Details Change, but the Song Remains the Same

Details Change, but the Song
Remains the Same
Schedule of Events
Over the past 13 years the Whiskey Off-Road has experienced a lot of changes, all in the
name of fun, and all through the cooperation of many dedicated and enthusiastic local
business and government entities. Make no mistake, it takes more than a village to pull
off an event like the Whiskey, and this springtime celebration of both mountain bike and
community wouldn’t be nearly as successful as it is today without such great cooperation.
12:00p – 9:00p Amateur Packet Pick-up: Whiskey Row
12:00p – 7:00p Bike & Gear Expo opens - Tap into the CamelBak Water Monster
& stay hydrated this weekend
12:00p – 5:00p Register for the Shimano Youth Series Kids Ride: Registration Tent
2:00p Mandatory Pro Racers Meeting p/b Stan’s NoTubes: Hassayampa Inn
3:00p 15 Proof Fun Ride
3:00p – 4:00p Pro Packet Pick-up: Hassayampa Inn
3:30p Swing by Stan’s NoTubes for a free sealant refresh
4:00p – 5:00p Pro Packet Pick-up continues: Epic Rides Registration Tent
5:00p – 7:00p Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Beer Garden opens: Cortez & Goodwin
- a great place to watch the Fat Tire Crit
5:00p Time cut-off: 15 Proof participants (see page 14 for details)
5:15p Pro Women Fat Tire Crit: Goodwin St. (20 min + 3 laps)
6:15p Pro Men Fat Tire Crit: Goodwin St. (20 min. + 3 laps)
7:00p – 9:00p Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Beer Garden opens: Gurley St.
- a great place to experience the awards & music
7:00p Sierra Nevada Criterium awards: Gurley Stage
8:00p Mandatory Stan’s NoTubes Amateur 30 & 50 Proof Riders Meeting:
Holiday Courtyard Stage
FRIDAY
Whether this is your 13th Whiskey, your second or your very first, the 2016 Whiskey
Off-Road has a lot to enjoy that’s totally new. Thanks to Yavapai County and the City of
Prescott, the entire downtown footprint of the Whiskey has been rearranged for more
engagement and spectator fun, including the Fat Tire Crit course now boasting two Sierra
Nevada Brewing beer gardens, a figure-eight design and a front-row patio at The Barley
Hound where you can grub, grog and gaze at all the racing action. Thanks to the Prescott
National Forest and AZ DOT, the Whiskey Off-Road 30 and 50 Proof courses offer a new
route leaving town and up to four new trail options in the first 10 miles of each event. Also
new this year is a second stage of music, located right on Whiskey Row adjacent to the
new location of the main stage on Gurley Street, which will be funkin’ hard on Saturday
evening when Austin, Texas-based headliner Black Joe Lewis amps up.
Beyond just the Whiskey, 2016 also marks another new milestone – the inaugural
Carson City Off-Road taking place on June 17-19. Joining the Whiskey and the Grand
Junction Off-Road on May 20-22, the Carson City Off-Road will complete an Off-Road
Series trifecta that celebrates amazing trails in colorful, historic, outdoor-oriented towns
with lifelong friends and foot-stompin’ music. The Off-Road Series will also boast some
of the greatest domestic and international professional talent, rewarding them with a
$100,000 cash purse over the three events, including $10,000 total for the top three
male and female overall finishers.
As much new that’s happening, there’s many elements that are unchanged, like the
organizations the Whiskey raises funds for, including Prevent Child Abuse Arizona and the
Arizona High School Cycling League. Also unchanged is the enthusiasm of sponsors like
Pivot, Maxxis, Stan’s NoTubes, Endura, CamelBak, Sierra Nevada, Shimano, and KMC
and more who will be showing off and giving away swag in the Bike & Gear Expo all
weekend long. Local merchants absolutely love the Whiskey, and to catch a glimpse of this
stoke, just belly up to the bar at Jersey Lil’s and say hi to Tommy Meredith or head over to the
Palace and grab a burger. Another mainstay of the Whiskey is dedicating the event to an
invaluable member of the mountain bike community, and it’s my personal honor to dedicate
this year’s Whiskey to a close friend and mountain bike racing legend, Sue Haywood.
So kick back, take in all that’s new and revel in the traditions that make the Whiskey
such a special celebration of health, family and community. The details may change,
but the song remains the same.
See ya trailside,
Todd Sadow
Epic Rides
/WhiskeyOffRoad
/EpicRides
@EpicRides
@EpicRides
SATURDAY
7:30a – 7:00p Bike & Gear Expo opens - Endura deals galore
7:30a – 4:00p Register for the Shimano Youth Series Kids Ride: Registration Tent
7:30a 50 Proof Backcountry Ride: Goodwin St.
- activate Strava for the KMC King of the Mountain Challenge
9:30a 30 Proof Backcountry Ride: Goodwin St.
- activate Strava for the KMC King of the Mountain Challenge
10:30a – 2:00p Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Beer Garden opens: Goodwin St
12:00p Stop by the Maxxis tent to check out the all new Forekaster tire
2:00p Time cut-off: 30 & 50 Proof participants (see page 14 for details)
2:00p – 8:30p Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Beer Gardens opens: Gurley St.
2:00p – 3:00p Sierra Nevada Amateur Awards Party: Gurley St. Stage
3:00p Visit the fine folks at Pivot Cycles & enjoy the plush of a 429 Trail
8:00p Raise a pint to our dedication recipient Sue Haywood:
The Barley Hound
SUNDAY
#whiskeyoffroad
#prescott
#epicrides
[email protected]
www.epicrides.com
Welcome Whiskey Off-Roaders
7:30a – 2:00p Bike & Gear Expo opens - Grab your In-N-Out Burger certificate
7:30a – 8:45a Register for the Shimano Youth Series Kids Ride: Registration Tent
8:30a Pro Men Backcountry Race: Whiskey Row
8:40a Pro Women Backcountry Race: Whiskey Row
9:00a Shimano Youth Series Kids Fun Ride: Whiskey Row
11:00a – 1:00p Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Beer Garden opens: Goodwin St
1:30p – 2:00p Sierra Nevada Pro Awards Party: Gurley St. Stage
Prescott is home to long-standing traditions like the iconic Whiskey Row and the
World’s Oldest Rodeo. We are extremely proud to include the Whiskey Off-Road
event as one of the most anticipated and celebrated events of the year in Prescott.
MUSIC
Our rich history features more than 700 buildings on the National Register of Historic
Places. While here in Prescott be sure to visit all the locally-owned restaurants, bars,
breweries, cafes and shops that add to the unique charm of Prescott.
FRIDAY
We welcome you to Prescott to celebrate our history and make your own memories.
With a comfortable year-round climate, doorstep access to the Prescott National Forest,
innovative minds at Prescott College, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Yavapai
College along with frontier, “Old West” culture mixed with artistic creativity, Prescott is
an ideal place for those seeking a tight-knit community surrounded by natural beauty.
SATURDAY
Thank you for joining us to celebrate another year of the Whiskey Off-Road and over
150 years of rich Prescott history. Best of luck to all of you!
Harry B. Oberg
Mayor
5:30p 7:30p 10:00a 11:30a 1:00p 3:00p 4:30p 6:00p 8:30p SUNDAY
10:00a
A Good Day on the Bike...
South of Winslow: Holiday Courtyard Stage
Haymarket Squares: Gurley Stage
The Cross-Eyed Possum: Holiday Courtyard Stage
The CheekTones: Gurley Stage
Bo Wilson Incident Band: Holiday Courtyard Stage
Road One South: Holiday Courtyard Stage
Jared & the Mill: Gurley Stage
Black Joe Lewis: Gurley Stage
Steve Annibale: Holiday Courtyard Stage
Bo Wilson Incident: Holiday Courtyard Stage
1
Fat Tire Crit
Sue Haywood – Voted “Most Laid Back” in High School
Then there’s the mental game, which
has a huge impact on your fortunes.
Being in a good mental state can be the
difference between success and failure.
Seeing the body language and fear in a
rider’s face before an attempt at a jump
or a technical section is telling. After
one of my students rides a tough section
of trail, whether they succeed or fail, I
ask, “How did that feel?” For women,
tapping into the mental and emotional
side of riding is important, which is
why there are so many great female
instruction programs going on these
days; the group support structure helps
immensely.
Where Roadies and Mountain Bikers Peacefully Co-Exist
A Crit, or Criterium, is a short, closed-course bike race where riders flog themselves
as hard as possible for a predetermined amount of time, making it very spectator
and cowbell friendly. Crits were a tradition started in Europe so rabid cycling fans
could catch more than just a fleeting glimpse of their favorite racers.
NEW COURSE FOR 2016! More spectator-friendly than ever while still
featuring the painfully beautiful Union Street climb, the Fat Tire Crit course is
shaped like a figure eight so everyone catches more high speed cornering thrills,
with the start/finish line on Goodwin Street on the south side of Courthouse
Square. After making a left on Cortez Street and climbing Union Street, the riders
will climb Pleasant Street and zip down Goodwin then make a right on Cortez at
the figure eight junction, make a right on Carleton, another right on Montezuma
back to Goodwin.
BEST PLACES TO SPECTATE
Sierra Nevada Beer Garden - If you prefer a sudsy beverage while boisterously
cheering on your favorite riders, then the Sierra Nevada Beer Garden on the
corner of Cortez and Goodwin streets near the start/finish is13your
spot. While
ANNUAL
you’re there, be sure to thank the Prescott Eagles for operating the beer gardens
all weekend long. Open from 4p-7p.
Photo by Brian Leddy
TH
Union Street – If you want to maximize the amount of time cheering on your
favorite riders, then line up along the painfully steep climb on Union where riders
will need all the support they can get. This is a great spot for the family to sit along
a tree-lined street and get their Epic Rides cowbell on!
The Barley Hound – Grab some grub & grog and sit on the patio while taking in all
the high-speed thrills. Check out the menu! – thebarleyhound.com – 234 S. Cortez St.
UNION ST. CLIMB
LEGEND
N
Proud supporter of the
FRIDAY,
APRIL 29
2016 Whiskey
Off-Road
Pro Women 5:15p
Pro Men
START TIMES: Friday
5:15p – Women’s Race – 20 minutes + 3 laps
6:15p – Men’s Race – 20 minutes + 3 laps
6:15p
FAT TIRE
CRITERIUM
Official Sponsors
No matter what the outcome of the race is,
everyone ends up winning at In-N-Out Burger.®
3040 Hwy. 69
east of Prescott Lakes Pkwy
Prescott
In-N-Out.com
2
©2016 In-N-Out Burgers
Epic Rides OFF-ROAD SERIES
Few professional female mountain bikers
have as long a list of accomplishments
and as diverse a skill set as Sue
Haywood. Ever since her very first
mountain bike race in 1991, Sue
has won everything from ultra-tough
endurance races like the Shenandoah
100, Transrockies, La Ruta de los
Conquistadores and the Solo 24 Hour
World Championship to numerous
NORBA titles during her professional
racing years between 1998 and 2008.
Even though she “retired” in 2008,
Sue still competes regularly, having
completed multi-day stage races like the
Cape Epic, Breck Epic and the TransSylvania Epic. She also loves to get her
enduro on, as well as teaching women
in her mountain bike skills clinics. And
everyone who knows Sue knows her
ultra laid back demeanor, which makes
her the perfect dedication recipient for
a laid back event like the Whiskey OffRoad – an event in which she plans to
ride this year for the first time.
You’re known for being an
exceptionally skilled rider in
ultra rocky, technical terrain.
What do you tell women
new to the sport when they
have trouble mustering the
courage to take on a technical
obstacle?
The main physical focus is getting them
to move and be more dynamic on the
bike. Clearing rocky technical bits of
trail comes down to moving the body
in relation to the bike. Even though trail
bikes these days are super capable, you
can’t just sit there and expect the bike
to do all the work. The rider still has to
be positioned correctly and move with
dynamics, knowing when to pre-load the
suspension, get heavy on the bike and
get light on the bike.
