Big Ole Supathon/Mountain Biking

BIG OLE supathon

Unique among Midwestern stand-up On Saturday is the family-friendly Long paddleboarding events, the Big Ole Prairie river cruise with the 10-mile option SUPathon is a two-day event designed beginning at 9 a.m. at the Lake Carlos Marina. to help promote recreational paddling The 8-mile event will begin one hour later. on the Alexandria’s Chain of Lakes and the Check out the Big Ole SUPathon on FaceLong Prairie River. book or visit the site at https://paddleguru. The Big Ole SUPathon is being held July com/races/BigOleSUPathon2019. 16-17 and includes lake courses of 4.5, 12 or 26 miles and river courses of 8 and 10 miles for FRIDAY, JULY 16 paddle boarders, canoeists and kayakers of 7 a.m. – 26-mile Big Ole SUPathon all skill levels. 10 a.m. – 12-mile Sven race The event kicks off at 7 a.m. on Friday, July Noon – 4.5-mile Lena race 16 at the East Lake Miltona public access 4-6 p.m. - Post-paddle awards party at Arrowwith the signature 26-mile Big Ole SUPathon wood Marina. event, with the other races following. There will be support staff with snacks and water SATURDAY, JULY 17 along the courses as well as guide boats on 9 a.m. – 10-mile Long Prairie river cruise the larger lakes. 10 a.m. – 8-mile Long Prairie river cruise There will be a celebratory post race ceremony recognizing the marathon finishers, FOR MORE INFO top fundraisers and volunteers at Arrowwood Visit https://paddleguru.com/races/BigOleSUMarina. Pathon for full event registration and info.

MOUNTAIN BIKE trails at Brophy

Area bikers have even more options with “You can actually get parallel to the ground the addition of mountain biking trails on some of them,” he said, while bikers can at Lake Brophy County Park, with the soar several feet into the air on the jumps. The Runestone Off Road Cyclists Club playing biking term “mandatory air” most definitely an integral role by helping secure federal applies. matching grants. DRAWING CARD

The results are a wonder to behold. Another Douglas County Park, Kensington

“We’re really happy with the way they turned Rune Stone Park, has fairly-new dedicated out,” biker and club member Jeff Brand said. mountain bike trails that include a 3.5-mile “It’s difficult. It’s unique.” loop and several shorter ones. When you add

It also prompted a veteran mountain biker to those to others, including ones being built in call the trails “amazing.” Glenwood, the area will be able to claim 35-40

Brand explained that most trails in Minneso- miles of trails, Brand said. ta are cross-country oriented, weaving through The Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails in wooded areas. These, Brand said, feature Ironton are often mentioned as a big regional “rocks, rollers and burns … and a fair amount of draw for bikers, and trails in Duluth and the elevation in a relatively short space.” Twin Cities also bring bikers from outside

Todd Emmons, another dedicated bicyclist, the area. The Brophy trails could fit the same has spent a lot of time on the mountain bike bill, with Brand calling this a tremendous trails at Lake Brophy County Park, and has opportunity to bring bikers from all over into been quite impressed. the Douglas County area.

The trails are on a rolling hills setting, and Emmons agreed. have jumps and banked corners. “We’re going to draw some of those people here,” he said.