We invite you to ski the Pepsi Challenge/Great River Energy/Giants Ridge Nordic Races on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024, at beautiful Giants Ridge. We are in the planning stages for these 5 races – 50K, 25K, 8K – Skate & Classic. Our RunSignUp registration site with mail in registration form is updated and active now. Race courses remain the same, while registration, bib pickup and the awards luncheon are now in The South Chalet at Giants Ridge. (The South Chalet is the small chalet before the Main Chalet.)
There is a mail-in registration form on our website and a link to on-line registration.
Please mark this event on your calendar – we look forward to seeing you! Any questions, please call 218-865-8072 and leave a message for Lisa. Thank you!
East Range Cross Country Challenges, Inc. and our communities of Biwabik, Aurora, Hoyt Lakes and the Town of White, with the aid of Pepsi, Great River Energy, Giants Ridge, Honey Stinger, Rossignol, WDIO TV, Biwabik Area Civic Association, FITS® Socks, Rex Wax American Ski Marathon Series, Minnesota Power, Lakehead Constructors, Tour de Finn and Cold Snap Technology, wish to extend a warm welcome to all citizen cross-country skiers anticipating the skiing of the 39th Annual Pepsi Challenge Cup 50K/Great River Energy Rush 25K?Giants Ridge 8K . With the help of you, our skiing friends, we expect to make this year's event the best ever! So, come to Minnesota's beautiful Iron Range for the last celebration of the ski season and experience the "Challenge" and "Rush" with us. You'll be glad you did!
Location
Giants Ridge, Biwabik, Minnesota is easy to find! Located on the Iron Range just three hours north of the Twin Cities, or just one hour north of Duluth on Highway 135. Registration is at the South Chalet at Giants Ridge only, approximately 5 miles east of Biwabik near the start of the races.
Office Location
Giants Ridge generously provides us office space, but the ERCCCI board and its volunteers still organize the race. Call Giants Ridge and ask for Lisa Weidemann or race headquarters. 1-800-688-7669 ext. 8072 or 218-865-8072 or email pepsichallenge@giantsridge.com.
Racecourse
An exciting course has been designed to provide a pleasant experience for skiers of all levels. All races start and end at Giants Ridge in front of The Lodge and are spectator friendly. At the start there is 1K of wide-open skiing (at least 6 across) before ascending ancient over burden mountains and descending into beautiful scenic wood lands. The 50K challenges the more daring skiers on the famous World Cup and Olympic training trails, before completion in the Nordic stadium in front of the Timing Building at Giants Ridge. The 8K race is perfect for beginners to intermediate and the course will lap through the Stadium twice. The entire racecourse is groomed to provide excellent conditions for both skaters and traditional skiers. Feed stations are provided approximately every 8K. Gatorade and water available. Trails and race distances are subject to change.
50K Criteria
Pepsi Challenge 50K Classic and Great River Energy 25K Classic Races
The 50K and 25K Classic races will start at 9:00 a.m., giving those who love to classic ski a chance to get out there on their own. This is a ski on your honor race and only the classic style will be acceptable -- no skating. When filling out the registration form for the 50K or 25K Classic races, be very careful that you mark which race you are entering.
The Pepsi Challenge is a member of the ASM Series. This series is North America's longest running and largest citizen's racing and touring series, featuring 17 premier ski marathons and winter festivals stretching from Vermont to Alaska.
Tour de Finn
Dec 9 - Nordic Opener Skadi's Chase 8k skate - Osseo, MN - Three River Park
Dec 16 - Skinny Santa Solstice Ski 16k skate - Elk River - Elk River HS Ski Team
Jan 6 - First Chance Ski Race 10k skate - Mora, MN - Vasaloppet USA (pending confirmation)
Jan 14 - Pre-Loppet 18k skate - Minneapolis, MN - Loppet Foundation
Jan 20 - River View Loppet 20k classic - Brule, WI - Brule XC Ski Club
Jan 28 - Marine O'Brien 12k classic - Marine on the St. Croix, MN - St. Croix Valley Ski Club
Feb 4 - City of Lakes Loppet 37k skate - Minneapolis, MN - Loppet Foundation
Feb 10 - Vasaloppet USA 42k classic - Mora, MN - Vasaloppet USA
March 2 - Pepsi Challenge Great River Energy Rush 25k classic - Biwabik, MN
Registration
All entries must be on official registration forms and be accompanied by the appropriate fee outlined below. Please note there is a discount structure if registrations are sent in before deadline dates. No changes between the 50K, 25K and 8K races will be accepted after February 28, 2024. Race registrations are not taken over the phone.