You’ve spent a large part of
your life living and riding in
West Virginia. Do you think
east coast mountain biking
gets overshadowed by west
coast in cycling media?
Definitely. So much of the industry is
out west, and it’s so easy to take a
pretty picture out west with gorgeous
backdrops everywhere. And obviously
the weather out west is a lot nicer,
so yeah, the east coast tends to get
less attention. But there are so many
incredible trails on the east coast.
Extremely technical terrain combined
with the mud and the variable weather
makes for some serious adventure.
I’ve heard a lot about the Tour
de Burg. For the uninitiated,
fill us in.
Tour de Burg is a six-day stage race,
takes place each July in Harrisonburg
and is one of my all-time favorites for
sure. This year is the 20th anniversary.
It’s technically considered a race, but
you ride together at a mandatory
“Pleasure Pace” until you reach a timed
section, kind of like an enduro. The
segment lasts anywhere from 30 to 90
minutes on a course that’s not necessarily
marked, so you gotta listen closely to
the race director. Of course, people
get lost, but unlike an enduro, there’s a
mandatory regroup at the end of each
section, and we don’t move on until the
last person finishes. Then we Pleasure
Pace to the next timed section.
Mostly of the segments are mountain
bike trails, some extremely gnarly and
technical, with one or two road days
and a group dinner at the end of each
day. There are special awards like
“Best Rock Star Haircut”, where our
buddy Buck cuts everyone’s hair the
way he wants, and riders then vote on
the best haircut. The winner gets a time
bonus. And because this is the 20th
anniversary, every finisher this year gets
a finisher’s tattoo if they want. It will be
my first tattoo.
with absolutely nothing that’s familiar
besides riding as hard as I could for a
week straight. And there was no time for
partying! At least at the Trans-Sylvania
Epic you can race hard and hang out
afterward and party a little.
In your pro racing circuit days,
which was the course you most
feared? Why?
The courses out west were my most
feared because altitude was a killer.
Mount Snow was always a tough one.
On paper it’s the perfect race course,
but it was brutal, especially the climbs. I
always had bad luck there. Mount Snow
2008 was my final race before officially
retiring, and I broke my leg. I was falling
and went to put my foot out and suffered
a spiral fracture. It’s the only serious
injury I’ve ever had. So in conclusion,
never say you’re officially retiring, just
fade away instead.
You’re known for having a
laid back demeanor, yet you’re
one of the most accomplished
female mountain bikers
in history. Did you ever
have challenges keeping a
regimented training schedule
with a laid back attitude?
I did get voted “Most Laid Back” in
high school, you know. And my mom is
super laid back too. Being laid back is
good and bad if you want to be a bike
racer. It was really fun when I first started
training, but I wasn’t dedicated enough
and didn’t have the discipline. I eased
into the discipline and eventually got
there. But after years of racing, it wore on
my adrenal glands. I was always in the
fight or flight mode, and after the whole
controversy around the 2004 Olympics
qualifications, it took a lot out of me.
For those who’ve never ridden
the east coast, what are your
top three recommendations?
I highly recommend West Virginia. I live
in Davis, home to the notorious Canaan
Valley. We’ve also got the Potomac
Highlands and resorts like Snowshoe
that offer some huge backcountry terrain
and lush, cool riding in the summer
because we are higher up in the
mountains. Harrisonburg, Virginia is also
incredible. Massive climbs and descents
with some of the rockiest and most
technical trails you can imagine. It’s also
a great university town with a vibrant
cycling community. And of course there’s
Asheville, North Carolina, with so much
riding and so much beer. The folks there
are really cool and it’s a super fun scene.
Sounds pretty underground.
It’s not that underground, you have to
pay for it and they have a Facebook
page. There are no prizes except for
rock star hairdos and tattoos. But the
real prizes are six days of incredibly fun
yet tough riding with some of the most
awesome people you’ll ever meet.
You’ve conquered some of the
biggest and most physically
brutal mountain bike events
in history. Which was the
toughest?
Cape Epic in South Africa was the
toughest. Aside from being extremely
hot and endlessly bumpy, it was wild
to be in a completely different continent
A Good Day on the Bike...
Since breaking my leg in 2008, I never
got that discipline back. I still ride nearly
every day and have better technical skills
than ever, but now it’s way more fun. It’s a
lifestyle versus what you have to do as a
job. Although I’m “retired”, I still compete,
but now it’s for pure enjoyment. The
Sunday ride with your friends is the best
part of mountain biking, and that’s what
events like the Whiskey are providing.
It’s a huge memory maker. Instead of all
the angst of a big competitive event, at
fun events like the Whiskey, the question
is “how was it?” instead of “how did you
place?” And those are the kind of events
I love.
On Saturday, April 30 at 8p, Epic
Rides will celebrate the laid back
career of Sue at The Barley Hound,
234 S. Cortez Street in downtown
Prescott. Join us and raise a glass
in her honor.
3
Beneficiaries
Epic Rides is committed to making a
positive impact on the places we ride.
Our events are more than just a good
day on the bike; they’re a tradition where
you, your friends and your family can
support the local community. We believe
in karma, and we’re proud that the 13th
Annual Whiskey Off-Road will benefit a
number of worthy organizations.
Yavapai Food Bank
Prevent Child Abuse Arizona
Approximately 90,000 babies are
born in Arizona each year, over half of
whom are at risk for poor developmental
outcomes including abuse and neglect.
Since 1989, Prevent Child Abuse
Arizona (PCA Arizona) has been
working toward the day when all
children in our state grow up safe and
healthy. PCA Arizona’s research-based,
effective programs reach more than
45,000 new parents and community
professionals each year. Their mission
is to prevent the abuse and neglect
of Arizona’s children; and their work
strengthens families so that costly legal
and social intervention isn’t needed.
Get more information at www.pcaaz.org
A decade in the running, the Whiskey
Off-Road has raised funds and collected
canned goods for the Yavapai Food
Bank. Although the economy continues
to improve, there are still many families
struggling to feed their children. Up to
15,000 hungry children live in Yavapai
County. Now more than ever, less-fortunate
families in Arizona need our help.
Currently Yavapai Food Bank is feeding
over 5,500 families throughout Yavapai
County each month. Food distribution
amounts to as much as 45,000 pounds
of food weekly. Epic Rides and the
Yavapai Food Bank request all event
participants and non-riders attending the
concert on Saturday bring two canned
goods and/or money to donate at the
Yavapai Food Bank Tent near the Bike
and Gear Expo. Your generous donation
will help feed many needy and hungry
families in Yavapai County.
Learn more about all the incredible
work Yavapai Food Bank does at
www.yavapaifoodbank.org
Yarnell Hill Recovery Group
Prescott Creeks
Water is an
especially precious
resource in Arizona,
and Prescott Creeks
is a non-profit
that promotes
watershed stewardship through
projects that enhance water quality
and riparian habitat in the Prescott
Basin. By educating the public about
critical relationships between people
and creeks, Prescott Creeks works with
the community to implement practical
solutions to local creek-related issues.
On Sunday morning starting at 9:15a,
the Shimano Kid’s Fun Ride will start
on Whiskey Row and head a block to
the west, traveling along Granite Creek
to Granite Creek Park. It’s the perfect
opportunity to take in one of Prescott’s
beautiful creeks while cheering on the
future of our sport.
www.prescottcreeks.org
Industry and
Community
Sponsors
Pivot Launches Enhanced LES 29 with 27.5+ Capability
The Pivot LES 29 is one of the lightest and fastest carbon fiber hardtails on the trail with
head-turning good looks and numerous innovations, like the clever Swinger dropout
system for either geared (1x and 2x) or singlespeed duty. Launched at Sea Otter
2016, the all-new Pivot LES builds on its recipe of success with numerous revisions and
enhancements to make the LES more capable and versatile than ever.
Constructed from entirely new molds using Pivot’s proprietary Hollow Core internal
molding technology for superior build quality, the new LES 29 is now compatible with
the popular 27.5+ wheel size. Not only does the Boost 110mm front and 148mm
rear axle spacing allow for wider tires, but the new spacing also delivers sharper
handling precision. Also new is a revised Swinger II dropout system with lighter
hardware that enables ideal chainstay length for both 29” and 27.5+ wheel sizes.
Embracing new-school racing geometry, the LES 29 can be built to accommodate a
front suspension fork ranging from 100mm travel for ultimate cross-country speed to
130mm for more aggressive all-mountain riding, especially with the 27.5+ wheel size.
Another notable highlight of the redesigned LES 29 is its Shimano Di2 integration,
featuring fully internal cable routing through the easy-to-access Pivot Cable Port
system, which also works excellent with full-length mechanical shift cables for superior
protection from the elements.
The new Pivot LES is available in two color options and four sizes (S, M, L and XL) to fit
a range of riders from 5’4” to 6’7”. Stop by the Pivot booth in the Bike & Gear Expo
to peep Stan’s NoTubes/Pivot Cycles rider Rose Grant’s new LES 29, the bike she
recently piloted to a Short Track victory at the Fontana Pro XCT, and the bike she plans
to race at the Whiskey.
“My LES 29 rides like an absolute dream,” said Grant about her new ride. “It is light
for the climbing, and with my Stan’s NoTubes Valor carbon wheels it’s a smooth and
unwavering bullet descending as well.”
Get more info on the new LES 29 at – pivotcycles.com/bike/LES/
The June 28, 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire was
the deadliest wildfire in Arizona history,
destroying 8,400 acres, 127 homes
and tragically claiming the lives of 19
elite firefighters. The unincorporated
community of Yarnell lost nearly a
quarter of its homes. In order to help
the fundraising committee meet their $6
million goal of rebuilding their community,
a small portion of event proceeds from
this year’s Whiskey Off-Road will go to
the Yarnell Hill Recovery Group.
For those who would like more
information on the Yarnell Hill
Recovery Group and make a taxdeductible donation, visit www.
yarnellhillrecoverygroup.org.
Photo by Brian Leddy
Check Live Results Online
Bookmark it! – liveresults.epicrides.com
Want to see how your loved ones or friends performed at the Whiskey Off-Road?
Simply pull out your smart phone, tablet, laptop or desktop and visit liveresults.epicrides.com for “real time” results as participants
roll across the finish line.
Find ‘em fast! Epic Rides encourages everyone to utilize the sorting functionalities of the results page. Simply enter the name you are
looking for or sort results based on distance and category.
Have an appeal? It’s never been easier to make one. Although errors are far and few between thanks to a topnotch timing system
and “chip timing” technologies, there is always the unfortunate circumstance that we miss a result now and then. First, we apologize
if the inconvenience happens to apply to your number plate. Next, to submit an appeal, simply visit liveresults.epicrides.com and
click the “Results” link in the top right corner. Write us an email stating your case, the more information you can provide the better
(# plate, estimated finishing time, # plate of a rider that finished before or after you, etc) and your submittal will be reviewed and
processed accordingly.
We hope you enjoy checking the weekend’s performances with great ease and convenience, and look forward to cheering you on
through to the finish!
4
Epic Rides OFF-ROAD SERIES
A Good Day on the Bike...
5
Pro Q&A – Tell us the moment that made you forever hooked on mountain biking?
Pro Women
Kelli Emmett is my coach and mentor,
and she keeps me inspired and moving
forward.”
Todd Wells
Maghalie
Rochette
Hometown: Durango, CO/Tucson, AZ
Sponsors: SRAM, Troy Lee Designs,
Scott, Clifbar, Oakley, 360 Fly,
Rockshox, Quark, Truvativ, Zipp,
Maxxis, Beet Performer
Bike of choice for Whiskey: Scott Scale
Hometown: St-Jerome, Quebec,
Canada/Tucson, AZ
Sponsor: LUNA Pro Team
Bike of Choice for Whiskey: Orbea
Oiz with electronic Fox front and rear
suspension lockout
“I didn’t have one moment it just kind of
happened over time. I’ve always loved
the bike and days turned into weeks into
months into years and it seems like I’ve
been doing it forever. I’m lucky to make
a living doing something I would be
doing anyway.”
