PHOTOS

(c)Liam Doran 485-2071

WELCOME to the 2009 FIRECRACKER 50!

Registration for the 2009 Firecracker 50 is CLOSED, this includes the waiting list.

We are working down the waiting list in order

Your last chance to get in the race will be Saturday morning. If we have no shows we will reassign their number plates. Again, we will work down the wait list. If people on the wait list do not show then we will issue raffle tickets to all in attendance and do a draw for any remaining spots. That ought to be interesting!

Jeff

ALL PRE-REGISTERED RIDERS!
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A WAIVER. PRINT IT OFF, FILL IT OUT AND BRING TO PACKET PICKUP. IF YOU ARE TRAVELING AND THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE DON'T WORRY! WE WILL HAVE BLANKS AT PACKET PICKUP. THANKS YOU!

NEW FOR 2009

FIELD LIMIT
New for 2009 is a field size limit of 750. Let me be clear...that's 750 race plates. Why the distinction? Because a team counts as one!
Why the limit? A couple of reasons...
First and foremost, our USFS permit says so...that's reason enough really!
Second, we don't believe bigger is necessarily better. We heard from a few last year that the route was pretty crowded on Lap 1. On Lap 2 the pack thins out considerably especially when you consider the DNF rate (25% in 2008). We believe now, as we believed in the beginning, that quality is better than quantity and that taking care of the racer is Job #1. Now, there's a chance we will NOT fill and we will be able to accomodate everyone that wants to participate. How do you know how full the race is so that you can make that Game Day decision? We will post the total number of registrations-to-date on the homepage bulletin. We will update a couple times a week through the end of April and then more frequently as we get into May.
Bottom line here is...Register early. We were over 750 last year!

TIME LIMIT
In the interests of safety, a time limit will be imposed for 2009. The cut-off location is Aid Station #2 on Lap 2. This is Mile 36.5 and the cut-off time is 4:15PM. For a racer starting at 11:15 this allows them 5 hours or an average speed of 7.3mph. Projected over the 50 mile course, 7.3mph equates to a total time of 7:08. We feel this is a reasonable rate of speed for Sport racers and allows faster racers time to deal with mechanical issues and still make the cut-off.
Any racer arriving at Aid #2 after 4:15 will be directed downhill on French Gulch Rd. to downtown Breckenridge.

START INTERVALS
We are working with the great folks at the Breckenridge Resort Chamber (they organize the parade) to utilize two minute start interval between waves. At the very least we will go with two minute intervals for the Marathon Championship Open categories. We are working out the logistics and impacts on the parade timeline if we go with two minute intervals throughout.

START ORDER
Pro/Open Women will start with the Pro/Open Men. They will line up at the back of the Pro/Open Men's field and roll out together. Last year the gals had to work their way through a throng of Open class men and as pros you deserve a clear track. Also, due to their popularity the Maverick and Singlespeed classes will start separately.

COURSE IMPROVEMENTS
Due to some classic Red Tape our efforts to turnpike the Mt Pride mud section were stymied. We will be implementing some short term measures and the project will be completed this fall.
Sally Barber Rd will once again be two way traffic! Please remain heads up as you climb and Stay Right. Descending riders are encouraged to back off an MPH or two and Stay Right. The race is never won on this descent but it could be lost and then some.
Lastly, remember Nightmare on Baldy? Nightmare was the wicked steep loose descent that dumped you out at Sally Barber Mine. Well...it's gone! Nightmare has been replaced with brand new contouring singletrack. Thanks to Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Town of Breckenridge Open Space and Trails, Summit County Open Space and Trails and about a gozillion volunteers. Completed in July 2008 this new trail is Awesome!

GT GOLDEN RACE SERIES
This year's Firecracker has been selected as part of the GT Golden Bike Series. The short story is GT will give a FREE bike and an All Expenses Paid trip for two to the next race in the series. The prize goes to the 1st Place non-Pro finisher. This is a super cool promotion and all details are posted at www.gtisgolden.com.

THE HISTORY

What started out as a gleam in our eye has grown into a staple on the Colorado mountain bike racing calendar. Why the 4th? Because absolutely nothing athletic was happening in our town. Sure Scott Yule, Mike Zobbe, Ellen Hollinshead, Monique Merrill, and a host of other local mountain goat legends were bagging a 14er, skiing 4th of July Bowl on Peak 10, or riding their favorite epic. But nothing organized was happening. Where I come from there is at least a dinky little July 4th 5k Run just about everywhere; and then people get with family and friends, BBQ, and relax for the rest of the day. On July 4, 2000, while watching the parade after a morning bike ride, Mike McCormack and I looked at each other, cut our palms with a rusty chain tool, high fived each other and made a blood pact. The Firecracker 50 was born!
So...welcome to the 2009 Firecracker 50, welcome to Breckenridge, welcome to our backyard!

