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Event Information

The North Shore is calling…

The Lutsen 99er movement continues, high above the shores of beautiful Lake Superior. This 99-mile course (69-, 45- and 29-mile options also offered) takes advantage of the scenery and topography of Minnesota’s North Shore.

We will start at Superior National Golf Course, in Minnesota’s Sawtooth Mountains overlooking majestic Lake Superior, as we begin a fantastic Category 3 climb. Once over the ridgeline, the course takes advantage of the glacially sculpted terrain, rolling hills, and numerous lakes and streams at the southern range of the Boreal Forest. You will be riding on sections of road and trail that see as much moose traffic as people traffic at any given time.

Little Niner Kid Races will also be held, making the Lutsen 99er a family affair!

The 2024 Lutsen 99er is SOLD OUT!

Register for any of the 4 distances and receive the following:

  • Commemorative T-shirt
  • Aid station support
  • And more!

2024 Event Pricing: 

99er: $110

69er: $110

45er: $110

29er: $90

Friday, June 28, 2024

2:00 PM – Venue Opens

3:00 – 8:00 PM – Event festivities 

3:00 – 5:15 PM – Little Niners check-in

5:30 PM – Little Niners Event

 

Saturday, June 29th, 2024

5:00 AM – Breakfast Options

5:30 AM – Parking Open

5:30 – 6:30 AM – Check-in

7:30 AM – Start of the 99ers

7:32 AM – Start of the 69ers

7:34 AM – Start of the 45ers

7:36 AM – Start of the 29ers

7:38 AM – Starts of Friends & Family

Watch Party! After you drop off your rider(s), head down to Fika Coffee for the watch party. Cheer on your friends and family as you sip on a North Shore Blend coffee and chop on a delicious donut!

4:30 – 7:00 PM – Live Music!

7:30 PM – Awards Ceremony

 

Superior National Golf:

The Lutsen community is excited to welcome the participants of the Lutsen 99er, 69er, 45er 29er and kids races. Your spirit and dedication to biking inspires our entire community.

  • Leave no trace – No garbage, clothing etc., shall be thrown on the course!
  • Must hold your position for the entirety of the roll-out. Passing or weaving through other participants will result in disqualification without warning.
  • Option B Finish, you must obey directions from State Patrol at Hwy 61 crossing, failure to do so will result in disqualification without warning.
  • No Pedal Assist/E-Bikes allowed
  • Helmets must be worn when on the bike, and your chin strap must be buckled
  • Support Vehicles/Outside Assistance – You may not accept assistance outside of aid stations or approved spectator areas (Devil Track Lake Campground or Caribou Trail / Honeymoon Trail intersection for spectators)
  • DNFs must be reported to timing 
  • No Pets on course
  • No earphones
  • Timing chip (on bike number plate) must attach to the front of the bike. DO NOT wrap your bike plate or your chip will not read.
  • DO NOT PASS PACE CAR. The Pace car will lead all racers out of SNG & along Highway 61 to Caribou Trail. The Pace car will speed up at Ski Hill Rd. Passing the lead car will result in disqualification.
  • THANK THE VOLUNTEERS!

Course Nutrition

  • Hydration & Water
  • Energy bars
  • Granola bars

The Lutsen community is excited to welcome the participants of the Lutsen 99er, 69er, 45er 29er and kids races. Your spirit and dedication to biking inspires our entire community.

  • Outside help will only be available at designated spectator locations. No mobile support, including motorized vehicles, are allowed on course.
  • No spectators will be allowed at Aid Station 1, 2 & 3. Spectators are welcome at Devil Track Lake
  • Campground – 99er riders pass by twice here, 69ers once.
  • TO DEVIL TRACK CAMPGROUND FROM LUTSEN: 99 AND 69ER ONLY!
  • Go Northeast on Scenic Hwy 61 to the Harbor Town of Grand Marais (~ 20 minutes)
  • LEFT on 5th Street – 5th is located at the bottom of the hill as you enter Grand Marais
  • LEFT on The Gunflint Trail and follow that up the meandering hill to County Rd #8 (+/- 3 miles)
  • LEFT on County Road #8 (Devil Track Road) – continue for 8 miles
  • County #8 turns into County #57 (basically stay on the same road)
  • This will lead you to the Devil Track campground – parking available on the shoulder.
    TO HONEYMOON TRAIL/ CARIBOU TRAIL INTERSECTION
  • Northeast on Hwy 61
  • Left on Caribou Trail (County 4)
  • 6.7 miles to spectator location
  • This is NOT an aid station. Do not drive down Honeymoon Trail to aid station. No spectators allowed at Barker Lake Aid Station.