“It happened not so long ago. I was
doing a pretty big block of training; big
days on the bike, exploring new trails or
routes and doing some good, hard work.
I was feeling tired at the end of each day,
but it was so rewarding and I loved the
good feelings I was having on my bike.
Every night, I was excited to look at the
options of routes/trails I could ride on the
next day and I realized that there was so
much to explore out there. I realized it
was the thing I loved the most doing and
that this is what I wanted to do.”
Amy Beisel
Hometown: Gunnison, CO
Sponsors: Team RideBiker | Isoride | LIV
Bike of Choice for Whiskey: LIV Obsess
“Honestly, I couldn’t think of a single
moment when I knew I was hooked.
For me, it has been a gradual process.
When I first started riding, I rode maybe
once a week. As time went by, I started
riding more and more. I couldn’t wait to
get off work to hit the trails and watch
the sunset at Hartmans in Gunnison. My
weekends gradually began to be planned
around what new trails could I go ride.
Over time, I just found myself naturally
riding more. Now, I could not image life
without my bike. Mountain biking is a
part of me. I will be forever hooked!”
Stephen Ettinger
Hometown: Cashmere, Washington
Sponsors: RideBiker Alliance, Focus
Bikes, Clif Bar
Bike of Choice for Whiskey: Focus
Raven Max
“There isn’t a single moment that stands out
as “the one” that got me hooked, but a lot
of my most cherished memories as a kid
come from rides with my friends and Dad.
A lot of them are actually pretty cringeworthy, but the time I spend on a bike has
always been some of the most formative in
my life. It’s shaped who I am in so many
ways; where I’ve chosen to explore, who
I have surrounded myself with, how I set
goals. I don’t know what things would
be like without it in my life, because it’s
(fortunately) always been there.”
6
Chloe Woodruff
Howard Grotts
Hometown: Durango, CO
Sponsors: Specialized, Oakley, Xpedo
Bike of Choice for Whiskey: Specialized
S-Works Epic WC
“I’ve always liked exploring new places,
whether it’s in a different country or just in
my backyard, and mountain biking is such
a perfect way to do that. When I was about
6, I remember taking my tiny Schwinn
Gremlin singlespeed and riding every
single road in some neighborhood while
my mom was visiting friends, and when I
finished that I went off and found even more
roads! My mom was a little worried when
she found out how far I’d gone. Not much
has changed! It’s always a thrill to ride
some new road or trail, and to see how far I
can go under my own power.”
Ben Sonntag
Hometown: Durango, CO even though
I’m originally from Germany
Sponsors: Clif Bar, Niner, SRAM,
Maxxis, Oakley, CrankBrothers, Kappius
Components, K-Edge, Capo, Giro,
Stan’s NoTubes
Bike of Choice for Whiskey: Niner RKT9
RDO with Maxxis Ikon tires
“I grew up in a small village in Germany
and my brother and I used to bike to
explore places. We were only 10 and 12
years of age but my parents gave us some
money for lunch and a phone call so they
knew where we were. We were outside
all day seeing stuff and playing around.
Even until today, the fact of being outside
in some beautiful nature and on rad trails
is the #1 reason I’m doing this sport!”
Rose Grant
Hometown: Columbia Falls, MT
Sponsors: Stan’s NoTubes/Pivot Cycles
Bike of Choice for Whiskey: Pivot LES 29
“Not sure I can claim it was one moment;
but the season of 2011, my first and only
amateur season is when I truly fell in love
with the sport. It was the friends that I met
and the camaraderie we shared; it was
the travel and hanging out at races; it was
working hard and having goals; it was
knowing that I had potential to be successful
as an elite; it was my husband’s support
and encouragement to go for it; it was the
feeling that I had found my divine calling.”
Carl Decker
Erin Alders
Hometown: Downieville, CA
Sponsors: RideBiker Alliance p/b
ShoAir, Isoride, Esi Grips, SQLab
Saddles, Kenda Tire, Sugoi, Mighty
Mobile Bicycle Repair, Body Logic
Physical Therapy, Ol’ Republic Brewery,
Giro Sport Design, KMC Chain, Tour of
Nevada City Bicycle Shop.
Bike of Choice for Whiskey: Specialized Era
“The moment I knew I was forever
hooked on mountain biking was when I
was on one of Gregg Stone’s legendary
rides, and I was following him on a
descent. The women I most admire are
currently involved in my riding/ training/
and racing.
Hometown: Bend, OR
Sponsors: Giant Bicycles, SRAM,
Schwalbe, Rock Shox, 100%, Smith Optics
Bike of Choice for Whiskey: Giant
XTC Advanced SL 27.5 hardtail with
RockShox RS-1
“The day my little brother and I sneaked
into the Revenge of the Siskiyous race
without paying. We had a full doublewide pack of Fig Newtons bungeecorded to a Blackburn rear rack. We ate
them all. Bonked. Finished. Had the time
of our lives and became mountain bikers
for good.”
Epic Rides OFF-ROAD SERIES
Pro Roster
Hometown: Prescott, AZ
Sponsors: Stan’s NoTubes, Pivot Cycles,
Shimano
Bike of Choice for Whiskey: Pivot Mach 4
“It’s hard to identify a single moment but
I remember going on these rides with my
friends when I first started riding where
things would usually spiral into some
form of adventure. Sometimes we were
prepared, and sometimes we weren’t. But
every time we’d finish up the day with
some epic stories--and some retold for
years. So I think I was hooked early on
from the accumulation of experiences that
pushed me outside my comfort zone, and
realizing that wasn’t a bad thing at all.
And for the record, by nature I’m a pretty
timid and cautious person; so I guess I
was hooked on the sense of adventure
that mountain biking gave me.”
Jeremiah Bishop
Hometown: Harrisonburg, VA
Sponsors: Topeak, Ergon, Canyon,
SRAM, Limar, Lake
Bike of Choice for Whiskey: Canyon Lux
“I knew I would be hooked after my first
ride on a junker hybrid bike that we
converted from an old road bike. It was
really a cross bike with flat bars. The kids
in my neighborhood and I came up with
this idea to ride some real mountain bike
trails. I flew down the forest trail and it
was sick! Problem was I couldn’t stop
so I ran into another kid who was also
ill-prepared on a BMX bike. We rolled to
a stop scratched up with a little blood and
dirt, but I was smiling all the way home!”
Larissa Connors
Hometown: Santa Rosa, CA
Sponsors: Ridebiker Alliance, ShoAir,
Kenda, Sugoi, Felt, Twenty16, SRAM Crank
Brothers, Kappius, IsoRide, Laguna Rads
Bike of Choice for Whiskey: Felt Nine
“I knew I was going to be forever hooked
on being a mountain biker on the first ride
I did with my then boyfriend, now husband
Brendan Connors in Soquel Demo Forest
near Santa Cruz, CA. It was my first ride
on a mountain bike in more than five
years, I was riding a Frankenstein Giant
NRS he built for me from spare parts he
had laying around, and he took me down
Braille trail. It was so scary I broke up with
him about seven times, decided he didn’t
value my life at all, and also fell in love
with the sport (and the boy).”
1001 Chloe Woodruff | Prescott | Stans NoTubes, Pivot Cycles, Shimano
1002 Sian Crespo | Truckee | Bike Like a Girl, O2-Fitness, Silver Sage Sports and Fitness
1003 Jean Ann Berkenpas | Valemount | Giant Vancouver, Kicking Horse Coffee,
Cycles Lambert
1004 Serena Bishop Gordon | Bend | LIV, Giant, Clif Bar, Julbo
1005 Cooper Dendel | Crested Butte | Honey Stinger/ Bontrager
1006 Sara Sheets | Fort Collins | Oskar Blues, REEB Cycles
1007 Chase Edwards | Flagstaff | Flagstaff Bike Revolution, Paragon Athletics
1008 Liz Carrington | Durango | Honey Stinger/Bontrager/Big Agnes
1009 Jennifer Smith | Gunnison | Stans NoTubes, Cannondale, Kenda Tires
1010 Sarah Kaufmann | Park City | Stans NoTubes
1011 Rose Grant | Whitefish | Stans NoTubes, Pivot Cycles, Shimano
1012 Erin Alders | Nevada City | Ride Biker Alliance, Sho-Air, SQ Lab
1013 Marlee Dixon | Fairplay | mtbracenews.com, Pivot Cycles
1014 Heidi Rentz | Longmont | The Cyclists Menu, Ibis Cycles, GU Energy Labs
1015 Larissa Connors | Silverado | Ridebiker, Kenda, Sugoi
1016 Rebecca Gross | Lakewood | KHS, Sped Precision, Ritchey Logic
1017 Shannon Boffeli | Park City | Pivot Cycles, DNA Cycling
1018 Jen Hanks | Park City | Pivot Cycle, DNA Cycling
Pro Men
1 Pablo Fernandez | El Paso | No Tubes, Jarritos Soda Co., Bicycle Company
2 Adam Bucklin | Bend | Team Rwanda
3 Nick Skaggs | Phoenix | Nationwide Insurance, Trek Bicycles, Flat Tire Bike Shop
4 Michael Lange | Golden
5 Tim Racette | Pinetop | McDowell Mountain Cycles, Mikes Mix Recovery Drink,
Crank Brothers
6 Miguel Santillanes | El Paso | Jarritos, Novamex, Meza Jewlery
7 Connor Barrett | Riverton
8 Travis Gillian | Herriman | Canyon Bicycles Race Team
9 Chris Jackson | Burbank | Castex Rentals, ENVE
10 Taylor Lideen | Phoenix | Pivot Cycles, Elevated Legs, Ergon
11 Graham Ruhmann | Woodland Park, Team Telecycle, Western State Colorado Univ.
12 Garrett Gerchar | Boulder | Clif Bar, Niner, Giro
13 Ricky Creel | Colorado Springs | CZ Racing
14 Ryan Petry | Boulder | CZ Racing
15 Jorge Munoz Jr | Durango | CZ Racing
16 Weston Rassmussen | Phoenix | CZ Racing
17 Kyle Trudeau | Tucson | CZ Racing
18 Adam Looney | Golden | Bikeparts.com
19 Justin Desilets | Riverton | Reynolds Wheels, Giant, Giro
20 Stephan Davoust | Durango | Giant Bikes, GU Energy, MOM & DAD
21 Levi Kurlander | Durango | The RideBiker Alliance, Kenda Tire, Sho-Air Int.
22 Daniel Alasu | Scottsdale | Bicycle Ranch, Cannondale
23 Bryan Dillon | Gunnison | Topeak, Ergon, Canyon
24 Jake Anderson | Payson | Anderson Collision in Payson AZ,
25 Carl Decker | Bend | Giant Bicycles, SRAM, Schwalbe Tires
26 Josh Allen | Wheat Ridge | Finish Line products, Reynolds Roofing, Jinji Bike Shop
27 Brent Burcham | Fallbrook
28 Peter Glassford | Collingwood | Trek Canada, Trek, ESI
29 Gustavo Pedroza | Chula Vista | NINER BIKES Mexico, Troy Lee Designs,
Baja California Government
30 Quinn Moberg | Garibaldi Highlands | Rocky Mountain Bike Shop
31 Mathieu Belanger-Barrette | Quebec City | Pivot Cycle - On the Edge Canada
32 Adam Butler | San Luis Obispo | Clif Bar
33 Nick Gould | Durango | Ska, Zia, Trek
34Steven Beeler | Oro Valley | Oro Valley Bicycle, Area51
35 Stephen Ettinger | Bellingham | RideBiker Alliance, Focus-Bikes, Clif-Bar
36 Payson McElveen | Durango | RideBiker, Sho-Air, Kenda
37 Greg Day | Squamish | Rocky Mountain Factory Team
38 Travis Woodruff | Prescott | Stans NoTubes, Pivot Cycles, Shimano
39 Troy Wells | Durango | CLIF Bar, Niner, SRAM
40 Nic Beechan | Idyllwild | Trek Test Team, Sh imano, Fox Shox
41 Benjamin Sonntag | Durango | Clif Bar, Niner Bikes, SRAM
42 Lucas Rowton | Durango
43 Stuart Gonzalez | Riverside | Bear Valley Bikes; Honey Stinger; Smith Optics
44 Cole Oberman | Philadelphia | Team RideBiker p/b Sho-Air, Felt Bicycles,
ProTestedGear.com
45 Marc-Andre Daigle | Montreal | Garneau
46 Cal Skilsky | Oro Valley
47 Justin Lindine | Ogden | Apex Technology Group, Hyperthreads, Vittoria
48 Brodie Stringer | Walnut Creek | Giant, SRAM, Rockshox
49 Jeremy Martin | Boischatel | Focus Bikes, Louis Garneau, Smith Helmet
50 Cody Kaiser | El Dorado Hills | LangeTwins Winery, Specialized, SRAM
51 Ian Wilkey | Casa Grande | Az Devo, Trek bicycles, Bicycle Ranch Tucson
Photos by Brian Leddy
* As of publication date of 4/18/16
A Good Day on the Bike...
