Cascade Cross Series

Folks, this is the piece of land that inspired me to be a cyclocross promoter. Amazing terrain features, a giant staircase, wide open views of the entire course, grass/gravel/mud, and smack dab in the middle of Bellingham. No, not Cornwall Park. It's Squalicum!

This is an old light industrial site, formerly an airport called Graham's Field (click on the site in this map for a history), a gravel pit for Pacific Concrete, and a plant nursery for the Parks Dept. Most recently, it became Bellingham's newest city park and contains a relatively new baseball field. When we first started racing here in 2008, the plans were to add several more fields. Now, with pressure on government services as they are, perhaps cyclocross is the perfect low maintenance activity this type of multi-use, post-industrial site needs to keep thriving (along with dog walking, sledding, and other zero-facility type uses).

At the moment, it is the raddest hard cyclocross course in the center of town! Lots of mounds and hills, some of which may be demolished in the future, so get up them while you still have the power!

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Now in its fifth year on the NW cyclocross scene, this course is now considered in some circles to be a Pacific Northwet classic. Epic conditions during its appearance in the Seattle CX series three years ago stamped the site firmly into the minds of many mud aficionados, and it has come through for the Cascade Cross Series ever since. We can count on plenty of fun & challenges again this year!

You will find yourself in the off-the-beaten path of the Northern State Recreation Area, just east of the town of Sedro Woolley on the Cascade Highway (Hwy 20). The course construction comes to you courtesy of NWCC Cycling Team and your favorite USCF official and kickin' Masters category racer, Marshall Will.

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Many a great battle has been staged along boundary lines: the Mason-Dixon Line (Yankees v. Confederates), Tug Fork river (Hatfields v. McCoys), the Columbia River (Sasquatch v. Unicorns). However, matters have been relatively peaceful along 49th parallel north (the exception being the Pig War of 1859) for a few centuries. That is, until NOW!

The cyclocross steam has been building on both the BC and Washington sides of the Fourth Corner boundary for several years, and now all this tension is coming to a head right here in Whatcom County.

This is a DOUBLE HEADER meaning same race schedule both Saturday and Sunday. You can register for both days and save $10 ($50 or less) while Sunday's entry fees alone are discounted by $5 ($25 or less).

There will be many special elements this weekend including a Boundary Bay beer garden both days and killer course features including sand, a pumptrack, a singletrack section set by the crew at Traitor Cycles, and of course the Clash Cup to be taken home by the weekend champion!

“They may take our Trader Joes, but they will never take our CLASH CUP!” ~ Billy "Slavecart" Wallace, Bellingham, WA

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2012 brings a brand new venue to the Cascade Cross quiver of excellence, with more terrain and diversity than you can point a muzzleloader at! Not to mention enough facilities to make you feel as fat & happy as a muddy hog - hot showers, a meal kitchen, even cabins you can book for the night before!

Coursewise, look for all the greatness you've come to expect out of Bellingham cyclocross with some added toughness to get you prepped for your annual belly stuffing showdown.

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This race is definitely less about being fit and more about being festive! Besides being just a good excuse to get outside on your bike with a bunch of cool folks on a great course full of challenging features, this event is an opportunity to race in costume! Properly clad 'cross racers (Christmas and/or Zombie theme) will get a first row call up. Better the costume, better the call up! See the gallery page for some examples & ideas from 2011.

We have compact grass. We have gravel trail. We have pavement. Those who have raced here in the past will testify that there can be some very boggy sections in the lowest terrain. That's okay - there are also hot showers and locker rooms. Bring a big towel and hope for mud!

There will be plenty of flight or fright responses to what we have in store at Thriller Cross 2012. See also the News section for more race details published close to the day of the event.

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Will it be chilly? Most likely. Will it be awesome to race 'cross in January? Most certainly! Will there be snow? A chance, but even at Nationals we often have snow. It's good for your handling skills. So harden the f' up!

This will be our third time out in January, and we're still the only cyclocross series in the PNW to cross into the new year. It is one of our most popular races, which leads us to believe it is obviously a good time to race 'cross! We've got the Belgium-esque weather. We've got the year-round outdoor ethic. Quitting in December? What are we, elves?

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This is a social-but-not-simple, urban-to-rural, cyclocross treasure hunt ride, starting from the After Party location of Kulshan Brewery. This was inspired by the Nordzee Cross event we hosted a few years back.

We intend to give you a good day on the bike with friends, and warm you up for a great after party! Team up with locals if you need help finding fairly obvious local landmarks (with a cyclocrossy theme). Find the treasure, return to the brewery to cash in your booty, and come back to the brewery later for the overall series awards presentation, music, announcements, and just a good time capping off a fantastic season!

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