Mountain Biking in the Rain: Destroying the Environment "for a good cause"
Mike Vandeman
protect themselves from us.
Mike
From: "Steve Plausteiner" <sp...@ascutney.com>
Subject: Fw: "Slick trails a stern test for ultra athletes at Vermont
50"
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 11:02:07 -0400
Dear Mike:
I believe you are ill-informed about the VT 50 race. First, this is
not, a for profit event for the resort, but rather a fundraiser for
the Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports Association. This organization is
made up of a group of volunteers who provide an incredible opportunity
for people who may not otherwise be able to enjoy the outdoors.
Without fundraisers like this they may very well not be able to
continue this great work.
You should also know this is a community event in every sense of the
word. I am but one of countless landowners who work with this group to
provide the trails for the race and they have hundreds of volunteers
who spent an entire day in the cold rain, again just to make sure that
these terrific programs continue. You should also know that this group
takes it upon themselves to prepare, maintain and repair any damage to
the trail network caused by the race. I have been a sponsor in this
event for over 10 years and like other landowners who care a great
deal for their property I have not experienced any of the destruction
you allude to.
In short, the group of people who put on this event are an
inspiration. You on the other hand are uninformed, arrogant and
selfish. If they will have me, I will support this groups efforts
every time. Please do not contact me or my company again.
Sincerely,
Steve Plausteiner
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mike Vandeman [mailto:mjv...@pacbell.net]
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 1:07 PM
To: in...@ascutney.com
Subject: "Slick trails a stern test for ultra athletes at Vermont 50"
I'm thoroughly disgusted that you would treat any natural area to such
abuse. Mountain biking is already extremely environmentally
destructive, but riding wet trails makes that damage much worse. It's
clear that your resort is placing profit over responsibility. For more
information on mountain biking and its impacts, see
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/mtbfaq.
Mike Vandeman
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090929/SPORTS/909290313/1007/SPORTS
Slick trails a stern test for ultra athletes at Vermont 50
By JARED PENDAK Valley News Staff Writer - Published: September 29,
2009
BROWNSVILLE One competitor at a time Sunday, the Vermont 50 mountain
bike race and ultramarathon left its mark on both runners and mountain
bike riders.
Racers crossed the finish line drenched and covered in mud at Mount
Ascutney Resort after trudging through 50 miles of slick trails,
partially flooded dirt roads and muddy farmland. It was the 22nd
installment of the popular event, which had approximately 1,250
competitors pre-registered to benefit Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports,
a volunteer organization founded by West Windor's Laura Farrell that
provides programs and equipment to disabled athletes.
Traversing public and private land in Brownsville, West Windsor,
Windsor, Hartland, Woodstock and South Woodstock, the mountain bike
race caps participation at 650, spots that fill online each year
within minutes. To accompany the traditional 50-mile individual run, a
50-mile relay and 50-kilometer run have been added in recent years to
extend the race's reach.
"We wanted to start introducing our event to a new population of
people," said Farrell, who at age 57 coped with bad knees while
running the 50K. "We wanted to get more people open to ultra-running
and long distance running. Some people might want to start at the
lower levels and build up to the 50-mile race, or some older people
may have degenerative conditions or injuries that prevent them from
going 50 miles, but they still want to get out there."
The Vermont 50 has raised nearly $650,000 for VASS since its
inception. Its scope continues to broaden, though the number of no-
shows and "did not finish" racers was predictably high yesterday in a
steady rain. Those who did finish generally had times slower than
usual as competitors battled clogged gears, slippery terrain and
plenty of puddles.
Etna native Will Letendre was able to win his Expert/Veteran division
and placed second overall to Bethel, Conn.'s, Jesse Jakomait
(4:43.00), but not without being hampered by the elements.
"The dirt roads had a quarter-inch of water on them and the horse
holes were pretty tough," said Letendre (4:47.51), the overall winner
in 2006 and '07 before he finished second last year. "The trickiest
part was just how slick the roots were on the trails, but I didn't see
anyone fall on them."
Plenty of people did spill, and some of them didn't return. Four
people were taken to Mount Ascutney Hospital for minor injuries,
including mountain biker Andreas Eisenberger, who needed 12 stitches
in his knee after a fall on the opening stretch.
"I lost my grip on the handle bars and took a pretty good spill," said
Eisenberger, who traveled from Belvidere, N.J. His friend, Jeff
Bressler, also called it a day when Eisenberger went down.
"It was my fourth or fifth time (at the Vermont 50) and my first did-
not-finish," Bressler said. "Basically, I wimped out because it was so
slippery and cold."
Some paid the price for their endurance. Two-time Canadian road racing
Olympian Lyne Bessette stopped for encouragement from landowners along
the course and crossed the finish line in tears after more than seven
hours.
"It was just so hard and so muddy; I never thought it would take so
long," Bessette said.
"I've been training for the Toronto Marathon and my achilles are very
sore."
Dartmouth College mountain biking club riders Noah Harwood (7:33.20)
and Tom Flynn (7:33.22) finished unscathed by injury, but their high
finish times reflected a different issue.
"We took a wrong turn and ended up on about a 10-mile detour," said
Harwood, who first biked the Vermont 50 as a youngster competing on
the Eastern Fat Tire Association circuit. "That probably cost us an
hour."
Flynn, the Dartmouth Outing Club president, raced in the event for the
first time and had mixed feelings about the terrain.
"There was some really good riding, but some of the roads I wouldn't
care to see again," he said.
Yesterday's trying conditions are unlikely to stop most competitors
from coming back.
The course features extensive elevation shifts and goes through the
property of 66 landowners, many of whom allow organizers to alter or
create trails on their property.
"It's a really good cause and there are really good people involved in
the race," said Bruce Merritt, who has offered part of his land in
Hartland since the race's inception.
"It's rare that you hear people complain about wear and tear on their
property, because I think we enjoy that it's a community event."
This year's turnout raised roughly $40,000, race director Mike
Silverman said. The money will allow VASS to help disabled people of
all ages.
Middlesex native Phil Beard said VASS's presence is felt at the
state's ski resorts, many of which feature its programs.
"I ski and snowboard at Sugarbush, and you always see the Vermont
Adaptive people out there having a blast," Beard said. "I see blind
skiers with guides doing a whole lot better than I am. It's a unique
course and a great course, but when you see stuff like that it makes
you feel good."
Valley Residents in the Ranks: Letendre wasn't the only elite runner
from the Upper Valley to finish yesterday's Vermont 50. Molly Housman
of Cornish Flat won the 30-39 female class of the 50-kilomter run in
4:53.53, while Norwich's Nicole Yokum (5:00.36) won its 20-29
grouping. David Cahill of Norwich was third overall in the male 50K
run, finishing in 4:21.38. Thetford's Brent Mellen (15th overall)
placed third in the Expert/Senior Male II division, followed by
Lebanon's Clinton Angwin (eighth in Senior Male II) with a time of
4:57.07. West Windsor's Bobby Farrell (5:57.40) placed second in the
Expert Senior Male I class, 15-year old Zeb Leister of Hartland won
the Sport/Junior Male division in 7:22.05 and Hanover's Chad Denning
(6:21.17) placed second among Sport/Senior II males.
Complete race results will be posted today at www.vermont50.com.