7
Maxxis gets Stepped and Siped for Plenty o’ Bite
Spectator Tips & Suggestions
Although there’s a lot more to the modern mountain bike than just a good set of
tires, there’s no debate that a good set of tires is the easiest and least expensive way
to drastically improve cornering traction and braking performance. And when it
comes to mountain bike tread, Maxxis has proven itself with both adventurists in the
backcountry and professionals on the racing circuit to be among the most durable,
high performance tires available.
The best part about being a spectator is
it’s free! Even if you’re not riding, there are
plenty of opportunities to be a part of the
Whiskey Off-Road.
1. Cheer at the Start/Finish line.
Watch the start of each Proof on Whiskey
Row and the Fat Tire Crit on Goodwin
Street. Start times are available in the
Schedule of Events. Don’t forget a noisemaker! Speaking of noise-makers—hold
on tight to leashed pets. The start of each
event can be very exciting, causing fourlegged friends to want to run and hide.
2. Capture the moment. Five great
photo ops not to be missed:
· The Union Street Climb of the Fat Tire Crit.
· Amateur Start Line. Witness the mayhem
of a mass roll-out as riders depart
downtown for a day on the bike.
· Amateur Finish Line. Enjoy emotionallycharged celebrations as riders complete
the grueling Whiskey Off-Road course.
· Sierra Nevada Beer Gardens. Brimming
with brews all day Friday, Saturday and
Sunday, the beer gardens are a scene
that require undivided attention, a quick
shutter and an extra hand for your pint.
· Pro Start Line. Witness some of the
greatest mountain biking talent in
America and beyond compete for their
shot at $30,000 in cash money. Sunday
start is at 8:30a and by 11:45a the first
finishers will be hammering to the finish
line. Will there be a sprint this year? Be
there to find out.
Hopefully those reading this have already slapped a new set of shoes on their bike in
preparation for the Whiskey. If not, and it’s Friday afternoon, head over to the Maxxis
booth in the Bike & Gear Expo and check out these two tires ideal for the Whiskey course.
Crossmark II
Forekaster – New!
The second iteration of the Crossmark
includes numerous smart revisions to the
legendary original. The center ridgeline
is now stepped, offering greater bite
under straight line climbing and braking
compared to the original without reducing
the rolling speed on hard surfaces. Square
side knobs feature new four-way siping
in order to provide bite in all directions
when engaged. Round side knobs from
the original Crossmark have been reduced
in size and height in order to allow better
penetration for the remaining square
knobs. The intermediate knobs are siped
and run lengthwise on the ramped knob
in order to provide an extra edge bite
for moderately leaned-over corners. The
Crossmark II is available now for 27.5”
and 29” wheels and will be coming out
for 26” tires later in the year. Designed
for speed, revised for control! Visit maxxis.
com/catalog/tire-505-121-crossmark-ii
The Forekaster is a new loose conditions
XC tire, sort of a spiritual successor
to the classic Ignitor with taller widely
spaced knobs providing enough support
for loose over hard, but really excel in
looser loamy conditions. This is the late
season and early season race tire when
the call is a lightweight tire for speed
with a wide enough footprint to handle
any loose sections of trail. Each knob
is siped for additional biting surfaces in
the loosest conditions with open spacing
to clear out any muddy escapades. For
now the Forekaster is only available as a
29x2.35 tire. Visit maxxis.com/catalog/
tire-518-121-forekaster
crossmark ii
;
DESIGNED
FOR SPEED,
REVISED FOR
CONTROL
Join Epic Rides and the City of Prescott
as we present a tide raising event for
the American mountain bike scene
April 29 - May 1, 2016
HARDPACK
LOOSE/HARD
MEDIUM
LOOSE
WET
MUD
IDEAL FOR
TECHNICAL
XC RACE
COURSES
HARDPACK
LOOSE/HARD
MEDIUM
LOOSE
WET
MUD
LOOSE
WET
MUD
forekaster
;
OPTIMIZED
FOR LOOSE
AND WET
CONDITIONS
8MAX_WhiskeyOffRoad_EpicRide_02.indd
HARDPACK
1
LOOSE/HARD
MEDIUM
RIDER: KABUSH // PHOTO: GIBSON
ardent race
;
3. Help the Yavapai County Food
Bank by donating two canned
goods. The Food Bank’s collection tent
will be located next to the Epic Rides
Information Tent in the Bike and Gear Expo.
4. Experience Whiskey Row.
Visit the many restaurants, bars, shops,
galleries and of course the Bike & Gear
Expo! Whiskey Row runs north to south on
Montezuma Street, between Gurley and
Goodwin (west of the courthouse), and
was once a notorious red-light district.
5. Two options to watch an eager
pack of kids take their ‘First
Shot at the Whiskey’ during the
Shimano Youth Series Whiskey
Off-Road Kids Fun Ride on Sunday
morning. Any kid with wheels can
join the ride so long as the wheels
aren’t carbon fiber and no aero bars
are attached (some parents take this too
seriously!). Training wheels, kick bikes and
tricycles are encouraged.
Single Shot: The route consists of a single
loop on a closed course in the heart of
downtown Prescott and starts at 9:15a.
The Triple Shot: For kids with more
experience, travel the sculpted terrain of
Greenway trails in Granite Creek Park
starting at 9:05a.
Sign up during expo hours at the Epic
Rides Information Tent.
6. Get your groove on. Dance to
the live tunes coming from the Whiskey
Off-Road stage on Gurley Street on the
north side of Courthouse Square. Concert
is free and open to all ages from 10a–8p
on Saturday.
Epic Rides OFF-ROAD SERIES
maxxis.com
3/16/16 10:39 AM
7. Raise a glass in honor of Sue
Haywood, this year’s Whiskey
Off-Road dedicatee. Join us at 8p
on Saturday, April 30 at The Barley
Hound (234 S. Cortez Street) for a
celebration of Sue’s illustrious career. It’s
a great opportunity to christen your newly
acquired Whiskey Off-Road pint glass!
8. Check out the Prescott
Regulators & Their Shady Ladies.
Watch the Old West come alive right
before your eyes with hootin’, hollerin’ and
gun firin’ to start each Whiskey Off-Road
race this weekend.
9. Park it and walk. Take advantage
of the parking garage located off of
Granite Street. Avoid having to move your
vehicle every two hours; or worse, getting
a parking ticket while visiting downtown.
Don’t forget to remove your bike from the
roof rack.
10. Discover the hidden gems. If
you’re visiting from out of town, fun and
unique sites include: the Arizona Softball
Hall of Fame, a Child’s Museum, the
Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, the
Sharlot Hall Museum and the Mike Fann
Community Skate Park.
11. Awards Parties! Watch the top
finishers take the podium and receive
their honors. The Awards Parties are a
whole lotta’ fun! Everyone, including
spectators, has a chance to walk away
with some schwag.
12. Be kind to nature. Throughout
event weekend, do your part to minimize
the impact thousands of enthusiastic
visitors by putting trash in its place and
steering clear of trampling sensitive habitat,
especially while spectating along the creek
crossing on the final section of singletrack
during the Pro Men and Women’s races
on Sunday.
Whiskey
Spectator’s Guide
Looking for the optimal spot to watch
all the awesome Whiskey Off-Road
action? Just follow these directions to the
best places for spectating. And please
remember the Golden Rule of enjoying
the outdoors; pack it in, pack it out.
Hwy 89a/White Spar
Campground Crossing
From the Courthouse Square, drive South
on scenic Hwy 89a 3 miles. Park on the
left side of the road just past the entrance to
the campgrounds. Riders will be crossing
the road at White Spar Campground,
please drive & park with caution.
Participants should pass through this area
between: Saturday – 7:50a to 9:30a
Sunday 8:45a to 9:15a
Pro tip: On Sunday, hike or ride up Jack
Pine Rd to cheer Pro racers as they climb
“the wall” roughly 1-mile from this parking
location.
Skull Valley Comfort Station #2
(50 Proof Only)
From the start/finish line in town, proceed
North on Montezuma, then left on Gurley
St. Go just over one mile and turn right on
Gail Gardner
Parkway. Go approximately
2.5 miles to Iron Springs Road and turn
left. Enjoy the scenic ride to Skull Valley
A Good Day on the Bike...
and the Skull Valley Cafe. Cross Railroad
tracks and look for the Cafe and Comfort
Station on your left. Please park so as not
to interfere with operations and if needed
use porta-lets supplied, not the restrooms in
the Cafe. Upon arrival, say hello to Augie,
the owner of the cafe. He’s a big supporter
of the event.
Participants should pass through this
area between: Saturday - 8:45a to
12:00p
Sunday – 9:30a to 10:45a
FR 373/Copper Basin Rd. (all
participants)
From start/finish line proceed south on
Montezuma 1.9 miles to Copper Basin
Road and turn right. After roughly 3 miles
the road will turn to dirt. Continue to follow
the dirt road (still Copper Basin) to the top
of the hill. Please drive carefully in this area
as riders will be sharing the road in some
places.
At the top of the hill you will approach the
FR 373/Copper Basin intersection. For rider
safety, please do not proceed past this point
onto the course in either direction. Comply
with the volunteer directing traffic/parking.
Double check to make sure you are not
parking in the way of event traffic and to
assure all roads are passable.
Participants passing this area are .8 mile
from the top of the Skull Valley climb/
Sierra Prieta Overlook. Spectators are
welcome to hike up the road to the
overlook. No vehicles are allowed at
the overlook per request of the Prescott
National Forest. Vehicles that elect to break
the rules will be ticketed.
Participants should pass by this area
between: Saturday – 10a to 3p
Sunday –
10:15a to 12:00p
Note – on the course maps, this location
is denoted as “Medic & Communications”
nearest to the Sierra Prieta overlook.
Thumb Butte Parking area
(singletrack and stream crossings
in area)
Thumb Butte is easily the best location on
the course for spectating some serious
singletrack shredding. The further up the
trail you hike, the cooler the terrain will
become, and thus, the better the mountain
biking to watch. Think stream crossings,
undulating trail between trees, boulders
and running water.
From Goodwin St / Montezuma
intersection, proceed North on Montezuma
to Gurley St. Turn left on Gurley St. Follow
this road approximately 3.5 miles. Parking
area will be on the right. Trail 326 exits the
forest onto Thumb Butte Road across the
street from this parking lot. Walk to the area
where Thumb Butte Rd turns to dirt and look
for trail exiting onto road.