Parking Information:

  • All parking at Superior National will be closed until 5:00 am Saturday. There is no overnight parking or camping in these areas. The event guide has information about camping options.
  • Parking will be limited and may fill up before the race start. To avoid last-minute problems, arrive early and minimize the number of vehicles brought to the start.
  • If you are staying at these resorts, we would encourage racers to be dropped off for the start, and have spectators take the resort shuttle to the start. If you drive, please follow the directions of the parking staff and be courteous!

Directions (from south):

  • Take I-35 North to Duluth, MN. In the Duluth freeway system, take the last possible exit labeled “Hwy 61-North Shore Drive.” Stay on Hwy 61 North for 90 miles. Just after the 90 mile-marker, you will see a sign for “Superior National” Turn left at that sign.
  • Superior National Golf 5731 MN-61, Lutsen, MN 55612

Directions (from north):

  • Take Hwy 61 South through Grand Portage and Grand Marais. Approximately 18 miles south of Grand Marais, you will see a sign for “Superior National” Turn right at the sign.
  • Superior National Golf 5731 MN-61, Lutsen, MN 55612

Have your bike checked over before the ride. Make sure everything is tight and properly adjusted, or take it to a trained Erik’s mechanic. They’ll gladly look it over and make sure everything is safe.

Remember to plan for the unexpected. Erik’s recommends on every ride that you keep the following in your hydration pack or seat bag:

  • Spare tube
  • Patch kit
  • CO2 inflator with multiple cartridges or pump.
  • Multi-tool
  • Tire levers

For a long ride or race, you should add the following if you don’t already carry it:

  • Tire boot for patching large cuts in tires
  • Chain “quick” link to make field repairs
  • Chain tool
  • Back up energy food as a reserve tank

Erik’s mechanics will be on hand to make final adjustments or help out at the aid stations where possible. For more ideas, check out these recommendations or stop by one of Erik’s locations near you.

Available food will be granola bars, fig bars and energy products. Hydration will be water and hydration products. Please plan to stop and open your hydration pack or bottle to allow contactless filling from a volunteer.

The 2024 Life Time Lutsen 99er Athlete Guide is in the works! Please see the 2023 Athlete guide for reference:

  • Each Leadville Qualifying Series race provides 25-100 qualifying slots to the Leadville Trail 100 MTB, based on the total number of registered riders at each qualifier event. Half of the qualifying spots will be allocated based on the top age-group performances and half will be drawn among riders who have finished the qualifier race within the allocated cut-off time.
  • Qualifying slots will be distributed at the Awards Ceremony. There will be 25-100 slots per qualifying event. Qualifying slot winners MUST BE PRESENT, as the roll-down qualifiers rule will be in effect at each event. All qualifier slots will be awarded and redeemed on race day. You must pay your entry to the LT100 when you accept your slot. You will have the option to register for the current year or the following year’s LT100 and must decide when accepting your qualification slot. All entries into the LT100 are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
  • ** The corral placement chart for the 2024 LT100 MTB based on prior performances at Leadville Race Series events can be viewed below. **
  • As one of the most well-known mountain bike races on earth, getting into the Leadville Trail 100 MTB has always been difficult. LT100 Qualifiers are long and tough, with lots of climbing. They are similar to the classic course at Leadville in that they consist mainly of rugged jeep roads of gravel and dirt. A qualifier event could not only gain you entry into the LT100 MTB, but it could also boost your corral starting position in the Race Across the Sky!
  • Rider starting positions will be organized in color-coded corrals. These positions will be based on a finish time from a previous (see corral chart) LT100 MTB finish/qualifier finish. Please enter finish times when prompted during the registration process. If you race a qualifier after previously gaining entry, you MUST email Athlete Services a direct link to your individual results so you will be placed accordingly. You will not be placed automatically. Corrals will be assigned as follows:

**CORRAL ASSIGNMENT TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE LEADVILLE RACE SERIES.**

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