Fat Bike Course Recon

Sunday February 26th we will be holding our first ever "fat bike" race. The start time will be 10"30am. It will be one distance, with awards for classes. We are working on a flyer and will have posted with more information as soon as available. This is a low key fun event. The course will run on lakes, swamps, bootleg snowmobile trails, snowpacked gravel and forest roads, bushwhacking through the woods, ski trail and a short section of singletrack mtb trail. Distance is around 8 miles. Ride time should be anywhere from 5o minutes to two hours. This post is to show a little bit of what the course will look like. Of course, weather can change how things look and could be either hard pack and fast or fresh snow and slow! The course is also subject to change, depending on race day conditions. With Lotvola Cup on Saturday, plan on making a weekend out of it at Maplelag! Special rates for participants. Call or email for information: jrichard@arvig.net


Start on the lake in front of main lodge.

Ride along the edge of the lake.

Make way to Bullhead bay!

Snowmobile trail through Bullhead bay.
Fresh coyote scat on the trail.
In to the woods from Bullhead bay.
Out of the woods on to Bulhead lake.
Bullhead lake.


End of lake through marshy area.





Ditch riding after riding through the woods. Left on to Sugar creek rd.
Sugar creek rd.

Left off of Sugar creek rd. Bushwhack through woods to ski trail.
Hike a bike through woods. Ski trail in distance.


Take left on North Loup ski trail. Ride on skate deck. (closed until race day)
Fast and fun rollers on North Loup.

Right off of North Loup to Roy's Run ski trail than left on Sugarbush trail rd.

For the first time in 15 years, someone plowed Sugarbush trail. Darn. Much easier riding.


Right off of Sugarbush trail then left on to Maplelag driveway than left on last section of mtb singletrack to finish the loop! Check back for latest updates and information.

Race of the Year

Thanks to everyone who voted the 2011 Laddies Loppet the “race of the year” of the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series

Big thanks again to our volunteers and outstanding staff that helped make it happen. Information about mountain biking at Maplelag on the bike trail report page.

Lakeside Singletrack Riding at Maplelag

Twin Lakes Singletrack Video

Singletrack Escape

The Minnesota series wrapped up the last weekend in September at St. Cloud and the Singletrack Escape. A handful of riders toed the line to battle one more time against series competitors. Great job to everyone racing the Minnesota series and thanks for waving the flag.


Skinnyski recap


Link to YouTube video clip of St. Cloud


Denny Barry post race.

Jake Richards ready to ride the rock garden section en route to a fifth place overall finish and secure 3rd place overall in the Elite class.
Jeff Beck post race.

Keep the wheels moving!

Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival

A good representation by the team at the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival in Cable/Hayward, WI., racing in the 16 mile Short and Fat, the Fat Tire 40 and the Cable Crit Cross on Sunday.
Midwest MTB Report race report on skinnyski.com with results and more great photos. Nicely done Bruce Adelsman of skinnyski.


Alye DeRoma finishing strong in the Short and Fat en route to a top 10 female finish and first place in age group.
Dan DeRoma pushing to a 65th place finish and 2nd in the age group.




Jay and Jonell back in action on the tandem in the Short and Fat.
Jake Richards racing in the 40 for the first time recording a 59th overall finish.
Brandon Charboneau on Seely Fire Tower Climb. Placed 817th Overall.


Mason Bacso on Fire Tower hill, placing 164th overall.


Always smiling and positive Steve Wenzel after completing another 40 in 349th place in 2:41:41
Jeff Hall of Team Hollywood, (Maplelag partnered with team H-Wood), nailing down a top 15. Former winner of the Fat Tire 40 and Short and Fat.

Mr H-Wood himself having fun in the 40.
Kristi Henderson taking on her first 40.

Other team placings (sorry no photos) include Matt Engen at 706th place and breaking the 3 hour barrier, and Denny Barry at 1003 place, just missing getting under 1000
Sunday was Crit Cross racing action. Mason, Jake and Jay in the start of the A final.


Jake bunny hopping the barriers and would eventually take the win in a nice battle with Joseph Maloney.


Mason Bacso crossing to a spot on the podium with a third place finish.

Jay rolling across fourth as the rain was coming down nicely making for perfect conditions. 3 of 4 team riders in the top four.
Jon Richards going low during the Sunday Funday bike limbo. Jon won the event.
Jake taking another bunny hopping title. Was third in the hill climb.

Great job to everyone this past weekend. Lots of great riding the next month or so....keep the wheels moving!

Laddies Loppet Mountain Bike Stage Race

Wow, awesome weekend of mountain biking at the home base as 25 riders waved the flag in great form (and Eleni making noise nicely!). I think pretty much everyone had one of their best races of the season at some point of the weekend. A good indication of how this team is as they display their awesome riding skills on the challenging course at Maplelag. Great job to everyone who toed the line and thanks for doing such a great job of representing. We are proud of everyone and honored to have such a solid team.



Mason Bacso starting the weekend out by hitting the lake jump, throwing down a 360.





Nephew Ripley Garden racing in Kids Comp. "Uncle Jay, I want to do two laps in the short track, not one".


Nephew Garret Horsager charging at the finish line after having chain trouble.
Nephew Grant Horsager dicing it up in Kids Comp.
Ben Wenzel not giving up after breaking a chain.
Jeff Beck weaving through the trees. Jeff had the Paramount tent set up helping out riders with any tech issues.
Jack Richards racing Kids Comp. Jack did all three stages this year. Proud of Jack.
Tony Schmitz on the new Twin Lakes singletrack. Tony designed the race shirts.

Denny Barry showing the youngans how it is done in Sport on the lakeside drops.
Michael Cisek lakeside.
Tom Heilman racing Sport.


Corey Coogan Cisek putting everything on the table and picking the good line in the short track. Consistent second place finishes.

Matt Wenzel having a great weekend stepping on the podium often and taking second overall in the stage race for Comp.
Steve Wenzel having a top notch weekend as he leads a group in the short track.
Matt Horner also having one of his best weekends of the season.
Dan DeRoma hitting the Maplelag trails for the first time, racing Comp.
Sam Oftedahl mixing it up in the short track, pulling Hollywood through. Hollywood's new team kits waving the Maplelag flag nicely. Top three finish in the cross country. Almost bridging the gap to second.
Lars Ellefson doing battle with Devin Curran. Lars was running good in the xc until his rear derailleur blew up.
Jake Richards leading the chase group in the short track en route to his best ever finish at fourth.
Mason Bacso going all out in short track.
Alye DeRoma climbing lakeside, en route to a fourth place finish Elite women. First time racing at Maplelag.
Love this picture. Wyatt and Devon Horner chatting it up with Cole Johnson pre-race. Cole has been waving the shorts during the season.
Jens Richards throwing it down in short track.
Andrea Horner making for an exciting race in short track.
Eric Oftedahl posting consistent top 7 results over the weekend and top five stage race.
Jake and Jessica Stelter rolling the tandem in the time trial.

Thanks again to everyone and awesome job racing.
Keep the wheels moving!