REGISTRATION OPENS AT 

10am JANUARY 1ST!

The race is free again this year and only open to 74 riders.  Register soon to avoid getting left behind. 

Register here:

https://twc.athlete360.com

There is a $20 option to donate towards grooming efforts on the registration page.  The money generated for this will be split to help single track grooming for Dubois and Jackson area.  

Happy New Year💥

The main event will be held at 9am on March 4th.  There will be a group ride Friday night with live music Saturday evening in the lodge.  Group rides on Sunday morning as well!  

Race this Saturday!

If you are checking this blog, you already know about the event.  So I won't bore you with details.  Sign up!  It's time to commit!  We have about 10 spots left and the 9th annual Togwotee Winter Classic is going to be warm and fast.  Come join us.  Register at https://twc.athlete360.com/

Heck, print and bring two copies. Just in case your buddy forgot his.

Let er' snow

Weather is looking great for Saturday!   All riders are highly encouraged to have flashing front and rear lights.  Helmets are required!!!  Please have your own printed copy of the map with you.  Pre-race meeting is in the lodge at 8:15am and race starts at 9am, sharp!  THE COURSE IS NOT MARKED with any tape or flags!!  You only will have the forest service signs at intersections to help you along the way.  Know you own fricking way!!  It's nobody's fault but your own if you get lost and getting lost is seriously dangerous when you are this far away from any food and water and warm cloths.  Get it?  Print a map.  Select the links to the right to view and print maps.

Did you know you can buy an annual trail pass that helps the forest service out in their grooming?  While they are not required for us on race day, they are encouraged.  Many of us will not have the $35 pass but I'd like to encourage us all to donate a couple bucks and we will purchase as many passes as we can with the donations.  I hope to get enough to buy two trail pass stickers and the winner of the 25 mile race (man and woman) will get to keep that cool sticker.

Lets RIDE!

The race is on folks!
February 28th, 2015
Togwotee Mountain Lodge

Hello Togwotee Winter Classic race fans.  Let me start by introducing myself.  My name is Adam Leiferman and I'm from Casper, WY.  I am the president of Fat Fish Racing mountain bike club and combined with the 27 other members of our team, we host cheap or free races throughout the year in Casper.  I have raced the TWC for 3 years.  The race quickly became my favorite race of the year for many reasons.  In 2012 I rode a fat bike for the first time (beyond 20 minutes).  It was on a borrowed bike from a great friend who couldn't make it to the race that day.  I remember hanging on to Jay's and Bill's wheels for the first hour or so.  They turned to the 35 mile course while I rode the 25.  I soon started the worst bonk of my life, falling often and just walking along my bike instead of riding.  It was a blast!!!  2013 was a record setting year with the lead pack of the 35 mile race looking like a pro peloton.  2014 was my favorite year yet.  Friends from Casper and even my brother and his fiance came to race.  We had a fun night sharing stories and talking tire pressure over beers in Dubois the night before the race.  On race day, the snow was good.  Pretty fast until we turned to the "K" trail.  Soft and deep snow was our battle for the next 10 miles.  Racing side by side with my brother was a first for me and a race I will never forget.

It is with great pleasure that I share with you all that the Togwotee Winter Classic will continue!!

Thank you so much to Dave Byers for your mentoring while all the calls and emails were made to make this race happen.  I am so grateful that you put your trust in me to continue where you left off and I just hope that this race continues to make you proud for years to come.  The race course is the same.  The schedule is the same.  The race is still FREE and open to just 74 racers.

The Togwotee Mountain Lodge is so kind to offer us that huge room to use and they are excited to have the race continue, this year and for years to come.  A big thank you to the rangers with the Bridger-Teton National Forest who I had the chance to talk with on the phone.  These guys are great and nothing but supportive of the event.  

See you at the lodge Saturday morning at 8:15am for the pre-race meeting!!

The End.

After seven wonderful years, I have decided to step down as the Race Director of the Togwotee Winter Classic and will no longer organize the event.

My experience organizing the race has been nothing short of amazing and I step away with a huge smile on my face and many wonderful memories.  From the beginning, the simple goal of the Togwotee Winter Classic has always been to help grow the niche sport of fat biking.  It was a small way for me to give back to the sport I love.  The sport has certainly come a long way since eight adventurous racers (seven Surly Pugsleys, and one over-matched Surly Karate Monkey 29er) took the start line on Jan 19th, 2008.

Thank you.

I want to thank each and every participant who has ever attended a Togwotee Winter Classic.

I want to thank Togwotee Mountain Lodge for welcoming our merry band of fat bikers each year and for their generous support of our event.

I want to thank the many sponsors who donated prizes each year and supported my vision.