Please respect nature and don’t trample the
hillsides near the creek crossing. This is a
very popular place to spectate, so please
spectate with care for the surrounding
habitat.
Note: This is a fee area, $5 to park, exact
change required. Be prepared to abide by
park rules and regulations.
Participants should pass through this
area between: Saturday - 10:00a to
2:30p
Sunday – 11:00a to 1p
9
Sierra Nevada Otra Vez™
Green Amenities
Roughly translated from Spanish as “again”, Otra Vez is the latest creation from Sierra
Nevada, bringing together the unique tangy and refreshing flavor of prickly pear
cactus with a hint of grapefruit. For those brewing aficionados,
Otra Vez is a gose-style ale, the perfect post-ride beverage
on a hot summer day where a light, easy drinking, thirst
quenching beer is the best call.
Sierra Nevada-inspired: Three easy and smart things to do while
at the Whiskey Off-Road
Thanks to its moderate alcohol
content of 4.5% and
ranking at only 5
Bitterness Units, Otra
Vez can be enjoyed
again and again,
hence its name. Otra
Vez pairs great with
spicy foods like Thai
noodles or fish dishes
like grilled Mahi. And
for an extra kick of
flavor, add some Tajin
(a Mexican seasoning
powder containing
chile peppers, salt and
dehydrated lime juice) to
the rim of a pint glass and
enjoy. Otra Vez!
Our friends at Sierra Nevada
Brewing Company take sustainability
seriously, operating one of the
largest privately-owned solar arrays
in the country, recovering and
recycling CO2 emissions, recycling
99.8 percent of solid waste and
converting 100 percent of waste
vegetable oil into biodiesel for fleet
truck use. Their efforts have inspired
Epic Rides to offer some energy
conscious practices for all attendees
on event weekend:
1. Carpool to Prescott - Reduce your carbon footprint, save money, feel better
about yourself and enjoy great conversation by grabbing a few friends and their
bikes, hopping in one vehicle and jamming on over to Prescott. Once in town, your
transportation for the weekend will be human powered…long live the bicycle!
2. Park and Ride - While in Prescott, relieve traffic congestion and parking
challenges by leaving your car keys behind and getting on your bike instead.
Everything you need in Prescott is within riding distance. The Whiskey Off-Road
was designed to be bicycle friendly and Prescott is a gorgeous town with amazing
weather, so take full advantage of it.
3. Recycle - Do your part and be sure to pitch all recyclable items into the recycling
bins. The bins are staged at the corner of Goodwin and Montezuma, in the heart of
downtown where all the great Whiskey action is happening.
Get more information on the impressive sustainability practices Sierra Nevada has
made to minimize their environmental impact: http://www.sierranevada.com/
brewery/about-us/sustainability
10
Epic Rides OFF-ROAD SERIES
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer Gardens
Emergency Medical Assistance &
Communications
Epic Rides is pleased to have Sierra
Nevada Brewing Company return as
the Official Beer Sponsor of the 2016
Whiskey Off-Road. Sierra Nevada
knows a thing or two about what
mountain bikers hold near and dear
to our hearts: drinking uniquely bold
brews that use the purest ingredients and
traditional brewing techniques. From
their flagship Pale Ale that helped launch
the American craft beer movement to
newer beers like Otra Vez – a unique
gose-style ale infused with the tangy
flavor of prickly pear cactus and a hint
of grapefruit – Sierra Nevada will be
serving up a terrific selection of their
most popular creations.
Medical support is provided by Southern
Arizona Rescue Association, (SARA), the
most experienced rescue personnel in
this part of the world. No matter which
Proof you’re pedaling, help is nearby.
SARA is a non-profit, all-volunteer search
and rescue organization serving Southern
Arizona since 1958. SARA members
are volunteers from all walks of life,
donating their time, skills and enthusiasm
to provide a vital service to the public.
SARA members receive extensive training
in all aspects of search and rescue work,
including: wilderness search, cave rescue,
high-angle and technical rescue, swift
water rescue, mine rescue, and outdoor
safety education. You’ll see them in bright
orange T-shirts throughout the weekend.
SARA also works in tandem with the
Yavapai Amateur Radio Club to keep
communication, coverage, and response
times the best they can be throughout the
Whiskey racecourse areas. The good folks
of Yavapai Amateur Radio Club help with
community events and provide emergency
communications. This is great training for
when disasters happen and their support
is required. When needed club members
assist with Fire Departments, US Forest
Service Fire Center, American Red Cross
and other agencies for the cities and towns
of Yavapai County.
For more info, visit: w7yrc.org/
For more information on SARA, please
visit www.sarci.org/sara.htm
Sierra Nevada will also be bringing
their solar-powered trailer, using 15
photovoltaic solar panels and a small
backup hydrogen fuel cell unit to keep
beer cold; a rolling example of Sierra
Nevada’s commitment to sustainability.
Thanks to the generosity of Yavapai
County and the City of Prescott, there will
be a bigger and better beer garden this
year operated by the Prescott Eagles.
Friday’s beer garden will be right next
to the start/finish line of the Fat Tire Crit
on Goodwin and Cortez streets, and for
the third year, the city and county have
made an incredibly gracious gesture by
once again allowing Saturday’s beer
garden on the beautiful green grass on
the east side of the County Courthouse –
the perfect location to sit back and enjoy
the sounds of Black Joe Lewis. Sunday’s
garden is positioned in clear view of the
finish line on Goodwin Street so you can
cheer on your favorite professional riders.
FRIDAY
-- Corner of Goodwin and Cortez – 5p-7p
-- Along Gurley St. – 7p-9p
SATURDAY
-- Along Goodwin – 10:30a-2p (Expanding to lawn at 2p)
-- Along Gurley St. – 2p-8:30p
SUNDAY –Goodwin Street – 11a-1p
A Good Day on the Bike...
Emergency Situations
If you see anyone down on the trail,
please alert SARA immediately. They
will go out onto the course to help
anyone in need. If help is needed while
on the course, riders should contact the
nearest checkpoint. Persons manning
the checkpoint will relay information to
SARA medical personnel, who will be
monitoring the communications network.
Calling 911 may work, but cell phone
coverage will be sketchy and the 911
operator will need information you may
not have—it is SARA’s job to sort that
out, and they have thousands of hours
of practice and have worked many of
Epic Rides events.
Non-emergency Situations and
event injuries off the bike
For non-emergencies and injuries/
ailments that occur while not on the
event course, please visit the Epic Rides
Info Tent. Please do not harass our
medical friends in search of mechanical
help, lost riders, misplaced beers, or ice
for the ones you found.
Please show some appreciation for the
people that are here to take care of
you when you need it most. After all,
how many people do you know that
will rush to your aid if you happen to fly
over the handlebars miles away from
civilization?
11
Bike & Gear Expo
With more than 65 enthusiastic vendors,
this year’s Bike and Gear Expo is
designed to be engaging, informative
and most importantly, fun! The Bike and
Gear Expo will be jumpin’ on Friday
(12p-7:30p), Saturday (7:30a-7p) and
Sunday (7:30a-2p), featuring some of
the foremost names in the bike industry
including Pivot Cycles, Endura, Stan’s
NoTubes, Maxxis Tires, CamelBak,
Shimano, KMC, BikeFlights.com,
Yakima, Clif Bar, Arizona High School
Mountain Biking and many more.
Show your support for all the brands
that endorse the Whiskey Off-Road by
sampling and purchasing from them
year around. Without their involvement,
the Whiskey Off-Road wouldn’t be what
it is today.
three days of riding,
music & shenanigans
MAY 20th - 22nd
Join Epic Rides and the Grand Junction community for the 4th Annual
Grand Junction Off-Road scheduled for May 20th – 22nd, 2016.
Located in western Colorado at the junction of the Gunnison and Colorado rivers,
Grand Junction is renowned for its world-class singletrack while the course, featuring
some of the area’s finest trails, has been referred to as one of the most technically
challenging in America. Providing riders equal parts challenge to reward while
navigating the moon-like terrain of Colorado’s Western Slope, event participants will
enjoy a variety of landscapes on purpose built trails winding through the mountains,
canyons and valleys.
The Grand Junction Off-Road event boasts three days of festival activities, live music,
a huge expo area and lots of riding/racing for both amateurs and pros. Fun events
include a whimsy family friendly klunker ride, professional fat tire crit races, 3-days
of free concerts, bike demos, beer gardens and more. All rides start and finish on
downtown’s meandering Main Street and take riders into the legendary Lunch Loops
and beyond for an authentic backcountry experience. Limited to 750 riders, we
highly recommend registering early. Visit www.epicrides.com.
Photos by Brian Leddy
introducing
INTRODUCING
POWERED BY
HIGH GEAR
BICYCLE SHOP
N
1
Get in on the Bike & Gear Expo fun
with Skyline and Solstice low rider pack
demos and the water monster hydration
tank at the Camelbak booth, huge close
out sales of up to 50% off and Hummvee
jerseys for only $29 at the Endura
tent, discount coupons from Maxxis to
purchase new tread at local Prescott bike
shops, free sealant refreshes all weekend
long at the Stan’s NoTubes booth, free
hamburger vouchers from In-N-Out
Burger (because let’s face it, nothing
beats a post-ride munch than a burger
for lunch), neutral support from Shimano
and a whole new product lineup from
Yakima with a raffle you don’t want to
miss. Whew! Holy run-on sentence.
inaugural series event!
�
MEDIC
JUNE 17th - 19th
10’x20’
Timing & PA
When faced with figuring out where Carson City, Nevada is, folks unfamiliar with
the Silver State’s geography often ask, “how close is that to Las Vegas?” The answer?
About twenty minutes closer than Lake Tahoe is. Placed at the foot of the eastern
Sierra Nevada, Carson City is a relatively undiscovered community ripe with outdoor
recreation opportunities. Carson City also happens to be the state capitol and one of
the most historically rich Western frontier towns in America. With Lake Tahoe a mere
15 miles to the West and Virginia City 10 miles to the east – home to the Comstock
Lode, the biggest silver strike in the history of America – Carson City balances its
rugged, Old West charm with world-class outdoor recreation. In other words, it’s a
perfect place for an Epic Rides Off-Road Series event.
The inaugural Carson City Off-Road will take place on June 17-19, offering three
different length courses (Capitol 15, 35 and 50-mile) that will challenge every rider’s
fortitude while fulfilling the senses with some of the most awe striking high alpine scenery
in North America. Featuring legendary trails like Tahoe Rim Trail and newer favorites
like Ash to King’s Trail, the Carson City Off-Road will be a backcountry mountain
biking adventure unlike any other. Also not to be missed will be a full weekend of free
live music, the Pro Fat Tire Crit running through the heart of city and the ability to stroll
throughout all of downtown with your favorite libation in hand. That’s right, Carson City
is allowing open containers throughout downtown for event weekend. The Carson City
community is completely pumped up for this event, so don’t miss the inaugural Carson
City Off-Road that’s sure to be ripe with fun for the entire family.
