For the first time ever Big Sky Resort opened its mountain to off-road motorcycle racers Saturday and Sunday, September 19th and 20th as the first annual Big Sky XC Presented by KLIM (www.bigskyxc.com) took over the mountain.
Big Sky Resort (link: www.bigskyxc.com) is well known in the snow sports world for its extreme ski and snowboard terrain as well as hosting world-class mountain bike trails. After the weekend of racing, word has spread quickly that it is an equal challenge on a motorcycle. And just as fun!
Starting area of the 2009...
Starting area of the 2009 Big Sky XC
With the iconic Lone Peak looming directly ahead and ski lifts dangling above, all of the race courses started in the ski base area. The racers then funneled into a single track course that included rocky switchbacks, wide open service trails, steep down-hills, technical climbs, and the much talked about A-class-only rock garden.
Many of the 204 racers and their families started arriving at Big Sky Resort on Friday afternoon. Rows of campers, motorcycles and families settled into Big Sky's free skier parking lot quickly filling with the sights and sounds of a motorcycle pit. After several hours of registration, racers took advantage of the area's local establishments while others enjoyed the free movies in the resort's amphitheater.
Saturday began with the unclassified event, which had well over 100 entries. While nearly all of the entries consisted of racers looking to gain a possible edge over their competition, several self proclaimed non-racers signed up just to get a chance to ride on the resort's untouched property. Saturday was a full day of racing as it also included the youth, women, and novice classes on the Green Circle course.
After a dusty day of racing on Saturday, nature's alarm clock sounded at 5:30am Sunday morning with window-shaking thunder that rumbled in day two of racing. Luckily, along with the thunder and lightning came some much needed rain, creating perfect racing conditions for Sunday's B and A classes.
The Inaugural Big Sky XC Presented by KLIM AA class included many talented racers from Montana and surrounding states. At the end of lap one, CJ Hymas of Pocatello, Idaho was a minute and a half ahead of Cameron Weaver. Weaver, a local favorite, looked comfortable on his bike early, but mechanical problems unfortunately ended his day at the start of lap two. At the halfway point most arrived at checkpoint two already looking exhausted. When hearing the announcement that there was an hour and a half left in the race, Arizona KLIM rider Max Gerston gave the checkpoint attendant a high five, let out a whoop of approval, and wheelied the entire length of the start straight. Gerston put on an inspired comeback that left him less than a second behind Hymas at the end of the three hour race. Mason Harrison of Medford, OR finished third ahead of Matt Stavish of Scandia, MN and Kevin Miller of Bozeman, MT. Gerston proclaimed afterwards, "This is my new favorite race!".
The more common experience...
The more common experience in the rock garden
CJ Hymas took home the weekend's top prize, an engraved rock taken directly from Lone Peak. This special award earned new meaning after many of the A riders struggled in the race course's uphill rock garden.
Now nicknamed the "Little Erzberg", promoters are confident that the Big Sky XC presented by KLIM will become an off-road classic in its own right and are looking forward to watching it develop its own unique reputation. While everyone agreed the course was tough, the word "fun" was the most popular description.
Big Sky Resort has already expressed interest in scheduling the 2010 Big Sky XC. An upgraded website with loads of photos and information will be up before the end of this year.
Continue to page 2 for RACE RESULTS...
 AA 1st Overall racer CJ Hymas...  AA 1st Overall racer CJ Hymas making the rock garden look easy |  The final seconds of the race....  The final seconds of the race. Max had closed a fairly large gap to finish less than a second behind Hymas. |  |