FRS King of the Mountain!

OPEN AIR BIG BEAR ANNOUNCES FRS KING OF THE MOUNTAIN AWARD FOR CONQUER THE BEAR RACE SERIES

King of the Mountain Award worth $50 to Fastest Athletes

Open Air Big Bear and Conquer the Bear Presenting Sponsor FRS Healthy Energy are proud to announce the FRS King of The Mountain Award for the Conquer the Bear, and Conquer the Cub Race Series. The King of the Mountain Award, worth $50 cash will go to the first Conquer the Bear, and Conquer the Cub Athlete each to reach the designated point on their respective course.

The FRS King of the Mountain Award starts at the Big Bear PaddleFest, July 9 and 10, a festival of clinics and races on the South Shore of Big Bear Lake, which is also host to the third event in the series, either a 20k or 5k Kayak Race. Now in its 4th year running, Big Bear PaddleFest has become a World Paddle Association sanctioned race and is expected to draw athletes from all over Southern California looking for a picturesque race venue, or just a new challenge.

“We’re so excited to offer a WPA sanctioned race this year along with the FRS Challenge,” said Jim Dooley of North Shore Trading Company, sponsor of Big Bear PaddleFest. Added Janet Dooley, “I’m so impressed with the Conquer the Bear and Conquer the Cub athletes for what they’re doing – four major races, snowshoeing, mountain biking, paddling and trail running!”

Endure the Bear Trail Run, the fourth and final event of the 2011 Conquer the Bear Series, held in September, offers the next chance for athletes to compete for the additional $100 in Cash Prizes to be awarded at each event. Along with the FRS King of the Mountain Award, Conquer the Bear athletes are competing for a $1000 grand prize to be handed out at the finale of the series.

For more information the Conquer the Bear or Conquer the Cub Race Series, including registration details or contest information visit Open Air Big Bear.

 (Last year's overall female winner Kelly Brunson and her sweet winnings)

Get Your Paddle On!

 Bear PaddleFest is a festival of clinics, races and vendor expo for canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards on the South Shore of Big Bear Lake, hosted by North Shore Trading Company.For two days in July, paddlers can test their stamina at 6700’, take beginner through advanced clinics, and learn about the latest in paddling gear from vendors and sponsors.Big Bear PaddleFest is a member of Open Air Big Bear and third in the Conquer the Bear/Conquer the Cub series of cross training races held throughout the year in Big Bear Valley.

 
The weekend event will offer pre-race-day activities on Saturday, July 9^th, including on-water clinics for beginner and advanced paddlers taught by local paddling instructors, boat and board demos with Seda and Necky kayaks and Hobie paddleboards, an outdoor-industry sports exhibit with Smith Optics, USARC, FRS, John Wayne Cancer Foundation, Clif Bar, Big Bear Vacations and more. 

The races, scheduled for Sunday, July 10^th, are open to all levels of paddlers. There will be 20K, 10K, and 5K canoe or kayak, tandem or solo races. The Kids’ Fun Paddle is free for 12-year olds and under. 

(Video by Scott Hoffman, website)

For more information Paddlefest or Conquer the Bear, including registration details, or contest information visit OpenAirBigBear.comwww.openairbigbear.com.

Seven Summits Hike #2 - Bertha Peak

  (Seven Summits group hike #2, Bertha Peak)

Today was hike #2 in the Seven Summits of Big Bear series of summer hikes which took us up the Cougar Crest trail to Bertha Peak. If you are not familiar with the Seven Summits of Big Bear check out here. Another great turnout and and even more beautiful day made the hike super enjoyable. In my opinion the Cougar Crest trail is the most enjoyable hike in the valley. It's short enough that even at a leisurely pace you finish the hike before lunch and offers some of the best views of Big Bear Lake to be found.

At the top of Cougar Crest you run into the PCT and from there a short and steep steep hike up an access road that leads to the summit at Bertha Peak.You could also head out the PCT to Canada if you had the time! Great views of the lake to the south and some outstanding views of the Holcomb Valley Pinnacles to the north as well. The Seven Summits of Big Bear hikes are a great way to get out and experience some of the best hiking in Big Bear (or anywhere!) with a great group of people no matter what your ability level is. Check out some pictures from the hike and come out to the next one... #3 Gold Mountain- Saturday, July 2nd at 8am.