12
Epic Rides OFF-ROAD SERIES
Legend of Expo Vendors:
Legend of Expo
Vendors:
1 Carson
City Off-Road
17 Huppy Bar
18 CarboRocket
18 CarboRocket
19 Pearl Izumi
19 Pearl Izumi
Pedal or Die
20 Pedal or20Die
21
21 TOGS TOGS
22 Rogue Panda
22 Rogue Panda
1 Carson City O-Road
2 TBD
3 Scott Sports
2 TBD
3 Scott Sports 4 Lifetime Events
4 Lifetime Events 5 Prevent Child Abuse Arizona
Kicking Horse Coffee
6 Northern Arizona University 23 Kicking 23
Horse Coee
5 Prevent Child Abuse Arizona
24 CamelBak
7 Big Brothers & Big Sisters
24 CamelBak
6 Northern Arizona
University
25 Endura Nepal / Potential Energy
8 Prescott Mountain Bike Association
25
Endura
Nepal
/ Potential
Energy
26
Prescott
Pete’s
7 Big Brothers & Big
Sisters
9 In-N-Out Burger
26
Prescott
Pete’s
27
GEICO
10 TBD
8 Prescott Mountain
Bike Association
27 GEICO 28 KHS
11
Wild
Tonic
9 In-N-Out Burger
12 Genuine Innovations
28 KHS 29 VeeTire
10 TBD
30 ProGold
13 Cronix
29 VeeTire
11 Wild Tonic
31 Sea Otter
14 Crankbothers
30 ProGold32 KMC
12 Genuine Innovations
15 Maxxis Tires
31 Sea Otter
33 Shimano
13 Tronix
16 Clif Bar
32
KMC
34 AZ HS MTB League
14 Crankbothers
33 Shimano
15 Maxxis Tires
34 AZ HS MTB League
16 Clif Bar
35 Pivot Cycles
17 Huppy Bar
A Good Day on the Bike...
35 Pivot Cycles
36 Stan’s
NoTubes
36 Stan’s
NoTubes
37 BikeFlights.com
37 BikeFlights.com
38 Tasco
38 Tasco
39 Compel
39 Compel
40 Epic Rides
40 Epic
Rides
41 Endura
41 Endura
42 Yakima
42 Yakima
43 Ellsworth
43 Ellsworth
44 Velofix
44 Velox
45 SRAM
46 Elevated Legs
45 SRAM
47 KendaLegs
46 Elevated
48 CZ Racing
47 Kenda
49 Giant
48 CZ
Racing
50 Ride/Biker - FOCUS
49 Giant
51 Sho-Air / Ride Biker
50 Ride/Biker
52 AZ Devo - FOCUS
51 Sho-Air / Ride Biker
52 AZ Devo
13
Choose Your Own Adventure with More Whiskey Singletrack!
Whiskey Off-Road Gear and Goodies
New for 2016, the Whiskey Off-Road 30
and 50 Proof events offer riders several
singletrack options in the first 10 miles
of the event. After leaving Whiskey Row
towards the southeast, within only two
miles riders will hit dirt on Old Senator
Highway. The first option will be at mile
four, where riders can make a right turn
on a shorter faster route down Feldmeier
Trail (#330), which winds in and out
of a creek drainage. This option is best
for those competing to win (as it is the
shortest and fastest route), concerned
about overall time or worried they might
not be able to ride a couple extra miles
going the alternative route on Prescott
Giddyup! Whiskey Off-Road gear is the perfect memento of a great event experience to make all your friends back home jealous. Visit the Epic Rides Retail Tent in the Bike &
Gear Expo and git you some. Supplies are limited so kick them spurs in! Tax is included in all below pricing.
Circle Trail (PCT). Although faster, this
route can potentially get log jammed with
more riders due to numerous S-turns and
small technical rocky sections.
Wolverton Trail where in a short distance
they’ll have a second option, either going
left on Jack Pine Road or right on the PCT/
Wolverton Trail. Jack Pine Road is only
1.7 miles in length, while PCT/Wolverton
is 4.6 miles. Although Jack Pine Road is
quicker and more direct, it is a jeep road
that is far steeper and looser, highlighted
by “The Wall” – a 100 yard long pitch
By going straight instead of right at
mile four, riders will maximize their
singletrack experience by riding a
beautiful section of PCT that flows with
remarkable ease and is far less likely
to experience traffic backups. By going
this route, riders will tack on a couple
hundred extra feet of climbing and 2.5
miles more of singletrack.
that will surely tax the legs and lungs.
Although PCT/Wolverton is three miles
longer, it is a much more gradual and
enjoyable singletrack experience ideal
for those who aren’t as concerned about
being first and more focused on maximum
singletrack enjoyment.
15 PROOF
After both options rejoin and head
through White Spar Campground, riders
cross State Highway 89 and head up
EVENT PERMITTED BY THE PRESCOTT
NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE.
N
KMC – King Of
The Mountain
Challenge
Start Your Strava and Hit the Gas!
This year, 30 and 50 Proofers have
the opportunity to prove their climbing
prowness in the KMC King of the
Mountain Challenge. Simply activate
Strava and engage your climbing legs
within the indicated “KMC” segments/ The
fastest male/female climber for the 30 and
for the 50 Proof rides will be rewarded by
KMC following the event.
Whiskey 15 Proof – 2,560 ft. of climb
LEGEND
If you’re not qualified for the Fastest corral
yet, please lineup in one of the corrals
offered that best fits your ride level. Lining
up in a corral that is ‘faster’ than your
current fitness will only cause problems
for the larger group later in the ride, and
potentially much frustration for the rider as
they attempt to settle in to their rhythm and
are being passed by fellow cyclists.
Official Whiskey Off-Road
Singletrack Shorts, $81.25
Official Whiskey Off-Road (Soft)
T-Shirt, $21.50
The Whiskey Off-Road event jersey is
manufactured by Endura and designed
by Cirrus Visual Communication,
celebrating 13 years of sweet singletrack
and good vibes.
It even Includes the liner.
Liner sold separately.
If your t-shirt collection has more holes
in it than a bagful of donuts, add some
style with an Official Whiskey tee in
Men’s and Women’s sizing.
Official Whiskey Off-Road
Ladies Tank Top, $21.50
Official Whiskey Off-Road
Toddler & Kid’s T-Shirt, $15
Official Whiskey Off-Road Cap
& Trucker Cap - $21.50
Show off a little skin and your love for
the Whiskey.
Much better choice for the wee ones
than an espresso and a puppy.
Sizes 2T and larger.
Official Whiskey Off-Road
Cowbell, $5 (Buy One, Get One
FREE)
EVENT PERMITTED BY THE PRESCOTT
NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE.
Comfort Station
N
Water-Only Comfort Station
Medic/Communications Station
Trail Label
King of the Mountain Challenge
If you’ve done the Whiskey before, you
know better than showing up to the
start line five minutes before the shotgun
blast goes off. To ensure everyone starts
alongside riders of similar fitness and
skill levels, the Whiskey features a corral
format starting grid.
If you did either last year’s Whiskey,
Grand Junction Off-Road or the Tour of
the White Mountains and finished within
an hour of the fastest time, you will
receive a “Preskit Pass” on your number
plate that puts you in the Fastest corral.
Shorter distance riders who finished in
the top ten of an Epic Rides event in the
year prior will also receive a pass for the
longer event. Entrance into the Fastest
corral is only available through the sides,
not via crossing the start line in reverse.
Official Whiskey Off-Road
Hummvee Shorts, $81.25
30 PROOF
Start/Finish Line
Starting Corral
and the “Preskit
Pass”
Official Whiskey Off-Road
Jersey, $81.25
Course Route
Distance Between Points
Option 1 7,000 ft
31 miles 6,500 ft
4,640 ft. of climb 6,000 ft
5,500 ft
Non-Event Paved Trails/Roads
or Dirt Roads
5 mi
10 mi
15 mi
20 mi
25 mi
30 mi
Option 2 7,000 ft
37 miles 6,500 ft
4,900 ft. of climb 6,000 ft
5,500 ft
Course Option 2
5 mi
50 PROOF
10 mi
15 mi
20 mi
25 mi
30 mi
N
EVENT PERMITTED BY THE PRESCOTT
NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE.
Sanctioned by
Sanctioned by
13TH ANNUAL
AN ENDURANCE MOUNTAIN BIKE EVENT & MUSIC FESTIVAL
ST
Y1
- MZ A
9
IL 2 TT, A
AP16R PRESC
TH
LIVE
Option 1
48 miles
6,410 ft. of climb
7,000 ft
20
6,000 ft
S
5,000 ft
3
0,000
$3PRO PURSYOEUT
5 mi
10 mi
15 mi
20 mi
25 mi
30 mi
35 mi
40 mi
45 mi
L
EQUA
Dog on the bike.
S
KET
YMAR
& HA
RE
SQUA
BENEFITING
42ND
S
RIDE
THE EPIC ON
ER IN COLLECTI
ER
1,900
POST
ION OF
EDIT
POST
LIMITED
MEDIA SPONSORS
Information & Registration at
DEDICATED TO
MOONSHINE, MUD,
AND SMILES FOR MILES
7,000 ft
, OR POIS
15, 30 YOUR
PICK
SIVE
MAS
S
RDEN
IT
ER GA
+ BE RE CR
EXPO+ FAT TI
STRY
INDU DS RIDE
+ KI
PA
SUE HAYWOOD
Option 2
54 milies
6,670 ft. of climb
ANCE
DIST 50 MILEONS
Epic Rides Dog Bowls, $11
G
URIN
AT
IC FE
MUS
DESIGNED BY
EPICRIDES.COM
#WHISKEYOFFROAD
Part of these operations are conducted on public lands under special permit from
the U.S. Bureau of Land Management & the U.S. National forest service.
6,000 ft
Official Event Poster, $11
5,000 ft
5 mi
10 mi
15 mi
20 mi
25 mi
30 mi
35 mi
40 mi
45 mi
50 mi
Goes great on the wall in the bedroom,
or if you’re married, in the garage too.
14
Save your voice this weekend and opt for
an Official Whiskey cowbell. It’s much
louder and way more fun, especially now
that you can get 2 for $5!
The perfect solution for post-ride
helmet hair.
Epic Rides OFF-ROAD SERIES
Epic Rides Incredibell Bike
Bell, $11
Epic Rides Military Cap, $25
Dudette on the bike.
Perhaps one of the greatest inexpensive
gifts you can give a fellow
mountain biker.
A Good Day on the Bike...
Epic Rides Family on Bike
Decals, $1.50 - $2.50
Available with Mom, Dad, Big Bro, Big Sis,
Little Bro, Little Sis, and Pup on the bike.
15
Three Iconic Stan’s NoTubes Rims
get Wider, Lighter and Stronger
Ever since patenting its Bead Socket Technology back in 2001, Stan’s NoTubes has
pioneered the use tubeless tires through its lightweight and incredibly durable Crest,
Flow and Arch rims. Without Stan’s NoTubes and their wheel innovations, every one
of us would have taken a lot more time out of our rides to change flat tires. In fact,
tubeless tires have proven themselves to be one of the most important mountain bike
innovations in the last 20 years.
For 2016, Stan’s NoTubes introduces the Mark 3 series of these three iconic products,
featuring a wider, lower profile rim that’s lighter and more durable 6069 aluminum
alloy construction that’s incredibly strong. Each rim features Stan’s NoTubes WideRight
concept, a rim design that creates the perfect tire shape for the best balance between
speed, control, stability and reliability. All three models will be available in 26-, 27.5and 29-inch sizes and either 28 (Crest and Arch only) or 32 holes, with Crest also
available in 24-inch. All three rims can be built as a wheelset with Stan’s NoTubes
new Neo hubs, available in nearly every axle configuration including Lefty, Predictive
Steering and Boost.
Crest MK3
The go-to rim for cross-country and endurance duty, the Crest MK3 gains 2mm of
internal width while cutting weight, and a lower profile rim shape is designed to be
stronger while increasing tire volume to reduce rolling resistance while increasing
stability.
Arch MK3
Two Stages and Three Days of Music for 2016!
Join Epic Rides, the City of Prescott and the Eagles Aerie 3600 Chapter for a complete
lineup of music from 10a - 9p on Saturday April 30 as well as two acts on Friday
evening and an act on Sunday morning.
In addition to the new stage on the north lawn of Courthouse Square on Gurley Street
in downtown Prescott, a second new Holiday Courtyard Stage on Whiskey Row will
feature five musical acts on Friday and Saturday. These three days of rock steady
music and mellow vibes includes a canned good drive for the Yavapai Food Bank.