Lastly, I want to thank my wife Michelle for her unconditional support.

Thank you for sharing my stoke for Fat Bikes!

2014 Togwotee Winter Classic Results

Link to PDF:  2014 Togwotee Winter Classic Results

2014 Togwotee Winter Classic Race Updates

3/7/14 Update:
Please print the Togwotee Winter Classic Cue Sheet & Map and carry it with you during the race.

2/28/14 Update:

Are you ready for the 2014 Togwotee Winter Classic? We are a little over a week away from this year's event and we will have our largest field ever.  As of today, we have 69 racers signed up and five spots remain available.

I hope your training is going well.

Being a self-supported, no entry fee event, we try to keep things pretty simple on race day. The emphasis is on FUN & SAFETY.

Safety
You are responsible for You!  I would strongly recommend using a front & rear blinking light on your bike during the race. Also, if you plan to race the 35-mile loop, and conditions are soft & slow, you should pack a headlamp/handlebar light that is suitable for night riding.  Carry enough food & water to last the duration. There are no aid stations or resupply points on the course. Carry everything you need from the start.  Lastly, please yield to all snowmobile traffic at all times.

Over the years, we have seen conditions vary from "Cold, Firm, & Fast" to "Snowy, Soft, and Slow". Be prepared for anything.

Where am I going?

The upper right portion of this page contains a section called "Race Information". You can find maps & GPS files there. The course is NOT marked for the race. However, most intersections are marked with the trail names.

Race Day

8:15am - Voluntary Pre-Race Meeting in the Fireside Room, Togwotee Lodge

9:00am - START, across the highway from Togwotee Lodge

12 - 5pm - No host Food & Beverages in the Fireside Room
3pm (Or when the majority of racers have finished) - Awards & Raffle. Trust me, you will want to stick around for this.

Lodging
‎Togwotee Mountain Lodge is a great place to stay the night before the Togwotee Winter Classic. You can call Central Reservations at 866-278-4245 or you can book online. 

2014 Togwotee Winter Classic Date Announcement

The 7th Annual Togwotee Winter Classic will be held on March 8th, 2014 at the Togwotee Mountain Lodge. As in the past, this event will be FREE and will be limited to 74 riders in order to comply with USFS regulations. To secure your spot, please click over to the Togwotee Winter Classic page on Athlete360 and register.

2013 Togwotee Winter Classic Race Video

2013 Togwotee Winter Classic Fatbike Race from Dave Byers on Vimeo.

The 2013 Togwotee Winter Classic Fatbike race was held at Togwotee Mountain Lodge in near-perfect conditions with mild temps, clear skies, and firm trails. 44 racers took the start line and course records were set in the Men's & Women's 35-Mile categories. All video footage was shot using Drift Innovation cameras and K-Edge GoPro camera mounts.

Special thanks to Jay Petervary for a great job filming from various points along the course.

2013 Togwotee Winter Classic Results

2013 Togwotee Winter Classic Race Updates

2/24/13 Update:

The Field Limit has been increased to 74 racers. Click over to the Athlete360 page and register now before its too late.

Kick-Ass Trophies by BicyclArt

New for 2013, we have trophies by BicyclArt for the Top 3 racers in each category:  Male 25-Mile, Female 25-Mile, Male 35-Mile, Female 35-Mile.  In addition, we will have raffle prizes from several sponsors.

2/20/13 Update:

In case you need some extra motivation to get ready, here is a short video from the 2012 Togwotee Winter Classic:




Lodging
‎Togwotee Mountain Lodge has generously offered room discounts to racers for the 2013 Togwotee Winter Classic. You can call Central Reservations at 866-278-4245 or you can book online. The group code for booking the room is 2017SE.  http://www.togwoteelodge.com/

Safety
You are responsible for You!  Having said that, I would strongly recommend using a front & rear blinking light on your bike during the race.  Also, if you plan to race the 35-mile loop, and conditions are soft & slow, you should pack a headlamp/handlbar light that is suitable for night riding.

Stoke
We have 43 racers confirmed as of 2/20/13 and there are a few "usual suspects" missing from the list. Could we actually fill up and get to 50 racers? We had eight brave souls start & finish the 1st Annual Togwotee Winter Classic.  Thanks for the support!

Important Links
GPX File, 25-Mile Loop

GPX File, 35-Mile Loop

Route Map

2013 Togwotee Winter Classic Date Announcement

The 6th Annual Togwotee Winter Classic will be held on March 9th, 2013 at the Togwotee Mountain Lodge. As in the past, this event will be FREE and will be limited to 50 riders in order to comply with USFS regulations. To secure your spot, please click over to the TWC Page on Athlete360 and register.

