Stampede thunders onto local trails

The Sisters Stampede thunders onto local trails for its inaugural two-wheeled showdown 11 a.m., Sunday, May 30.

The cross-country mountain bike race will feature two courses for experts and beginners on the Peterson Ridge trail system and a post-race party at Three Creeks Brewing Co. with music by Bend bluegrass favorites The Moon Mountain Ramblers at 3 p.m.

Organizer and race director Joel Palanuk wanted to have a working fund for the GreenRidge Physical Therapy/In Focus Eye Care cycling team which caters to amateur riders in Sisters and even some new high school racers.

"Having the Stampede race generates money for the team and gives back contributions to Sisters Trails Alliance for single-track maintenance and trail repair," said Palanuk.

"I got the idea last year and had always dreamed of putting on a quality mountain bike race with great prizes and enthusiastic sponsors. We talked to some people from our cycling team and got motivated to see it through. It really started to materialize with the Forest Service okaying the permit to race."

Pre-race registration at Eurosports will occur on Saturday, May 29, from 2 to 5 p.m. Race-day registration will be at Three Creeks Brewing Co. from 7:45 to 10:30 a.m. Cost for preregistration up to May 29 is $35 per racer. Entry on race day is $40.

Participants will need to purchase an Oregon Bike Racing Association license for insurance purposes and state sanctioning requirements. Fees are $7 for a one-day license or $22 for an annual pass. All entries will receive a custom water bottle, recovery snacks, Hammer Gel and Heed electrolyte sports drink, plus free downloadable race photos and admission to the Moon Mountain Ramblers concert after the race. Three Creeks Brewing Co. will be introducing a commemorative "Stampede Ale" in honor of the race's opening year.

The race begins at 11 a.m. sharp. All categories are separated with Pro and Category-One racers first, then each successive group following a few minutes apart.

The race course on Peterson Ridge will consist of a 13-mile loop for beginners and a 27-mile course for the pros and advanced cyclists. A unique start/finish will begin in the field behind Sisters Movie House. Climbing on the route is very gradual with some nice rocky technical sections for which Peterson Ridge is known.

"We really want to encourage people who have never raced to come out and try their first race. There's 25 separate categories that fill a wide range of ages and experience, from 55-plus all the way down to juniors 11 years old and up," Palanuk said. "There's even a free kids race for 10-year-olds and younger before the awards ceremony, with fun prizes."

$500 in cash prizes will be distributed for the top three overall winners and the overall men's and women's winners in Pro or Category One will receive a custom "Stampede Champion" belt buckle plus one night at FivePine Lodge, dinner for two at Three Creeks Brewing Co. and movie for two at Sisters Movie House.

Volunteers are still needed. For info visit Eurosports or http://www.sistersstampede.com.