Epic Rides respectfully requests ALL attendees bring two canned goods per person
for donation. Donations are accepted at the Yavapai Food Bank Tent in the Bike and
Gear Expo area (near crosswalk on Whiskey Row).
The venue is perfect for reveling in the day’s effort as participants cross the nearby finish
line from their challenging mountain bike ride in Prescott National Forest and even better
Friday April 29
5:30p – 6:30p on Holiday
Courtyard Stage
– South of Winslow
10a-11:30a on Holiday
Courtyard Stage
– Cross Eyed Possum
South of Winslow is a tribute band
paying homage to one of the best-selling
rock bands of all time, The Eagles. Young
or old, guy or gal, cowboy or city slicker,
South Of Winslow will strike a common
chord with everyone. southofwinslow.com
Returning for a second year, Cross Eyed
Possum is a local Prescott-based threepiece band that isn’t your run-of-the-mill
group; they’re proficient 14-16 year-old
musicians with a strong local following!
Crosseyedpossum.com
Standing up to the constant abuse of the Downhill World Cup circuit, the Flow
continues to be a reliable mainstay of the gravity scene. The new Flow MK3 is more
capable than ever, increasing internal width by 4mm to 29mm, giving ideal sidewall
stability for tires as wide as 2.8 inches. A new lower profile design combined with
more durable 6069-series alloy construction makes the Flow MK3 not only tougher,
but also 30 grams lighter than the narrower Flow EX.
Get a closer look at the new family of Stan’s NoTubes rims in the Bike & Gear Expo!
7:30p – 8:30p Headlining Act on
Gurley Stage
– Haymarket Squares
Arizona’s finest purveyors of punkgrass.
What’s punkgrass you say? It’s just like
it sounds – one part righteous anger
with another part bluegrass with fourpiece harmonies for a proper punk-style
hoedown! “They’re smart. They’re funny.
They’re raging against the machine in fourpart harmony,” says the Arizona Republic
of the group’s incisive lyrics and boundless
live energy. In 2015, The Haymarket
Squares were nominated as Best Local
Band by the Phoenix New Times, who
called them “Phoenix’s original protest
band”, and “one of the most distinctly
talented groups in town.” And in 2010,
less than two years after their humble
Craigslist beginnings, The Haymarket
Squares won the year-long “Train Tracks”
band competition in Phoenix, beating out
50 other local acts. haymarketsquares.com
Media Sponsors
16
Epic Rides OFF-ROAD SERIES
Once the concert concludes, attendees are encouraged to make the short migration across
the street from the Courthouse square to Whiskey Row, a historic landmark in the Old
West mountain town formerly used to house bars and brothels. As of late, the brothels have
made the jump to restaurants while the bars remain intact and fully functioning.
With thousands of mountain bikers, plus their friends and family members in town for
the weekend, Prescott, Arizona is a town packed with mellow bike culture vibes and
promise for a better world through healthy pursuits and outdoor living.
With great cooperation from Yavapai County and the Prescott Downtown Partnership,
the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Beer Garden will open near the stage area at 11a,
expanding to the beautiful north Courthouse lawn at 2p, and making for the perfect
place to unwind with an oat soda while glorious music fills the air into the evening.
Saturday April 30
The Arch has proven itself to be the do-all rim, balancing toughness with lightweight,
making it an ideal choice for trail bikes and enduro racing. Based on feedback
from the company’s Enduro World Series teams, the Arch MK3 is now 24 percent
wider (26mm internal width) while maintaining an incredibly light 425-gram weight
(27.5-inch). Arch MK3 also benefits from a 25 percent increase in lateral stiffness for
improved cornering precision.
Flow MK3
for the boot scoot’n type as the sun sets over Thumb Butte directly west of the outdoor stage.
11:30a – 12:45p on Gurley Stage
– The CheekTones
Local to Prescott and known for their
rockin’ stage presence, The CheekTones
feature a lively mix of foot-stomping
cover songs from artists including Steve
Miller, Grateful Dead, Dr. John, Paul
Simon, the Beatles and the Rolling
Stones and an assortment of originals by
singer/songwriter Don Cheek.
1p – 2:30p on Holiday Courtyard
Stage
– The Bo Wilson Incident
Heavy blues mixed with wailing guitar
riffs and a signature Nashville sound will
keep Whiskey Row rocking while The Bo
Wilson Incident is on stage. Bo Wilson is a
rock guitarist, singer and songwriter hailing
from Northern Arizona with more than
40 years of live performances, including
performances with the legendary Waylon
Jennings. thebowilsonincident.com
3p-4p on Holiday Courtyard Stage
– Road One South
Telecasters, slide guitars, harmonicas
and percussion, all of it backed up by
a mean shuffle beat, Road One South
delivers sound reminiscent of blending
Bluest Traveler with The Allman Brothers
Band. Local to Prescott, Road One South
will be sure to get the party rockin’!
roadonesouth.com
4:30p-5:30p on Gurley Stage
- Jared and the Mill
Jared & The Mill, born and raised in
Phoenix, Arizona, and still call it home.
They first got started in the summer of
2011 they just wanted to play some music
with buds, and have a good time. Jared
and Michael had been buddies and
playing music together since they were
kids, and after they met up with another
childhood duo Josh Morin and Larry Gast
III, and connected with Chuck Morris III
and Gabe Hall Rodriguez through mutual
friends, the band was soon hammering
along in the local scene, playing
alongside the bands of new friends and
old throughout Arizona. Playing for fifty
people one night in a smokey bar, and the
very next night opening up and playing for
eighteen thousand in an arena was what
Jared & the Mill described as “inspiring
and eye opening to say the least”. Jared
& the Mill have opened and shared
stages with the likes of Zac Brown Band,
Barry Gibb, Boy & Bear, War on Drugs,
Wildfeathers, Cake, Flogging Molly, The
Killers, Allen Stone, and others.
A Good Day on the Bike...
6p – 7:30p Headlining Act on
Gurley Stage
– Black Joe Lewis
Joe Lewis hails from Austin, TX – the
collision center where Southern soul meets
mid-western blues and vagabond punk.
Unable to keep away from the infectious
music scene Austin is infamous for, Joe
Lewis soaked it all in and soon found
himself purchasing his First guitar while
working in a pawnshop. The rest is history.
Black Joe Lewis perfected his gritty
shouting and raw guitar riffs, honing
his signature sound on the band’s
upcoming album. Once compared to
“The Godfather of Soul”, we hear Black
Joe Lewis letting his punk-flag fly on the
group’s third studio album, Electric Slave.
Lewis refuses to be confined to genredefining boundaries or cater to only one
of his many musical influences on his
third LP. And as always, Lewis somehow
finds a way to make tracks full of horns
and blues riffs rival the likes of rocker
Iggy Pop. blackjoelewis.com
8:30p – 9p on Holiday Courtyard
Stage – Steve Annibale
Local to Prescott, Steve Annibale has
been pleasing audiences since 1997,
offering a broad range of musical styles
from rock and country to blues and
island music. Annibale has also been
heavily involved in jazz performances
including events like the Prescott Jazz
Summit and supporting Wynton Marsalis
and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
The soothing sounds of Steve Annibale
will be the perfect way to wind down an
action-packed day at the Whiskey!
Sunday May 1st
10a – 11:30a on Gurley Stage
– The Bo Wilson Incident Solo
17
The Whiskey Off-Road Kids Fun Rides
Awards
50 Proof Pro Purse Allocations
Amateur Rules & Expectations
‘My First Shot at the Whiskey’
All Finishers Award
Why should adults get to have all the pedalpowered fun at the Whiskey Off-Road? The
Shimano Youth Series Whiskey Off-Road Kids Fun
Ride features two different courses – the Single Shot
and the Triple Shot – perfect for kids of all ages and
skill levels. For many kids, this will be their first shot
at the Whiskey, and most definitely not their last.
•All bicycle event participants are required to wear eye protection and a helmet that
complies with U.S. CPSC safety standards for bicycle helmets.
All registered participants who cross the
finish line during the three days of riding
in Prescott National Forest will earn a
custom Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Pint
Glass that will surely come in handy at
the Sierra Nevada Beer Garden and
on Saturday at 8p at The Barley Hound
(234 S. Cortez Street) when we toast the
illustrious career of Sue Haywood.
The $30,000 cash purse will be split in
half between the top twelve male and
female pro riders.
Sunday Events –
Triple Shot:
For those of you doing the 15 Proof
Fun Ride, remember that it’s strictly for
fun. Everybody who finishes deserves
recognition, as it’s really a 19-mile
course that beginning riders can take
pride in completing. Congrats, you’re
officially a bona-fide mountain biker!
Long course. Recommended for mini-shredders and more experienced riders. The
route is trailer friendly, too.
Route: A tour through Granite Creek Park in Prescott including a stop at the pump track
and comfort station with refreshments! Fast shredders must wait for everyone to arrive
at the comfort station before returning to the finish line.
30 Proof & 50 Proof Amateur
Top Finishers
Start time: 9:05a – Concludes at 10:15a – Course must be cleared for returning Pro riders
Single Shot:
For the freaks of nature who finish in the
top 5 of their category, each will receive
a custom Whiskey Off-Road flask that fits
to perfection in your jersey pocket.
Short course. Recommended for newbies, trikes, and push bikes.
Route: A casual ride on a half-mile closed course in the heart of downtown Prescott.
Parents are welcome to walk or run along side their child.
Podium finishers in junior categories
receive Whiskey Off-Road stainless steel
water bottles.
Start time: 9:15a – Concludes at 10a
Note: To lineup for the kids events, first the Triple Shot participants will lineup at the
start line and depart for their ride, then the Single Shot participants will be welcomed
to the start line.
Registration details:
All categories will receive product from
industry sponsors in addition to the
customized awards.
Entry is $10 (scholarships available from Prescott Mountain Bike Alliance)
50 Proof Single Speed Finishers
Funds raised from the Kid’s Fun Rides are donated to Prevent Child Abuse Arizona.
All riders (including parents joining their children) are required to wear a helmet that
complies with U.S. CPSC Safety Standards. Registration required and available at the
Epic Rides Information Tent.
Epic Rides, in partnership with the
Single Speed World Championships,
will award the first place male and
female finisher in the 50 Proof Single
Speed category round-trip airfare to
attend the 2016 Single Speed World
Championships in Melbourne, Australia
on October 18-24.
Triple Shot
Be sure to bring the kids by the Prevent Child Abuse Arizona booth after their ride for
a free pinwheel!
Registration hours: Friday 11a–8p, Saturday 10a–3p, Sunday 7:30a–8:30a
Single Shot
Purse PayoutsMale
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
Female
$5,000$5,000
$3,000$3,000
$2,000$2,000
$1,500$1,500
$1,000$1,000
$625$625
$525$525
$425$425
$350$350
$275$275
$200$200
$100$100
Total$15,000
$15,000
Total Purse: $30,000
*Cash purse is secured. $30,000
minimum regardless of total participants
Off-Road Series Pro Overall
Winner Awards
Of the $100,000 total cash purse
between the Whiskey, Grand Junction
and Carson City Off-Road events,
$10,000 of it will go to the top three
overall Pro Men and Women (split
evenly of course).
1st - $2,500
2nd - $1,500
3rd - $1,000
•Each rider is expected to complete the entire course. If they do not complete the
course, the participant is considered a Did Not Finish (DNF). If a rider is a DNF
they should not cross the finish line upon return to the start/finish-line area. They are
expected to report to the Timing Tent to inform Event Timing they are no longer on
the course and did not complete the ride.
•Each participant must be considerate of other riders when passing or being passed.
Verbal communication and/or the use of a bell are necessary for a successful pass.
When being passed, please provide adequate space when available for the faster
rider to go by.
•Participants are required to complete the entire course on the same bike they started
the event on. All bikes should be of the ‘mountain bike’ genre (geometry, tires,
cranks, handlebars, etc).