Pepsi Challenge Cup 50K & Great River Energy Rush 25K Races
Up to January 13th* $75
January 14th thru February 22nd* $85
February 23rd thru Race Day* $95
*Youth rate 13-21yo 25K & 16-21yo 50K $70
Giants Ridge 8K Race
Now thru Race Day
18 years and under $40
Over 18 years old $55
Guest luncheon tickets available only in advance by February 26th $15
US funds only. No Canadian Cash accepted.
Make checks payable to: ERCCCI. (East Range Cross Country Challenges, Inc.) PO Box 505, Biwabik, MN 55708
No Credit cards.
9:00 am 25K & 50K Classic – Mass Start
9:30 am 50K Freestyle – Mass Start
9:40 am 25K Freestyle – Mass Start
9:50 am 8K Race Start
U.S. Funds only and No Credit Cards are accepted. No Refunds Allowed. In person Registration in the South Chalet at Giants Ridge only!
Registration Location
BIB PICKUP & LATE REGISTRATION Bibs and information packets will be available for pickup at the South Chalet at Giants Ridge on the lower level, Friday, March 1, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Identification will be required for bib pickups.
Lodging
LOCAL PLACES TO STAY
General Information will be offered – it will be up to you to call or email these businesses and get the information that you need. All hotels/motels will be listed with Stay - Discover the Range (ironrange.org) – please check out that website for their general info.
Participant Luncheon – 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – a complimentary lunch ticket per skier is included in the racer registration packet. Please bring your lunch ticket to luncheon at the Giants Ridge South Chalet. Lunch tickets for any friends and relatives can be purchased in advance only. Price per additional lunch tickets is $15.00, children 6 and under $5.00. You will be able to order additional tickets on your on-line or mail-in registration forms. February 26, 2024 is the cut-off date for ordering extra lunches. No additional lunch tickets will be available at Registration or on the day of the race.
No offsite Beverages containing alcohol are allowed in the South Chalet.
No awards will be given out before the race results have been confirmed. Please allow yourself time to patiently wait for your awards. If there are any protests or timing issues, no major awards will be given out before 2:00 p.m.
Awards Ceremony – South Chalet at Giants Ridge. Overall Champions are acknowledged as Top 3 Finishers are present at the Luncheon. Top 3 class prizes will be given as a majority of results are certified (undisputed), beginning with the 8K at approximately 12:00 PM.
At the Luncheon – In order to keep the aisles clear, we ask that if you bring your ski bag into the South Chalet, to change your clothes, etc. – please take your bag out to your vehicle or put up against the walls so that they are not blocking or impeding the movement of the lunch crowd. We are not responsible for any lost items or ski bags. Make sure your ski equipment and bag make it to your vehicle.
You must check your time to make sure it is correct! There is a 30-minute protest period after the race. You must protest to the timing officials upstairs in the timing building. It is too late to protest at the luncheon.
If you do not finish the correct distance race that you registered for, report to official timer in the timing bldg. For example: if you drop out of the 50K race, you must report to timing official upstairs in the timing building. (The volunteers outside cannot help you with this, you must go to the official timer directly.)
Additional Information
Please enclose proper fees, with the entry form and mail to the address above. NO REFUNDS WILL BE ALLOWED. US FUNDS ONLY! MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO ERCCCI. CHARGE CARDS ARE NOT ACCEPTED
Downloadable copy of our Event Information Booklet.
Click the icon below to download the attached PDF.