shops, rentals from Specialized, Transition, Pivot, LIV, Salsa and Giant, and bikes for every type of rider,. Looking for a new ride, new gear, replacement parts or a quick snack we got you there too. Ride in and out of our Trailside shop (2099 Darling Hill Rd) or stop in to our town store (511 Broad Street) on your way through we look forward to seeing you! We are #CovidConscious

WATERBURY SPORTS

46 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT

802-882-8595 | waterburysportsvt.com A full service bike shop selling Trek and Giant bikes in one of Vermont's most convenient locations. Nestled in downtown Waterbury a short distance from the Perry Hill MTB trails, WBS services all bikes and can handle any repair you might have. We also have a fleet of demo bikes and and an excellent selection of parts and accessories. Open 7 days a week!

WEST HILL SHOP

49 Brickyard Lane, Putney, 802-387-5718

westhillshop com West Hill Shop turns 50 this season, and welcomes Amy and Zach Caldwell as the third round of owners since the shop was founded in 1971. Some things are changing. Most things are staying the same. And Covid makes the rules for this year, like last year. Visit us to see what's happening and check out our lines of all types of bikes from Cannondale, Giant, Mondraker and more. We have e-bikes in stock.

JUNE 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 33

ENDGAME

ODE TO THE APPROACH SHOE

ON THE LONG GLORIOUS LIFE AND LUMP-IN-THE-THROAT DEATH OF MY DEAR, BELOVED APPROACH SHOES. BY LEATH TONINO

Saying goodbye to an old pair of climbing shoes or approach shoes is never easy. Even if they stink. Photo Adobe Stock

earranging my mudroom recently, stashing the winter gear and staging the summer gear, I was forced to confront the sad and troubling fact that my cherished climbing approach shoes are on death’s doorstep: half a heel missing, toes utterly blown, hemorrhaging sticky rubber, leather like a piece of Parmesan smashed against the grater. I’m hoping to visit Utah this summer—scramble sandstone domes, write vignettes—and the plan is to bring these haggard kicks with me, or what remains of them. They just might accept the abrasion of another reckless romp, just might hold together in spite of weeks of grit and aridity. After that, though... sigh. A funeral pyre is in the cards. It’s been a long time coming. Five years ago, a buddy in Jackson Hole, Wyoming noticed the floppy, bald, beat-ass sneakers on my feet—we were jogging the Teton Crest Trail, or maybe we were scrambling Teewinot, I forget— and being a generous and concerned fellow, the next morning he donated his pair of La Sportivas to my sorry tootsies. He had used them a bit, but they were rubbing him raw or something, so he was fine with handing them off. I remember him saying they were incredible—they basically gave a guy Spiderman superpowers—and that they would change my life. I also remember that he was incredulous that for all the time I spent in the mountains, both out

34 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2021

West and in homey Vermont, I had never owned a pair of proper approach shoes. I believe the pair he gave me are the Boulder X, though honestly I’m not certain of the model. What I am certain of is that these friends (I nicknamed them, brilliantly, Left and Right) have traveled with me over hundreds of miles of alpine talus and desert slickrock, muddy road and snowy path, even up and down the ladderlike rungs of a redwood in California and a Doug fir in Colorado. Additionally, there have been repeated explorations of the south face of Camel’s Hump, the intriguing ledges below Mount Mansfield’s Forehead, and Bristol’s soaring Deer Leap cliff. In my pursuit of wildlife and wilderness, of adventure and solitude, of the tangible world beyond screens, beyond politics, beyond abstraction, no piece of the kit has been more valuable. A bond is formed when you use your nasty, stinky shoes as a bivy pillow, you know? To say nothing of entrusting your life to them (a fat smear, a gulp, a prayer, a commitment). But now… goodbye? My love of the Boulder X (or whatever it is I’ve been wearing) really is pure and profound, a rare relationship for a dude who is an avowed Thoreauvian minimalist. Material items are tools to improve life, plain and simple, yet mostly I find that material items complicate and disturb life. These shoes are a glorious

“

In my pursuit of wildlife and wilderness, of adventure and solitude, of the tangible world beyond screens, beyond politics, no piece of the kit has been more valuable. A bond is formed when you use your nasty, stinky shoes as a bivy pillow, you know? exception. They are both a ticket to ride and a seatbelt while riding, both a passport to adventure and an embassy to call upon for support when, inevitably, the adventure gets too deep. You don’t put these shoes into action so much as the inverse: they put you into action. And then they watch over you, making sure you don’t do anything stupid. Let’s pause here and consider that interesting word: approach. There’s an anticipation embedded in the very name of these shoes, a sense of possibility, a yonder-horizon and around-the-next-

bend excitement. But what, exactly, are we approaching? It’s not only the summit, the horizon, the trail’s next bend. These unique shoes offer a unique way of approaching—a unique way of being with—the landscape. I’ve read articles about Charles Cole—founder of the company Five Ten, inventor of Stealth Rubber, brains behind the original approach shoe, a total boss—and apparently his idea was to make moving around unroped safer by increasing sensitivity. What we’re really approaching, therefore, is a kind of intimacy with the landscape, a kind of micro-nubbin awareness, a kind of sacred tactile trust. Bipedalism and the backcountry! Feet and the ground they meet and the sticky rubber that plays the part of Cupid in that relationship! Yes, Cupid, I like that reference. My approach shoes have helped me fall deeper in love with this infinitely textured planet. And come to think of it, those words I used in the preceding paragraph—sensitivity, intimacy, awareness, trust—all are related to the experience of being in love. In closing: I know that burning sticky rubber is not the best thing to do in this climate-deranged era of ours (I can taste the acrid black smoke already, eww), but hey, mortuary rituals are important— one’s got to pay respects. If a blazing Viking funeral is excessive, I suppose I could go with the ancient practice of interring the deceased with grave goods: a snatch of tangled white fleece from a mountain goat, a grouse feather, a crumble of Clif Bar, a torn corner of a topographic map, a splotch of sunscreen. Picture me at dusk, alone in the Breadloaf Wilderness, arranging my La Sportivas in the space between two leaning, lichened rocks, pouring out a shout (for my homies!) from a 40-oz Mickeys, then walking away barefoot, having learned from these shoes that, fundamentally, it’s a honed contact with the ground that I— perhaps that we—desire. No offense to greasy Green Mountain schist, but Sticky Rubber Heaven must be the High Sierra’s immaculate white granite, eh? Bon voyage, dear friends, dear Left and Right. As the late, great Warren Zevon sang, “Keep me in your heart for a while.” Leath Tonino is a native of the Champlain Basin and the author of two essay collections about the outdoors, most recently The West Will Swallow You (Trinity University Press). A version of this appeared on adventurejournal.com

AN EVENT TO BENEFIT

THE VERMONT FOODBANK

AUGUST 7, 2021

More Vermonters than ever don’t know where their next meal is coming from. The good news is that you can help! The Point to Point, powered by VSECU, is a cycling and running event to raise funds for the Vermont Foodbank and support their mission to fight hunger in Vermont. To meet this unprecedented need, our goal this year is to raise $200,000. Visit thepointtopoint.org to learn more.

HELP FIGHT HUNGER

Vermont Sports 2021 June Issue

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