Jeff
PS Not racing and would like to volunteer? Drop me a line.

Past Pro Champions
2001 Melissa Thomas/Dave Wiens
2002 Michelle Keane/Jimi Mortenson
2003 Mary Grigson/Craig Gordon
2004 Danelle Ballengee/Travis Brown
2005 Gretchen Reeves/Liam Killeen
2006 Gretchen Reeves/Bryan Smith
2007 Shonny Vandlandingham/Jay Henry
2008 Sari Anderson/Jeremiah Bishop

USA CYCLING MARATHON MTB NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

For the third year in a row the Firecracker 50 plays host as the USA Cycling Marathon MTB National Championships! We are honored to have the distinction.
What's it all mean?
It means that 12 people will be crowned "National Champion"...on the 4th of July...you know, Independence Day?...they'll don the Red, White, and Blue Stars and Stripes Jersey that all National Champions receive. The symbolism's compelling. We think that's pretty cool!
What's it mean for you? Nothing new since 2007...the race will be formatted in similar fashion.
There are "Open" categories that will vie for the National Championships. We are still offering other categories too! Just means that those other categories will NOT be up for National Championship designation.
It also means that anyone in an "Open" category, those racing for the National title, MUST have an annual license AND must be a U.S. citizen. No exceptions!

The cost for a license is $60 and for an add-on it's $30.
One day licenses are still available to all other categories for $5.

Click the USA Cycling logo for a direct link to membership sign-up information!

PRIZES

The Top 5 in USA Cycling Marathon National categories will be recognized.

Open category winners will be crowned National Champions and will receive the Stars and Stripes Champion Jersey and Gold Medal. 3rd through 5th places will receive Medals.

Cash Payout for Pro/Open Men and Women:
1st=$600, 2nd=$400, 3rd=$200

All non-championship categories will be recognized 3 Deep.

AWARDS CEREMONY
Awards for The Sparkler will start at approximately 1:00
Awards for the Pro/Open Men and Women will be presented at approximately 4:00.
Awards for all other categories will be presented at 6:00.

ENTRY FEES

The Sparkler
Beginners and Juniors-$55 pre-registered, $65 day-of

The Firecracker 50
All Open categories and all other solo categories-$75 pre-registered, $85 day-of

Teams
$130 pre-registered, $140 day-of

INCLUDES:
DeFeet Woolie Boolie Firecracker 50 socks
Vintage Firecracker 50 Ringer T-Shirt for Men...Ladies Spaghetti Tank Tops
Goody Bag
Post Race Food Orgy-veggie food too!
Bike Wash
Body Wash-aka showers
4 Aid Stations per lap with energy foods and liquids
Intermediate Times
Moto Support
Medical Support
Parade-more on this later!

REGISTRATION and PACKET PICKUP

PRE-REGISTRATION
Click the Register Now button for SportsBaseOnline registration. Online Registration closes July 1 at 8:00pm MST.

Click Here for a 2009 Mail-in Registration Form
Click Here for a Waiver
Waivers for all pre-registered racers, including on-line registrants, will be available at packet pick-up. All fields will be pre-populated and all that is required is your signature!

PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSES ON JULY 2 at 6:00pm
The last chance to register without incurring a late fee will be on July 3rd from 5-8:30pm at Great Adventure Sports, City Market Plaza, Breckenridge, 453-0333. No other registration opportunities exist on July 3!

DAY-OF REGISTRATION
At Carter Park, site of the transition area, finish and post race festivities.
Day-of reg opens at 8:00 and we'll keep it open until the RACE STARTS AT 11:00AM
A $10 late fee will be applied to all day-of registrations.
METHOD OF PAYMENT ON RACE DAY: CASH OR CHECK ONLY!

PACKET PICK-UP
At Great Adventure Sports, City Market Plaza, on July 3 from 5-8:30 pm
OR
At Carter Park the morning of the race, July 4, beginning at 8:00.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Come see what the local mountain goats ride every day. Each 25 mile lap has 5400' of climbing. Fortunately for you a bunch of that is on the climb out of Breckenridge on the old narrow gauge Railroad grade. The race starts the 4th of July Parade in a neutral start format by start wave. From there the odyssey sends you into the Backcountry. There are a couple of grunty little climbs (especially coming out of Lincoln Park, locals hate that one), a couple of long lungbusters (up past the old snowplow at Iowa Mill and Little French), some absolutely rippin' descents (from Humbug to Lincoln Park) and plenty of contouring flume and singletrack (Little French Flume) for you to mash on your big ring (or your only ring if your sick enough to go singlespeed, right Tim G?).
Take my word for it, the course is a full-on MTB course. It has it all and it's no gimme!

