Crosstober hits its sixth anniversary this year. The event, a sassy mix of party and sports, takes place each year at the River Run Lodge, indoors and out. This year events will occur Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to dark.
The sports aspect is all about derring-do and chutzpah. Cyclocross combines aspects of mountain biking, racing and running. The participant is carrying his or her bike, climbing, jumping over obstacles and dirt racing.
"When I was growing up in Southern Florida, there were gigantic Octoberfests," co-organizer Billy Olson said. "I thought, why don't we have that here and include cylcocross? Now it's grown into what we imagined. My philosophy is throw a party and have a bike race rocking around in the mud. Cross is better when the weather is bad, and parties are better if the weather is good. So it's good no matter what."
Olson owns Power House Bike Fit Studio in Hailey and runs the nonprofit cycling club Sun Valley Road & Dirt, which organizes such events as the Hailey Fourth of July Criterium, the Wood River Cup as well as adults' and kids' bike camps. Co-organizer Sam Cochran is retail operations manager at Sun Valley.
Saturday and Sunday will have the same races but Sunday is the Idaho State Cyclocross championships.
"This was the first cyclocross in the state," Olson said, by way of explaining how that honor was bestowed on Sun Valley. "Now there are 20 events in southern Idaho. It's a growing sport. It's definitely the hip thing to do in the sport now. It's kind of the punk rock of cycling."
Helping out with the races will be Olson's latest gadget, an electronic timing system.
"We've been raising funds for it," Olson said. "Every rider will have a chip they'll carry. We'll use it for all the big races. We felt like it was the next step to streamline things and there's less margin for error."
Other new items include the custom-made cow bells to be awarded to the first-, second- and third-place finishers. Also custom-made will be 20-ounce souvenir porcelain beer steins that will come with one free fill and a discounted price after that.
The beauty of this event is that it's open to anyone, with any kind of bike. No one needs to qualify, and people can register the day of the event or go to powerhousefitstudio.com.
"This is huge," Olson said. "We must have had 500 people last year and close to 100 kids in the 12-and-under race. It's really evolved."
The Damphools, the Bifurcated Monkeys and other bands will provide music. Two tents will be buzzing with action, including one for kids managed by Cassi Griffin, the craft queen of the valley, with games and activities, and another gigantic tent where racers will actually go right through the middle.
"We're really trying to gear it as a community event," Cochran said. "Sun Valley worked to make it more family friendly" by making a menu that is less expensive and more portable.
The food for sale inside will be things like pizza slices, brats, sausage, hot dogs, fries and warm pretzels. Along with a blazing fire and no-host bar, River Run Lodge will be hopping with various goings-on.
"One of my favorite memories was when I went in to the lodge and everyone, some 200 people, were singing Edelweiss," Cochran said.
There is a long list of prizes for the raffle, including a pair of Stockli VXL Stormrider skis, a Scott Cyclocross bike, trips, gift certificates and much more. Tickets cost $5 each and will be sold at the event. Winners must be present to win.
As well there will be several extra activities this year: A tuning clinic will be held to which people can bring their skis, but not drop off. The 20-day pass, which normally costs $800,will be sold on Saturday and Sunday for $700 if purchased in person. And Pete Lane's will be setting up lease programs over the weekend at the River Run store.
Also on Saturday, Scott USA will unveil its new carbon fiber, ultra lightweight, Pro Cut Addict Cyclocross bike, complete with media hoopla.
As Cochran and Olson pointed out, the event has a little something for everyone: shopping, kids, bike racing, music, great food and drink, a great spectator event and even a job fair for Sun Valley on Saturday.
"It went from just a cross race to a festival," Olson said.
Proceeds from the event will in part support Sun Valley Road and Dirt programs and maintenance on the bike trails out Croy Canyon in Hailey.
Race Categories & Start Times for both days:
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Registration and packet pick up
12:30 p.m. Category B, 40 minutes + 1 lap.
1:30 p.m. Shimano Youth Series 10-12 year olds, 10 minutes + 1 lap.
1:45 p.m. Shimano Youth Series, 7-9 year olds, 5 minutes + 1 lap.
1:55 p.m. Shimano Youth Series, 6 and under, 1 lap.
2:15 p.m. Category A, 60 minutes + 1 lap.
Some 100 kids get started on their cross race last year at River Run during Crosstober. Photo by Willy Cook
