Welcome to Big Granite Inline Races! Below you will find information to help make your weekend safe, enjoyable and hassle free.
Special Safety Note On Course Hills
The course does include one significant downhill.
Previous year’s skaters recommend the following to all skaters with
little hill experience or those who are uncomfortable skating hills that might
generate higher speeds:
· Reinstall brakes on four wheel skates if you have removed them during training
· Wear elbow and knees pads for additional protection. Wristguards and helmets are required.
Race Course and Racing Strategy
The Big Granite course is different than the course of the NorthShore Inline Marathon. There are more climbs and descents, three hard right turns, one turn around a cone, two-way skater traffic in areas, and a narrower road. As a result this course is much more technical than the NorthShore course and will require slower speeds and cooperation amongst the packs to safely and efficiently navigate the areas mentioned above. Stand up signs will announce the approach of the sharp turns and cone turns. Pay attention to them and slow down.
The areas of special concern are as follows:
Mile 2 Left turn. The angle to this intersection makes this a hard left turn
Mile 7 Long downhill descent. See safety note above.
Mile 8
Hard right turn after long run out from bottom of hill.
On second lap skaters will be turning into two-way traffic.
It is critical to slow down on this corner on the second lap!
As the lead pro male pack approaches this intersection, we may stop other
skaters for a few seconds to let them pass.
Please be patient, your safety is our primary concern.
Mile 9.5 Sharp left hand turn. Stay wide right to make this corner. Approaching traffic making hard right turn.
Mile 10.5 Cone turn around
Mile 11.5 Sharp right hand turn. Approaching traffic making hard left turn.
Mile 13 Stay far to the right. Approaching skaters making hard right after long run out at bottom of hill
Mile 13.1 Cross timing mat to start second lap or finish
Directions To Packet Pick-Up, Pasta Feed, and Awards Ceremony - UPDATED 06/15/2004!
The Big Granite Inline Races packet pick-up, expo, and pasta feed will be held at the Ashland High School located at 1900 Beaser Avenue. Coming into Ashland on US2 from the east or west, proceed until you reach the intersection of US2 and Beaser Avenue. This intersection is across from the Xcel Energy Bayfront Power Plant. Other landmarks to look for are the Harbor Motel and JJ Pro Lube Oil Change Store. Lastly, if not named Beaser Avenue the avenue would be 13th Avenue West.
Turn south onto Beaser Avenue proceed about 1.75 miles to the entrance of the Ashland High School. The pasta feed and packet pick-up will be in the Ashland High School Commons immediately inside the front entrance.
Late Packet Pick-Up Instructions
There will be late packet pick-up available at the start/finish line area from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. Take the shuttles to the start line and look for the headquarters tent by the church. Please help us by not waiting until the last minute.
Directions To Race Day Parking and Shuttle Pick-Up In Marengo
There is no race day parking at the start/finish area of
the race. Absolutely no parking
will be allowed on the course.
There are two parking areas for race day.
Shuttle service will be provided for spectators and racers from Parking
Area A and is the recommended parking area for the race. Racers will be given
preference in loading. In bound
shuttles will begin at 6:00 a.m. with the last shuttle leaving at 7:00 a.m.
sharp. Return shuttles will begin as soon as the last skater begins
his or her second lap (approximately 9:30 a.m.) and will continue until noon or
until everyone has been returned to their car.
Parking Area B is roadside parking on Ovaska Road which intersects the
course about .5 miles east of the start/finish area. The road is a mix of gravel and blacktop but there is a
half-mile portion of blacktop that connects to the course. Please park on the right hand side of the road as you are
heading south. You can walk or
skate to the start/finish. You may
return to your car anytime but will not be allowed to skate on the course
against traffic once the race starts. You
will be allowed to walk on the shoulder of the road.
Parking Area A – Ashland County Fairgrounds:
Starting on anywhere on US2, proceed to the intersection of US2 and State Highway 13. This intersection is marked by the Hotel Chequamegon and Burger King and is the only set of stoplights on US2 in Ashland. Turn south on STH 13 which is also known as Ellis Avenue in the City of Ashland. Proceed south 13.0 miles to the Village of Marengo. Take a left onto Fairgrounds Rd into the fairgrounds and parking area. Watch for signs. There will be portapotties at this parking area.
Parking Area B – Ovaska Rd
Starting on anywhere on US2, proceed to the intersection of US2 and State Highway 13. This intersection is marked by the Hotel Chequamegon and Burger King and is the only set of stoplights on US2 in Ashland. Turn south on STH 13 which is also known as Ellis Avenue in the City of Ashland. Proceed south 11.0 miles to State Highway 112. Take a right on STH 112 and proceed about a block to Ovaska Rd. Take a left onto Ovaska Rd and proceed south 2.5 miles to the stretch of blacktop and the parking area.
Packet Contents
Gear Bag and Bag Number: Each packet is equipped with a gear bag that you can use to store your shoes and warm-ups. There will be a staffed bag drop area at the start/finish area. Use the enclosed adhesive bag number to mark you bag. Make sure your bag number matches your bib number.
Chip Instructions: Please
carefully read the enclosed chip instructions including how to use the ankle
band.
Bib Numbers: You should find in your packet a bib number and pins. Please attach the bib to your chest area.
Pasta Feed Ticket: Enclosed
you will find your ticket for the pasta feed.
Additional tickets will be available for $6.00 at the door.
Commemorative Poster:
You should have received a tubed commemorative poster when you picked up
this packet. If you did not, please
go back to the registration area to receive it.
Additional copies of the poster are available for $3.00.
Course Map: Enclosed you will find the most current version of the course map. We appreciate the input we have received from many of you in helping us make this safest, most raceable course possible.
Spectators
There are two good spots to watch the race.
The best spot is at the start/finish area.
From this point spectators will be able see the start and finish plus see
the skaters pass through twice. Spectators
may take the shuttles to and from the start/line by parking at the Ashland County
Fairgrounds as described above. Concessions
will be available from the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce.
The other good spot is in the Village of Marengo.
The skaters will pass through this area twice around a cone turn.
Park at the Ashland County Fairgrounds and walk about .5 miles to the
Village. The viewing area will be
just past the Spur gas station.
Water Stations
Aid stations will have bottled water available to skaters.
The caps will be pre-broken for you.
The water stations will also be equipped with radios.
Should you need assistance please ask them to radio to headquarters.
Water will be available at Mile 4.5, Mile 10.5, Mile 17.5, and Mile 23.5.
The Big Granite Inline Races are a new inline event
for our area. As such, most of our
volunteers, including aid station staff, will be experiencing only their fourth inline event. We will try our
hardest to put on a quality event, but please be patient with the volunteers as
we learn the ropes of an inline event.
Start/Finish Line Services
The following items will be available at the start/finish line area:
Portapotties
Chairs for Changing Into Your Skates
Bag Check for Your Shoes and Warm-Ups
Finishers will have access to water, energy drink, bananas,
and granola bars. The finish
line food will be for racers only.
Chip Retrieval
All Winning Time Chips must be returned before you leave
the finish area. Volunteers will be
available to help remove your chip.
Awards
Ceremony and Post-Race Party:
The 2004 Big Granite awards ceremony will take place as soon as the results are compiled by the timer but no earlier than 11:30 a.m. The awards ceremony and post race party will take place on the grounds of the Marengo Town Hall near the finish line. There will be no activities in Ashland as in previous years.
Shuttles
will be available through the awards ceremony to return you to your car.
Race Results
Race results will be posted as they are available at the
finish line area. Complete results
will be posted at the post-race party. They
will also be posted on the race website at www.biggranite.com