Click Here for Course Map

Click Here for an Elevation Profile

Click Here for a written Course Description
PRE-RIDING
Always a popular topic...
We will start marking the course on Thursday, June 26 and have the confusing sections ready to go by that weekend.

AID STATIONS

Use 'em...trust me...
One of our slogans is "you can go long and you can go light".
There are 4 Aid Stations per lap. Check the map for locations. We'll have an army of volunteers out there doing hand-ups. For info on personal items read below*.
Aid Stations will be stocked with Gatorade and Water in bottles that will fit in cages.
Thanks to our ongoing relationship with CLIF we will provide Clif ShotBloks and ClifBar Minis.

*To those of you who have given us feedback on having more variety at the Aid Stations this is for you! We truly appreciate the comments. It's just not possible for us to predict the likes and dislikes of several hundred people. Therefore we continue to support you with CLIF energy products, water and Gatorade.
If you want personal items at each Aid Station drop them off by 9:00 the day of the race at Carter Park in the appropriate truck. The trucks for Aid Stations #1, #2, and #3 will be parked on the lawn with signage (Aid #4 is right there in Carter Park so you can walk across the lawn and drop it off yourself!)
We'll gladly get the stuff out there for you and bring it back to Carter Park at the end of the day (approx. 6:00pm).
YOU are responsible for finding your own stuff at the Aid Stations! We'll have the personal items set aside from the neutral stuff to make it easier for you to find your items.
(Surefire way to get your stuff fast is to have your own support staff out there doing hand-ups for you. Our volunteers will be handing up neutral aid and can't be expected to know what your stuff looks like...)
LITTERING!!!
A big deal in 2007. Here's what we'll do for you to make it easier NOT to litter in the backcountry...we'll place a garbage can 100 yards or so past each Aid Station. Get the the trash in, or near, the container and we'll take care of the rest. It is completely inexcusable to intentionally leave your wrappers and bottles out there! We realize there is a requisite amount of post race cleanup that is our responsibility. Frankly, I was appalled last year at the amount of stuff that was a long way from the previous aid station. There's an aid station every 6 miles. If you can't discard your trash at the garbage cans then please hang onto it until the next aid station.

THE PARADE AND START FORMAT

Ever been in a 4th of July Parade? If not get ready for what some call the best way to start a race. Yeah we've heard from a few morning birds that they'd prefer to get up early and get on with it. We've heard from many, many more that the Parade start is worth waiting until 11:00.
Imagine a small village in France that the Tour goes through with people lining the course 4 deep on both sides. We do a pretty good rendition of that! All those folks are waiting for the parade to start and you guys are the first spectacle to come rolling down Main St. Go ahead and high five the little kids, say a Happy 4th of July to a few folks, and enjoy the attention. It's a rare treat.
And besides, an 11:00 start allows for you to sleep in and have a nice big breakfast, lots of coffee, and put a last minute tune on the bike.
The race will begin in a neutral start format by start wave (see waves below). Each wave will have its own marshal/leader that will roll at 10MPH. At the south end of Main St. the race moves to a width of one lane and the yellow line rule is in effect. Please DO NOT PASS your marshal until they pull out of the way. This will happen at South Park Ave. and the race is on!

START WAVES
10:55 Pro Open Men and Pro Open Women
10:57 Open Men 19-29, 30-34
10:59 Open Men 35-39
11:01 Open Men 40-49, 50-59, 60+
11:03 Open Women 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50+
11:05 Maverick Men and Women
11:06 Singlespeed Men and Women
11:07 TEAMS
11:08 Sport Men 19-29, 30-34
11:09 Sport Men 35-39, Clydesdale
11:10 Sport Men 40-49, 50+
11:11 Sport Women 19-29, 30-39, 40+
11:12 Juniors, Beginner Men, Beginner Women

LODGING

Great Western Lodging is the official lodging partner of the Firecracker 50. Jeff and Chad are avid cyclists and Great Western sponsors a Mountain Bike Junior League Team in the local series The Colorado Freeride Summit Mt. Challenge.
Great Western Lodging offers condo and private home rental. Please inquire about the possibility of a late check-out.
Click Here or call 888-333-4535.
For other accomodations, including hotel type environments, visit Breckenridge Central Reservations

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