PHOTOS

(c)Liam Doran 485-2071

VOLUNTEER!

Are you interested in helping out at this year's race? We'd love to have your help. We ask for a minimum 3 hour commitment and you'll receive an Event T Shirt, Event Socks, Post Race BBQ, Band and Party.
We do have positions available on July 1, 2, and 3 if that works better for you.
Contact jim@mavsports.com.

WELCOME to the 2010 FIRECRACKER 50!

Greetings! As of May 4 the field size of 750 has been reached. We are currently accepting registrations to the Wait List. Please see that section below for all details.

Jeff

WAIT LIST DETAILS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Why is there a Field Limit of 750, why can't you simply take all comers?
Couple of reasons...our USFS permit limits us to 750. The course is super bomber but impact is a concern we all need to consider for our sport to sustain itself.
The second reason is the rider experience. Even with two minute start intervals between waves and a 6 mile road lead-in to the first singletrack, Lap 1 is busy for the first 12 miles. Lap 2 is a different story because of a 20% DNF rate and the fact that racers get spread out over the 25 mile loop.
Frankly, more is not better!

2. How big is the Wait List and where am I in the queue?
a. Click Here to view the entire list of Registered Athletes including the Wait List (BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR THE FILE TO LOAD). The Wait Listed people will be at the very bottom of the list indicated by a "W".
b. Once the File has loaded, Click the word "Date" in the header row. The Wait List will now be sorted, at the bottom of the list, by Registration Date and Time.
There is no priority given to one category over another, even National Championship categories. In other words if you're on the Wait List you do not need your category to free up in order to get in. It's first come, first served regardless of category.

3. What are my chances of getting in?
Tough question to answer. Last year there were approximately 20 cancellations and 17 no shows. We offer a cancellation period with a refund (SBO Service Charge not included in refund) to all registered athletes through July 1 at 10:00pm MST.

4. Can a friend who has a spot give their spot to me?
No. Entries are not transferable. This would be unfair to the next person on the Wait List. However, if your friend has a solo spot talk them into doing a team with you. That we can accommodate!

5. How am I notified if I move from the Wait List into the race?
When a racer cancels, the next racer on the Wait List is moved off the Wait List and into the race. An email is automatically generated informing you (so make sure the email address in your SBO Profile is current). Your credit card is only charged if you make it into the race.

6. How often is the Wait List updated?
The Wait List updates automatically.

7. How are Race Day no shows handled?
On Race Day, once Packet Pick-up closes at 9:15, we will slot people from the Wait List into unclaimed number plates. We will work down the Wait List and if someone on the Wait List is not present, the next person that is present will be entered. If there are still unclaimed plates and we have worked down the entire Wait List, then those spots will be available to people who have arrived and signed up that morning. So the best advice if you think you'll be in town is to REGISTER FOR THE WAITLIST NOW. People showing up on Race Day that are not on the Wait List will be added to the end of the Wait List first come first served.

8. How do I register for the Wait List?
Click the Register Now button for SportsBaseOnline.

You must create an SBO Profile.

9. Can I email you or call to be added to the Wait List?
Sorry! The technology exists for this all to be handled electronically. Big thanks to Sportsbaseonline for the great service!

10. How do I remove myself from the Wait List?
Go to www.sportsbaseonline.com
In the upper right hand corner select Profile
Enter your User Name and Password and Click +Login
On the left hand side of the screen Click View Your Events
Review your "Joined Wait Lists"
Click "Remove from List"
Be sure you are removing yourself from the correct event
Click "+Confirm"

CANCELLATION POLICY

Email westy@mavsports.com by July 1 at 10:00pm MST. Bug me until you get a reply.
If you signed up online, you will be refunded your entry fee MINUS the Sportsbaseonline service charge AND a $1 refund fee.
So if you paid $85 for the race you would be refunded $84. If you paid $95 for the race you would be refunded $94.
If you are one of the few that mailed in an entry you will receive a full refund.

PACKET PICK-UP

Packet pick up will be available on July 3 from 5:00-8:30pm at Carter Park, site of the finish area.
You may also pick up on Race Day beginning at 7:15am, also at Carter Park.
PACKET PICK-UP ON RACE DAY CLOSES AT 9:15

To get there:
From I-70 take Exit 203.
Take Highway 9 south to Breckenridge (9 miles)
At the Roundabout stay straight onto Main St.
Take first left onto French St.
Go straight through three stop signs (well...you should stop first)
At the intersection of Adams and French you have some parking options.
1. Stay on French one more block, turn left at Jefferson and park in the Elementary school lot.
You'll have to negotiate the new fencing but this puts you right next to Carter Park.
2. Go 1/2 block past Jefferson and park in the Klack Placer Lot. This puts you adjacent to Carter Park and there's a gate in the fence. Walk across the ball field to the Pavilion.
3. Go 3 blocks further on French to the Stephen C. West Ice Arena and walk or ride over to the Pavilion.

TIME LIMIT

In the interests of safety, a time limit will be again be imposed for 2010. The cut-off location is Aid Station #2 on Lap 2. This is Mile 36.5 and the cut-off time is 3:15PM. For a racer starting at 10:15 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 3:15 will be directed downhill on French Gulch Rd. to downtown Breckenridge.
In 2009 we did not need to enforce the cut-off. There were a few riders that called it quits on their own but we did not have to be the bad guys!

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!

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
2009 Heather Irmiger/Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski

USA CYCLING MARATHON MTB NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

For the fourth year in a row the Firecracker 50 plays host as the USA Cycling Marathon MTB National Championships!
What's it mean for you? Nothing new since 2007 EXCEPT THE NEWLY CREATED SINGLESPEED CATEGORIES!
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. 2nd 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 12:00
Awards for the Pro/Open Men and Women will be presented at approximately 3:00.
Awards for all other categories will be presented at 5:00.

ENTRY FEES

The Sparkler-a 14 mile portion of the 25 mile loop designed for Beginners and Juniors
$60 pre-registered, $70 day-of

The Firecracker 50
USAC Marathon National Championship categories $95.
All other solo categories-$85 pre-registered, $95 day-of

Teams
$140 pre-registered, $150 day-of

INCLUDES:
DeFeet Woolie Boolie Firecracker 50 socks
Vintage Firecracker 50 Ringer T-Shirt for Men...Ladies 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!

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.
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.
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
9:45 Pro Open Men and Pro Open Women
9:50 Open Men 19-29, 30-34, Open Singlespeed Men
9:55 Open Men 35-39
10:00 Open Men 40-49, 50-59, 60+
10:02 Open Women 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50+, Open Singlespeed Women
10:04 Maverick Men and Women
10:06 Singlespeed Non-Champs Men and Women
10:08 TEAMS
10:10 Sport Men 19-29, 30-34
10:12 Sport Men 35-39, Clydesdale
10:14 Sport Men 40-49, 50+
10:15 Sport Women 19-29, 30-39, 40+
10:16 The Sparkler-Juniors, Beginner Men, Beginner Women

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 Friday, June 25 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! 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.

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 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 accommodations, including hotel type environments, visit Breckenridge Central Reservations

Website | Summit Creations