Nobody does stupid like we do stupid.
It was wet, slick, and vile. The tread was like pudding. Perfect conditions for the 2019 Climbing Championship at Growlers. With three new climbs on tap and a group of 24 stellar riders - including four former top-three placers - spectators saw an incredible display of strength, stamina, and technical skill.
It all came down to the last climb on Buffalo. Sterling Sobczak and 19-year-old Garrett Madras had nailed every foot on the first four climbs. Sterling rode first and rang up 420 feet on the final climb; Garrett fell a single foot short at 419. This was Sterling’s first Growlers podium.
Climb #1 (500): Again, we started with the east side of TFB, which features five switchbacks. We changed things up by extending the climb a bit, and when riders reach the 450-foot mark, they had to navigate a log-over. This climb set the tone, as 13 riders made the full-pull.
Climb #2 (250): It was the shortest climb of the day, but it was vicious. This one started at the bottom of the First Lower KMA. After you went through the ditch, which was more difficult than you might think, they came up against a steep, greasy wall. Those who cleaned - Bill Larson, Garrett Madras, Jerry DeRuyter, Scooter Sutterer, and Sterling Sobczak - had a log-over at about 225 just to make sure they weren’t taking things for granted.
Climb #3 (300): We continued up the First Lower KMA to the bridge. The real highlight here was that very difficult left-to-right corner with the root step-up. Again, riders who got that far were greeted with a sick feature at the 275-foot mark to up the ante. Sobczak, Madras, and Bob Stanton were the only ones to make this one.
Climb #4 (400): Things got slimy on this one, which was ridden backwards on the section of the Big Wow that runs along the road. Horse traffic had already made it dicey. Add muck, a narrow-rutted line, and two very steep pitches and you can understand why riders were punished here. It was mind-blowing to see 12 riders clean the entire thing.
Climb #5 (475); We were back at last year’s finishing leg, starting from the bottom of the Buffalo. It’s the perfect spectator’s venue, with great views of the riders as they make their way up the hill. We also built an inhuman over at the top of the first hill, just to let people know we were serious. The final climb was ridiculously slick for those who made it that far. No one made the entire thing.
Thanks to the volunteers who helped with measuring and recording: Ben McCormack, Nic Khajavei, Carter Hanley, Lizzy Fitch, Isaac Fitch, Andrea DeRuyter, John Rickenbach, Tela Rickenbach, and Suzie Griffin.
Total footage was 1,925. See results below.
- Steve Basden: 655
- Dave Bisers: 1,149
- Al Cabrera: 1,703 (6th)
- Andy Crump: 1,699 (7th)
- Jerry DeRuyter: 1,845 (3rd)
- Nathan Frechen: 1,244
- Andrew Holder: 1,798 (4th)
- Jeanine: 952
- Daryl Kent: 1,427
- Bill Larson: 1,645 (9th)
- Rye Livingston: 1,694 (8th)
- Garrett Madras: 1,919 (2nd)
- Kim McCormack: 1,535
- Aurora McCoy: 618
- Wayne Nussbaum: 1,196
- Mike Packer: 1,793 (5th)
- Matt Smith: 735
- Sterling Sobczak: 1,920 (1st)
- Bob Stanton: 1,545
- Nancy Stone: 929
- Scooter Sutterer: 1,564 (10th)
- Marty Swanson: 1,004
- Ben Tai: 1,293
- Jeff Wize: 1,057