•The nature of mountain biking requires a mountain biker to be self-supported.
Because Epic Rides events are a mild deviation from the solo backwoods
experience, participants are allowed to accept support from other registered event
participants, official event comfort stations or crew support (when applicable)
stationed at comfort stations on course. Pacing and intermittent hand-ups in noncomfort station locations is prohibited.
•Always abide by the laws and rules of the road and/or governing land agency
when appropriate.
•Headphones connected to MP3 players or similar devices that prohibit a rider’s
ability to hear activity around them are not permitted. This includes iPods, etc.
•Littering is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Picking up trail trash is good
karma.
•Thank the volunteers; this event couldn’t happen without them.
•If a participant breaks the rules, or attempts to bend the rules through a “loophole,” the
decision regarding appropriate course of action will be made by a board of critical
thinkers and experts in the sport of mountain biking. Your actions are at their mercy.
•All bikes are required to be human powered only. No assist except gravity.
Scoring will be determined by adding
the finishing times of the Whiskey,
Grand Junction and Carson City OffRoad events (Fat Tire Crits do not apply),
and the rider with the lowest cumulative
time will be crowned the champion.
Prescottcreeks.org Fun Fact: The Triple Shot runs along Granite Creek, a
tributary of the Verde River with a watershed varying from nearly 8,000 feet elevation
on Mount Union to 4,236 feet elevation.
Photo by Jim Knaup
Prescott Trails – By the Numbers
City of Prescott Trails and Natural Parklands Coordinator Chris Hosking had a busy
2015 building trail with a variety of volunteer groups including Over the Hill Gang,
Prescott Mountain Bike Alliance, City of Prescott Adult Restitution Program and Yavapai
County Juvenile Probation Department. The following numbers prove how much trail
building awesomeness is happening in the Prescott Basin.
75 – miles of new trail planned in the mid-term
2 – new trailheads to be established in the mid-term
6.1 – miles of new trail added to the Prescott Circle Trail (PCT) in 2015
54.45 – miles in length of the PCT, which runs in a circle around the city of Prescott
76 – miles of trail in the City of Prescott Mile High Trail System (MHTS)
800,000 – number of visits on MHTS each year (an increase of 100,000 from 2014!)
2,000 – average number of visits on MHTS each day (500 more than 2014!)
9 – percent increase in city trail usage for 2015
Epic Rides OFF-ROAD SERIES
179 – miles of trail maintained
6 – trailheads that will be improved/enlarged in the mid-term
15,000 – number of hours of volunteer labor in 2015.
18
The Prescott National Forest was also hard at work in 2015, and Jason Williams of
the USFS reports the following:
20 – miles of brush work done in the Prescott Basin
35 – miles of improvement work on Mingus Mountain Watershed Trails
31 – miles of additional new and adopted trails planned for Emmanuel Pines Trail System
5 – number of Adopt-a-Trail Program participants with 10 more waiting
2.6 – new miles constructed on Feldmeier Trail #330
4.1 – miles in length of Badger Mountain Trail, was completed in May 2015
For more information on Prescott’s extensive trail network, visit –prescotttrails.com
96 – percent completion of the PCT
Also check out this new video of the amazing vistas that can be experienced on the
PCT - youtube.com/watch?v=KKyBjc5ex5M
A Good Day on the Bike...
19
Low Ridin’ the Whiskey with Camelbak
Endura Continues its Ascent One Pedal Stroke at a Time
No matter which Proof you’ve chosen, the Whiskey Off-Road delivers a genuine
backcountry mountain biking experience that challenges and rewards all participants.
And a key component of making it to the finish line strong and smiling is proper
hydration, which is why Camelbak has #GotYourBack with a new line of Low Rider
(LR) packs designed to get the weight lower for more comfort during all-day adventures
on the bike.
When it comes to physics defying bike acrobatics, there’s one name that stands above
the rest: Danny MacAskill. The Scottish trials rider has left tens of millions of people on
the Internet slack jawed with his unbelievable riding skill. Even folks who don’t ride are
blown away by Danny’s athleticism and creativity, riding on features like suspended
steel cable, an obstacle previously thought unrideable until Danny did it. Last summer
the folks at Endura signed their fellow Scotsman as an Endura Brand Ambassador so
MacAskill can test Endura products in the harshest, most demanding conditions. This
alliance emphasizes both Scottish heritage and strong mountain biking roots to offer
apparel that outlasts the competition.
Swing by the Bike & Gear Expo and check out the Skyline™ and Solstice™ 10 LR.
These new Low Rider packs are a full-featured MTB pack with lumbar design for
maximum stability during the roughest descents. The lumbar design keeps water and
cargo stowed low and close to the waist. It’s a small change, but it makes a huge
difference; a lower center of gravity provides more stability while jamming off the top
of Sierra Prieta Overlook while giving more upper body freedom. Both Low Rider
packs feature a 3-liter Antidote® reservoir, helmet hooks, compression webbing for
storing soft armor and an XV™ back panel to keep the back cool and ventilated. The
pack includes its own tool roll, a zippered trapdoor for instant reservoir access and the
ability to stow the drinking tube in one magnetic click.
As proof of this durability, last year Endura received a coveted “Best Gear or
Accessory” award from PinkBike for its MT500 Waterproof Jacket II, praising it by
saying “…it’s safe to say that this is the kind of jacket one could almost comfortably
venture out in a hurricane with.” There’s no better place than Scotland to perfect a
waterproof and breathable rain jacket for all-day riding, which is why the MT500 has
been so well received. The MT500 also happens to be Danny’s go-to jacket for when
the skies turn gray.
Also new for 2016 is the Palos™ 4 LR, a reservoir based waist pack designed
specifically for mountain biking. It’s the ideal option for hard-charging riders who need
more than a water bottle, but don’t want to carry a full backpack. The Palos keeps
water and cargo centered on the waist, leaving the shoulders and back free. The result
is a lower center of gravity and more mobility, and perhaps the best part, no more
sweaty back and sore shoulders. The Palos also includes a 1.5-liter reservoir, storage
for keys and a phone, an integrated tool roll and overflow storage for fastening soft
armor to the outside of the pack.
Like the MT500, every mountain biking garment Endura makes is designed to last
years, not seasons, and is not offered to its customers until it can stand up to the
Scottish muck test, the perfect product testing ground known for serious mud, rain, cold
and wind. Not only does good gear have to be durable and comfortable, but it also
has to be stylish, which is why Endura is introducing a line of Limited Edition pieces
with lively colors for those looking to stand out amidst their riding mates.
The Endura brand is focused first and foremost on durability, quality and comfort, and
leaves other brands to chase what’s trendy. Endura’s Scottish heritage is a cornerstone
of what makes the brand unique, and Epic Rides is proud to be associated with an
organization that shares the same passion for helping folks enjoy life more by getting
outside and adventuring.
LOWER CENTER
of GRAVITY
OFFICIAL CLOTHING SPONSOR
FOR THE WHISKEY OFF-ROAD
{NOW AVAILABLE in PACK FORM}
CAMELBAK.COM/LOWRIDER
WATER WHERE YOU WANT IT.
20
Epic Rides OFF-ROAD SERIES
WWW.ENDURASPORT.COM
A Good Day on the Bike...
21
Downtown Merchants
Artful Eye
124 S Montezuma St,
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-445-5570
www.artfuleyejewelers.com
Arts Prescott Gallery
134 S. Montezuma St.
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-776-7717
www.artsprescott.com
Bella by Leah
218 W Goodwin St, Ste 204
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-533-6816
Classy n Sassy Boutique
220 W. Goodwin St. Suite 3
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-776-7467
www.classynsassyclothing.com
Cuppers Bistro and Coffee House
226 S. Cortez St.
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-445-1636
www.cupperscoffee.com
El Gato Azul
316 W. Goodwin St.
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-445-1070
www.elgatoazulprescott.com
English Garden Tea Room
220 West Goodwin St. Ste. 1
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-776-0477
www.englishgardentearoom.com
The Hike Shack
104 N. Montezuma St.
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-443-8565
www.thehikeshack.com
Hot Spot Nail Spa
218 W Goodwin St #103,
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-533-7538
www.hotspotnailspa.com
Hotel St. Michael
205 W. Gurley St.
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-776-1999
www.stmichaelhotel.com
Klein Properties & Investments
220 W Goodwin St #7,
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-443-8503
LaLa’s
207 W. Gurley St. Suite C
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-777-9882
Le Febvre’s Boutique
101 E. Gurley St.
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-308-6592
www.lefebvresboutique.com
Goodwin Street Medical Supply
406 W Goodwin St,
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-541-1825
www.goodwinmedical.com
Lifeways Books & Gifts
111 S. Cortez St.
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-445-5053
www.lifewaysbooks.com
Grandma’s Bakery
207 W Gurley St,
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-776-8485
Lyzzard’s Lounge
120 N Cortez St,
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-778-2244
Grams Willow
110 S Montezuma St
Ste A and C
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-776-1112
gramswillow.com
Man at Leisure
130 W. Gurley St. Suite 202
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-776-4874
www.manatleisure.com
Gurley Street Grill
230 W Gurley St,
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-445-3388
Hassayampa Inn
122 E Gurley St,
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-778-9434
www.hassayampainn.com
Epic Rides OFF-ROAD SERIES
High Gear Bike Shop
505 E Sheldon St,
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-445-0636
www.highgearbikeshop.com
Frozen Frannie’s
104 W. Gurley St.
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-515-2316
www.frozenfrannies.com
Gurley Street Coffee
318 W Gurley St,
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-308-7907
22
Heart & Soul
130 W Gurley St #303,
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-778-5486
www.squareup.com/store/
heartandsoul.com
Nectar Apothecary
219 W Gurley St,
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-445-4565
www.nectarapothecary.com
New Home Marketplace
113 W. Goodwin Street
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-899-6133
928-308-2211
www.newhomemarketplaceaz.com
Old Firehouse Plaza
220 W. Goodwin St.
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-443-9990
www.oldfirehouseplaza.com
The Old Sage Bookshop
110 S. Montezuma St. Suite H
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-776-1136
Olive U Naturally
130 W. Gurley St. #203
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-778-2337
www.oliveunaturally.com
The Palace Restaurant & Saloon
120 S. Montezuma St.
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-541-1996
www.historicpalace.com
Pastime Pleasures
103 E Gurley St,
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-458-5280
www.mcgloverantiques.wordpress.com
Personal Touch Framing
226 S. Montezuma St.
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-445-9299
Prescott Brewing Company
130 W. Gurley St.
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-771-2795
www.prescottbrewingcompany.com
Spice Traveler
120 W. Gurley St.
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-445-1377
www.spicetravelerprescott.com
Superstition Meadery
120 W Gurley St,
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-458-4256
www.superstitionmeadery.com
‘Tis Art Center and Gallery
105 S. Cortez St.
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-775-0223
www.tisartgallery.com
Two Mamas’ Gourmet Pizzeria
221 N Cortez St,
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-443-9455
www.twomamaspizza.com
Visit these Fine
Merchants
Prescott Chamber of Commerce
117 W Goodwin St,
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-445-2000
www.prescott.org
Prescott Homebody
130 W. Gurley Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-776-2941
Prescott Trading Company
130 W. Gurley St.
Prescott, AZ 86303
www.prescotttrading.com
Raskin’s Jewelers
110 W. Gurley St.
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-445-6120
www.raskinsjewelers.com
The Raven Café
142 N. Cortez St.
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-717-0009
www.ravencafe.com
Realty Executives
928-308-7711
www.newhomemarketplaceaz.com
Rendez-Vous on the Square
120 W. Gurley St. #105
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-717-9750
Sam Hill’s Cigar Lounge
202 S Montezuma St,
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-778-7600
www.samhillscigars.com
Soul Ride Bike Shop
409 W Goodwin St,
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-642-8727
www.soulride.bike
A Good Day on the Bike...
23
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