About The WOOLLY
The Woolly Race was founded by a small group of passionate riders in the Taylors Falls/ St. Croix Falls area back in 2007. Taking place in the St. Croix River Valley, near parts of the historic "Ice Age Trail", the Woolly found its unique yet fitting name. From day one, the Woolly was envisioned to be a grass-roots event where the trail riding, competition, and good times were the focus. The goal of the Woolly Race has always been, to grow the mountain biking culture in one of the closest, most scenic area's to the Twin Cities. All proceeds from our annual event go either back into growing the event or towards other worthy mountain biking causes (IMBA, CAMBA, MORC etc.). With our recent successful efforts to gain approval from the City of Saint Croix Falls to build trail on a 92 acre piece of property, adjacent to the current Woolly Trails, our hope is that the St. Croix Falls area becomes equally known for its mountain biking as it is for its camping, hiking, canoeing and day trips. We could not pull off our event if it were not for the many volunteer hours, so thanks to all of you who have helped out in the past. If you want to get involved, contact us either here or on Facebook. Press
2010 Woolly Race Re-Cap - By Mark Fisk
Its not like the field toeing the line at Woolly '10 was the who's who of the elite mountain biking world, but would you be surprised to know that Woolly '10 Mens Comp champ would a month later take a 15th place at the US Mountain Bike Nationals in Granby, CO. It wasn't much of a race for the win as TJ Woodruff (Tucson, AZ) took the early lead into the singletrack and put time onto the chase pack each lap - taking the win by almost 3 minutes. Rounding out the podium are Charly Tri (Rochester, MN) 2nd, Barry Tungseth (Stillwater, MN) 3rd with Eric Oftedahl (MN) finishing just 3 seconds off the time of Tungseth - these are names that you'd see at the top of the list in any XC race in the Mid-west throughout the summer. The Woolly pays out cash money and a custom locally made Woolly medallion for the Mens Comp Podium.
ST. Croix Falls: More Bike Friendly - 12/22/10
By Jason DeMoe
The year 2007 was a stellar one for local mountain bike enthusiasts. That was the inaugural year for what has since become a St. Croix Falls summer staple, The St. Croix Valley Woolly mountain bike race. If all goes according to plan, 2011 could be another big year.
The group brought their aims to the attention of St. Croix Falls city administrator Ed Emerson.
“The original land that we wanted to build on was purchased through federal funding and therefore it could not be used for mountain biking,” Velaski said. “We got a hold of (Emerson) and he searched around all available property that might be of use to us and presented several options. Reigel Park turned out to be a perfect fit, because we can connect the new trails to the ones that we currently use.” Velaski, a 20-year biking veteran, raced competitively for 10 years and competed in several 100-mile races in Colorado.
“From everything that I have heard and also experienced personally,” Kuhlmann said, “I know this type of group to be very environmentally conscious. Serious mountain bike enthusiasts are real stewards of the land and do a great job at not only protecting the natural environment, but making it better. This project will be a great way to showcase a beautiful area of nature that may otherwise never have been exposed to the general public.”
Woolly Race Recap - 06/23/09
By Jay Richards
The third running of the Woolly race saw in increase of riders and positive reports from riders hitting the race. A low key grass roots type event featuring a nice variety of trail.
Kyia Anderson reports off her blog:
"It was a mass start so I tried to latch on some of the men's wheels. Rebecca Sauber came around me and I jumped on her wheel, knowing I needed to get into the single track before her I came around her just in time to enter into the freshly cut single track. Soon I got to the high point of the new single track section and was expecting to see Rebecca right on my wheel, she wasn't in sight. A small sigh of relief but I knew I had 2.95 laps to go and this was only the beginning. A sweet descent down the hill and this shot us out onto a parking lot where we then popped out onto a road with a 18% (or so) grade of a climb. It was short and steep.I powered up and over and threw it into the Big Ring and motored over the next few sections of double track, bicycle path, mowed walking trails, short section of single track, more mowed walking trails with more climbs than I anticipated, I just tried to keep the pressure on and not let myself loose momentum. Once to the highest point of the race course we had some sweet single track that then shot us out onto a railroad bed, more double track (really bumpy and sandy, similar to Ore 2 Shore) and then we got to do the lap all over again. Really great course, leaves plenty of room for passing, drinking and all in all a real good time!"
Super-rookie's Blog Race Recap
Lots of exciting things going on this weekend in Timmytown.
Starting things off today was a secret mountain bike race out in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. The little known race, Wooly Race, was a real treat and I more than got my moneys worth racing through some singletrack, double track, bike paths and people’s back yards. In fact, when I stopped racing alleycats a few years ago I figured I was done riding my bike through yards, and dead-end streets, but this race happily proved me wrong!