 

2012 Togwotee Winter Classic Results

The 2012 Togwotee Winter Classic was contested in soft conditions. 3-5" of light snow fell on the course during the night and it continued to snow all day during the event. Exposed sections of the course had significant drifting and at times visibility was limited. Although everyone had to push at different times, most racers were able to ride the majority of the time.

Although several folks decided to ski powder instead of racing their fat bike, we had a record number of racers line up on the starting line. Thanks to everyone who came out and by brought a positive attitude.

35-Mile
1st Bill Martin - 5:59:13
2nd Jay Petervary - 6:52:30
3rd Bryan Safarik - 7:55:30

25-Mile
1st Chase Beninga - 4:12:00
2nd Adam Leifelman - 4:16:00
3rd Dave Byers - 4:22:00
4th Eric Greenwood - 4:25:00
5th Tracey Petervary - 4:43:00
6th Scott Fitzgerald - 4:56:00
7th Chad DeVall - 4:56:00
8th Tiago Reis - 5:00:00
9th Margot Watters - 5:15:00
10th Chuck Schuster - 5:15:00
11th Katie Engleman - 5:17:00
12th Dave Bergart - 5:17:01
13th Bret George - 7:09:00
DNF Randy S.
DNF Len Carlman
DNF "The" Dave Saurman
DNF Gabe "Fiddee Cent" Klamer
DNF Niki Tishhauser
DNF Andy Williams
DNF Erin Reis
DNF Rick Buchanan

5th Annual Togwotee Winter Classic

3/1/2012 UPDATE:

Race Date: Saturday, March 3rd, 2012
Pre-Race Meeting: 8:15 AM
Start Time: 9:00 AM
Entry Fee: Free
Start / Finish: Togwotee Mountain Lodge
Registration: 50 Racer Limit, please send an email to reserve your spot
Awards: There will be a few raffle prizes and/or prizes. Most importantly, we will gather in the bar at Togwotee Lodge to relive the day's glorious events immediately following the completion of the race.
Map of the area: Continental Divide Snowmobile Map

We will offer two distances. Race the 25-Mile loop OR the 35-Mile loop. You must declare your distance before the start of the race. Choose wisely!

REMINDER: The sponsors, organizers, and anyone else having anything to do with this race are NOT responsible for your safety. We cannot stress this enough. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU.

2011 Togwotee Winter Classic, Race #2 Results & Pics

The TWC Race #2 was met with good conditions despite concerns that it might be soft and sloppy. Overnight temps in the teens firmed up the trail nicely and temps in the 20s to low 30s made for a pleasant day on the trails. For the first time we offered two distances and this format was a hit with the racers.

35-Mile Results
1st - Carey Smith - 3:43:00 (35-Mile Men's Course Record)
2nd - Bryan Safarik - 4:15:00
3rd - Dave Byers - 4:15:02
4th - Hamilton Smith - 4:30:00
5th - Dave Bergart - 4:44:00
6th - Katie Engelman - 5:00:00 (1st Woman, 35-Mile Women's Course Record)

25-Mile Results
1st - Dave Saurman - 3:23:00
2nd - Michelle Byers - 3:24:00 (1st Woman)
3rd - Tony Labbe' - 3:37:00
4th - Chris E. - 3:50:00
5th - Scott Fitzgerald - 4:00:00
6th - Len Carlman - 4:15:00


Pics courtey of Lori Clark-Erickson & Dave Byers

Thanks again to our sponsors for supportig our snow bike races!

2011 Togwotee Winter Classic, Race #2

UPDATE: 3/8/11
The forecast looks good, not great, for the TWC Race #2. A clear cold night Friday would firm up the trails nicely. Not that it really matters 'cause we are racin' anyway and it will be glorious!


Date: Saturday, March 12th, 9:00am Start
Entry Fee: Free
Start / Finish: Togwotee Mountain Lodge
Registration: 50 Racer Limit, please send an email to reserve your spot
Awards: There will be a few raffle prizes and/or prizes. Most importantly, we will gather in the bar at Togwotee Lodge to relive the day's glorious events immediately following the completion of the race.
Map of the area: Continental Divide Snowmobile Map

We will offer both distances. Race the 25-Mile loop OR the 35-Mile loop. You must declare your distance before the start of the race. Choose wisley.

REMINDER: The sponsors, organizers, and anyone else having anything to do with this race are NOT responsible for your safety. We cannot stress this enough. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU.

The Togwotee Winter Classic Race #1 Video

2011 TWC Race #1 from Dave Byers on Vimeo.

Watch it full-screen and turn the music up!

2011 TWC Race #1 Pics

Thanks to Lindsay at Windy Ridge Photography for taking a few pics despite the flat light. If anyone is interested in purchasing pics, visit the Windy Ridge Photography website.