Iceman - Kalkaska, Michigan - Nov. 8, 2008
Wolverine Sports ClubMountain Bike Team Race Report (Nov. 8, 2008)
Iceman - Kalkaska, Michigan
Tim Finkel - Place: 31st Pro Men - Time: 1:36:21 "The course was fast rolling and tenacious from the gun to the finish line. My positioning in the hole shot was about as bad as it can get but I tried to pick up as many spots as I could throughout the race. Overall I am satisfied with my time and the entire weekend was another great experience to add to the books…until next year."
Cruise Bogedin - Place: 32nd Pro Men - Time: 1:36:22 "A poor start position left me few opportunities to pass during the chaos of the first few miles. Once the field thinned out I went into TT mode to pass as many people as I could. I eventually caught a group around mile 10 that had Tim in it. I felt great the whole race and I'm satisfied with my time. Next year I'll make sure to have a better start."
Kelly Paterson - Place: 19th Pro Women - Time: 2:09:27 "My goal was to start out last and finish last so I could have the whole trail to myself. I had a great time without working too hard. The dirt and decaying leaves smelled great, the hail was refreshing, and the wicked downhills were a blast."
Patrick Russell - Place: 4th Singlespeed Men 39 & Under - Time: 1:46:57 "The top three singlespeeders gapped the field within the first three miles leaving me in no-mans-land. I rode the remainder checking the rear wheel of every racer I passed hoping to see only one cog. I was able to keep a high pace and meet all my goals for the race."
Thomas Markley - Place: 10th Expert Men 45-49 - Time: 1:48:27 "Classic Iceman …took the advice of a friend and raced my age group… While I think my time would have been faster run’n with the Pro’s; it was awesome to Road Rally back to the start, then to the mid-point (Williamsburg) and then hang out at the finish line, to watch some top ranked Pro’s battle it out… Great day!"
Simon Bailey - Place: 26th Expert Men 35-39- Time: 1:50:58 "This is an awesome race - I'll definitely be back next year for another try and with a little experience on what to expect I think I can prepare better and ride faster because I definitely went out too fast and suffered over the final hour of the race. What should I have expected after only racing 45min cross races for the past two months!"
Tim Devost - Place: 19th Expert Men 45-49 - Time: 1:52:49 "Almost perfect conditions. The start put me mid-pack. Settled in and started picking riders off. 5 miles in I latched onto a group of 6 - the push was on! Mile 18 the group started to break up and I passed em as we crested a hill. Mile 23 my right shifter came loose and was dangling by it's cable. Iceman is such a great venue! And the beer wasn't too bad either!"
Doug McKibbon - Place: 42nd Expert Men 40-44 - Time: 1:55:41 “After falling in the first sand pit, I regained my composure, and began settling into my pace, passing people throughout the race. I felt strong on the hills, and was glad to finish my first Expert race, and first Iceman. A great weekend, for sure. My kids will be doing the Snow Cone race next year.”
Cody Brown - Place: 15th Expert Men 19-29 - Time: 1:56:00
Scott Kroske - Place: 26th Expert Men 45-49 - Time: 1:56:21 "Fast start, adrenaline kept me in the lead group for a few miles, got dropped on a climb, took back positions on flats, lost ground lugging my fat ass up those hills. Great having so many Wolverines in one race."
Scott Dill - Place: 47th Expert Men 35-39 - Time: 1:56:56 “I started in the back of the expert group, which was a mistake, but finished the second half better than the first. Of course I had hoped to go a bit faster, that will just give me incentive to train a bit harder. Overall it was a fast race that had great energy and camaraderie with the Wolverine Team.”
Alan Smith - Place: 29th Expert Men 30-34 - Time: 1:59:42 "I was sitting about 10th wheel overall for experts 19-34. On the first significant downhill with 17 miles to go, I heard the sound of catastrophic carbon failure as my handlebar snapped. Hard crash, scraped myself off the ground, pedaled my broken bike in, sans R brake and R shifter, and still almost beat my time from last year. Bad race, good story, great weekend!"
John Sammut - Place: 71st Expert Men 40-44 - Time: 2:03:55 "My first ever Iceman! Conditions were good. Despite a few mechanical, I had a great time. I was hoping for a little better finish time, but that just gives me a goal for next year. I will be back!"
Luke Cavender/ Rippin - Place: 1st S/E Tandems - Time: 1:49:13 “The course was really fast and smooth and no traffic until we hit the singletrack and yes single bikes were holding the tandem up. After that it was smooth sailing to the finish. We hope to race with the pros next year. Watch out Tim the tandem is coming to town.”
Ray Dybowski - Place: 6th Sport/Expert Clydesdales - Time: 1:50:54 "Won the hole shot, crashed in the same early sand pit as last year and like last year had to chase like crazy. The fast course made all us Clyedales roll well. Next years the 20th Iceman and will be my 19th attempt for a victory, I think I'll get it!"
Patricia Covert - Place: 3rd Sport/Expert Women 45+ - Time: 2:06:51 "The weather was better than expected with temps 40 degrees & a few sprinkles. The start caught me off guard as I was fiddling with my watch. I got back into the thick of things & started working my way up. I fell twice, my chain came off once, and I had a great time!"
Scott Fabijanski - Place: 3rd Sport Men 40-43 - Time: 1:54:11 "I managed to get the hole shot, roll off the front, and get out of sight while 100 spirited sport racers gave chase. Once out of sight I put the Wolverine hammer down riding solo until mile 25 where I was caught by a couple of riders to finish 3rd. My Trek Fuel EX never let me down."
Tim Grose - Place: 2nd Sport Men 50-54 - Time: 2:02:51 "Karma was definitely with me. Finished second out of ninety plus riders in my category. Got off to a terrific start and managed to stay with a lead group of five riders. All those Wolverine road rides definitely paid off! Still had something left at the end and managed to clear "Anita's Hill" and "Icebreaker". This was my fifteenth consecutive Iceman. It was a total blast!”
Benjamin Wilks - Place: 10th Sport Men 30-33 - Time: 2:04:19 "First surprise was the decent weather. Chilly and drizzle, but overall a good day for racing. If I had to do it over, I'd move a level up...there were a number of times I got stuck behind groups, but I really don't have any complaints. One of the best weekends in quite awhile! Wish I'd known about the party bus...may have to streak it next year."
Jason Mulawa - Place: 11th Sport Men 25-29 - Time: 2:06:24"What a great race! Started out well, sitting in second heading into the single track. Mechanical ending up slowing me down and dropped me well off the lead. Ended up passing a lot of people, hoping they were from my group but no luck. Pretty satisfied as I crossed the line in 11th for my first Iceman/first race ever.”
John Talbot - Place: 11th Sport Men 47-49 - Time: 2:10:02 “Got to the start with 5 minutes to go, no warm-up. My goal, top 20. Rolled the start and after 5-10 minutes started moving through my field. Stopped to kiss my wife at the uphill feed station (didn't lose any places) Rode steady to the finish and got 4 guys from the last turn to the finish line. Felt great! Excellent way to end the season.”
Doug Hedges - Sport Men 40-43 – DNF “Our wave was one of the largest, so passing was difficult, but my Gary Fisher Tassajara was up to the task. I pushed hard and passed riders both where I could and probably shouldn't. Then at the same hill that snapped Alan's handlebar, I took out my yet-to-heal collarbone and my race came to an abrupt end. Still, an awesome event! Looking forward to next year.”
Reported by: Robert Herriman
