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Celebrating the Keweenaw’s mountain biking trails and community, Copper Harbor hosts the Copper Harbor Trails Club’s Copper Harbor Trails Fest. The annual event will invite well over 500 bikers to the small town. Trails Club Executive Director says that there are plenty of great things to do around town during the festival. All you have to do is hop out of the car, unload the bike, and get on the trail.
“It’s such a small town you’re probably going to park your car once, and then hop on your bike to get everywhere you need to go. That’s going to be the easiest way to get around, because otherwise it’s a bit overwhelming with people, and cars, and bikes. That really it’s the fastest way to get places is to hop on your bike and go down the trail.” Nathan Miller, Executive Director, Copper Harbor Trails Club
Tonight trails fest will kick off with a free movie showing in Donny Kilpela Memorial Park. Trails Fest will show Nothing’s For Free, which tells the true story behind the birth of freeride mountain biking.
“On Friday this year we’ve added a showing of a mountain biking film. A documentary all about the history of freeride mountain biking called Nothing’s for Free. And so the event is going to be for free. We are going to show that on Friday evening during our check in period. So if people are in town or are interested to sit and watch something fun, on an outdoor film stage, we will have that available as well.” Nathan Miller, Executive Director, Copper Harbor Trails Club
Saturday and Sunday’s schedules are full of fun and exciting races. Most are full, though Trails Fest still has a number of openings in the 10 kilometer race on Sunday. And spectating the high-flying bikes is encouraged.
“Every event can be spectated, and it’s a lot of fun even if you aren’t in a race. Because they’re going so fast down some of these hills that it’s really in-imaginable that not everybody is crashing out there. And so spectating some of our races is a really fun time. Our downhill race is especially popular for spectating. Over on Overflow. As racers are going over big jumps and down literal cliffs, just in the name of going downhill as fast as possible.” Nathan Miller, Executive Director, Copper Harbor Trails Club
The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge will act as a sort of base camp for the festival, where attendees can find a beer tent, more biking trails, live music and food.
“Volunteers do all kinds of stuff. From helping organize the event throughout the year, to helping manage the beer tent, and doing I.D. checks. Gate checks at the front door, but most of our volunteers are helping out with the races themselves. During our races we need course marshals to be out to make sure people aren’t going to get run over by a car if they’re crossing the road or go on the wrong trail and get lost. SO those people are really important to us.” – Nathan Miller, Executive Director, Copper Harbor Trails Club
Copper Harbor Trails fest could not happen without incredible volunteers. Those interested in getting involved with the festival can find volunteer information and open position online. More information about Copper Harbor Trails can be found below.
Nothing’s For Free will begin at 8:30 pm tonight.
