Fat-tire bicycle race series debuts

Will Ross nipped Tim Berntson by one second to top the men's open division, which featured three laps around a four-mile loop that started and ended at the Far North Bivouac parking lot on Campbell Airstrip Road.

Janice Tower won the women's two-lap open race in 55:36, more than 10 minutes ahead of Amber Stull.

The race was the first of six in the new Abominable Snow Series, sponsored by Chain Reaction Cycles. It's aim is to give fat-tire cyclists a competitive outlet in the winter without having to train or commit to long races like the 100-mile Susitna 100.

"Guys at the shop were complaining that there wasn't a winter race that wasn't a hundred miles long," said Bill Fleming of Chain Reaction. "So they came up with the idea for this series."

Bikers raced in tracks about six inches wide, on tires about four inches wide. The race was a mass start and other than a short straightaway at the start/finish line before the course went onto single tracks, there were few places to pass except a couple of short sections with double tracks.

The series is a fundraiser for Single Trail Advocates. All of the races are in Far North Bicentennial Park and the remaining races are Jan. 14, Jan. 28, Feb. 8, Feb. 22 and March 3. The two February races are night races.

Abominable Snow Series

Far North Bicentennial Park

Saturday's results

Cruiser men (1 lap, 4 miles) -- 1) Andrew Cunningham 31:39; 2) Bruce Ross 33:55; 3) Louie Amundson 34:32; 4) Jim Benning 39:25; 5) Brant Grifka 45:02; 6) Andrew Kowalczk 45:43; 7) J.C. Cates 50:34; 8) Michael Todd 1:24:00; 9) Michael Moberly 1:39:59.

Cruiser Women (1 lap, 4 miles)-- 1) Stacy Kolstad 37:46; 2) Kelly Janukajtis 41:09; 3) Heather Knowlan 47:40; 4) Kristy Despars 47:52; 5) Christina Grande 55:54; 6) D.J. Moberly 1:28:25.

Open Men (3 laps, 12 miles) -- 1) Will Ross 1:07:34; 2) Tim Berntson 1:07:35; 3) John Lackey 1:08:15; 4) Josh Chelf 1:08:51; 5) James Stull 1:08:52; 6) Jason Lamoreaux 1:12:06; 7) Daniel Nordendale 1:16:01; 8) Tom Peichel 1:16:10; 9) Jamie Haines 1:16:11; 10) Joe Pollock 1:19:32; 11) Mike Vania 1:21:10; 12) Tim Reinbold 1:22:56; 13) name not reported 1:23:20; 14) Andy Duenow 1:23:30; 15) Paul Pierce 1:24:08; 16) Rob Cushman 1:32:09; 17) Kevin Easley 1:32:47; 18) Greg McDuffie 1:32:57; 19) Luke Kiskaddon 1:32:58; 20) Clinton Hodges III 1:44:34; 21) Mike Jipping 1:46:05; 22) Matthew Mannhardt 2:03:45

Open Women (2 laps, 8 miles) -- 1) Janice Tower 55:36; 2) Amber Stull 1:06:40; 3) Janus Reyes 1:18:21.