(Outstanding views on the Cougar Crest Trail)

(Making the tough push towards the summit)

 (Punching the Seven Summits card)

 (Looking South from Bertha Peak)

(Looking North from Bertha Peak)

For more information on hiking, biking, running or ANYTHING OUTDOORS in Big Bear Lake check out Open Air Big Bear! 

See you out there!

Big Bear Shootout

Mountain bike season is in full swing and there is nowhere better to ride than up here in Big Bear Lake. Amazing single track descents and oxygen sucking climbs ensure a challenge for everybody. Still one big race left for the season. Ride the Bear is happening in two weeks and is sure to be a great day of mountain biking. Check out this video from the May race which is the same course as Ride the Bear...then sign up and start training!

Open Air Big Bear and Big Bear Vacations area also teaming up to give one lucky group FREE lodging for race weekend. Only thing you need to do to be entered in the drawing is to sign up for the race. Check out all the details HERE!

Fly Fishing on Big Bear Lake

One thing I've always wanted to do better is relax and enjoy my surroundings a big more. I sometimes get caught up in the adventure and excitement of pushing myself and forget to stop and smell the roses, or catch some fish. So in trying to steer myself towards a new direction, I've decided to take up fly fishing...

I got a killer deal on a basic setup from my good friends over at North Shore Trading Company. Mike Tuttle runs Big Bear Fishing Adventures, a full service guiding operation, out of the store and on top of hooking up the rod and reel he was kind enough to take me out for a lesson on how to get started. 

My setup is sweet. Pole is graphite and breaks down into 4 pieces all of which go into a bomb proof case. The reel has its own pouch. Just need some flys and a net, maybe some basic fishing tools, and I'm ready to rock. For the lesson Mike supplied me with some waders and showed me the basics of setting up  the line. After that we were in the water and learning to cast which is a lot of fun...and really challenging!

 (Mike explaining the basics)

 (Learning the art of fly fishing!)

(Fly fishing in Boulder Bay on Big Bear Lake!)

I'm excited to keep learning and even more pumped to add something else to the arsenal of outdoor activities I enjoy. If you get a chance swing by and check out my friends over at the North Shore Trading Company and Big Bear Fishing Adventures. They've got a great operation going on in Fawnskin, on the north shore of the lake. Tell them Matt sent you over and they will hook you up! 

 

(planning a trip to Colorado this summer)

Time to Ride!

(Time trial bike all ready to go!)

The Cycling Association is holding all sorts of different rides, my favorite being the Thursday Night Time Trials. It will be the same course over the entire summer, with some Thursday nights being "officially" timed. This is a great way to measure progress over the summer. Last week I rode the 10.5 mile course in 27 minutes flat which is an average speed of 23.3 mph. My goal over the course of the summer is to break 24 minutes...just over 26 mph average. Some fast guys showed up last week but I felt the pressure to ride fast because of the new wheels on the bike...I went first out on the course and had to put in a hard effort to not get caught. Sounded like a few of the guys rode in the 26 minute range and local Pro Mountain Biker Derek Hermon was down in the 25's. I am really looking forward to trying to drop my time down and to the weekly get together with a bunch of local riders. For more info on this ride or others check out the info HERE!

A New Challenge in Town?

The Seven Summits of Big Bear have become somewhat of a local challenge. It's perfect. Something you can start now, and finish in a few months, or a few years. There is no time limit...just the amount of time it takes you to complete. But what if there was a time limit? Or what if the goal was to complete the task of tackling all 7 summits in the shortest amount of time possible, traveling only by foot. This is the talk among the local scene right now. Taking this peaceful and inspiring journey of hiking, and turning it into a grueling endurance push...sounds fun.

Check out this write up on the Trails Foundation page about a potential route: HERE

(A young Harper contemplates her own 7 summits push)

For now I am going to work on planning my route and practicing in sections. The total mileage looks to be anywhere from 50+ depending on the chosen route, with a ton of elevation gain and loss. I agree that it could be done in under 24 hours...and think if I can get the route dialed in I might be able to break that mark!