The 47th Annual North American Vasa is a week away and the start list is taking shape. There’s still plenty of time to register and fat bikers already make up around 90 of the 418 total participants split amongst multiple ski distances and Sunday’s snowshoe race.
That’s an excellent turnout and offers up huge points for the Series regulars. About 43 riders are confirmed for the 35km Long Race and another 40ish in the 17km Short’s category.
Vasa Fat Bike Race – The Favorites
With Fat & Flurrious winner Jorden Wakeley unconfirmed, it’s hard to look past runner-up Matt Acker as the favorite to cross the line first at Timber Ridge on Saturday. He’ll be up against John Burmeister, Velo City Cycles’ Aaron Westhouse and local hero Kyler Bradley.
As is often the case, the Men’s master’s is STACKED! We’ll see the likes of Eric Langley, Jim Jackovatz, Kris Sands and Tim Reicha duke it out of the podium for the day and likely reshuffle the Series standings ahead of Dogman Challenge and Fatty Caddy.
Nina Waeschenfelder enters as the odds-on favorite for the women’s 35km, but she’ll be dealing with Stacy Zirkle and a new rival as well. NMMBA board member and all-around good human Kate White makes her Series debut for 2023. Her reputation as a skilled singletrack rider and diehard fat biker puts her right in the conversation as a contender. Anabel Miller is back and looking to nab points as she runs up her total heading into the back-to-back-to-back stretch.
Related: 2023 Short’s Brewing Fat Bike Series Standings
Vasa Fat Bike Race – The Course
The 2023 fat bike course mixes wide sections of ski trail and heavy doses of the Winter Sports Singletrack. As always, expect extra love and care from the NMMBA groomers next weekend, but it may be in the hands of the snow gods. Midweek temperatures are expected to jump above 40 degrees for more than 72 hours, which is often what it takes to turn pristine trails into ice ribbons.
Still, it’s Nothern Michigan and you can count on the weather forecast being wrong a little more than half the time.
Check out the full list of confirmed riders and make sure you get registered online! Fat bike races start at 11:50 am and you can expect awards in the Short’s Beer Tent just as soon as you cross the line.
Loving the trails? Make sure you grab your NMMBA grooming badge or show some grooming appreciation with a Visitor Day Pass.