We are looking forward to seeing everyone again for our third weekend of mountain bike racing on the amazing Fire Mountain Trails in Cherokee, North Carolina. We will have Enduro racing on Saturday with redesigned courses and Cross Country racing on Sunday. This event is for all levels of racer and we know everyone will enjoy both the trails, the amenities, and best social atmosphere in mountain bike racing.
Our plan at the moment is conduct the event as we have in the past, however, we will mitigate all aspects of the event to keep everyone safe. Should the situation change, we reserve the right to modify the event and/or cancel per the leadership of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Registration
The Enduro race at the 2021 Fire Mountain Inferno and Dante’s Double is SOLD OUT. You may sign up for the Waiting List by completing this FORM. If a slot opens up, the next person in line will be notified by email and text and you will two hours to register before it slides to the next person.
There are plenty of slots left for the Cross Country races on Sunday.
Race Capacity
There is a limit of 200 participants in the Enduro races on Saturday. Over 75% of the field was filled with 2020 deferrals.
Race Information
Enduro – SOLD OUT!
January 15- May 20 $60 – Beginner, Sport, Masters & Expert Categories
On-Site $75 – Beginner, Sport, Masters & Expert Categories
January 15- May 20 $10 – Junior (17 & Under)
Cross Country
January 15- May 20 $30 – Beginner, Sport, Masters, E-Bikes & Expert Categories
On-Site $45 – Beginner, Sport, Masters, E-Bikes & Expert Categories
January 15- May 20 $10 – Junior (17 & Under)
Dante’s Double (Both Days) – SOLD OUT!
January 15- May 20 $85 – Beginner, Sport, Masters & Expert Categories
On-Site $100 – Beginner, Sport, Masters & Expert Categories
January 15- May 20 $15 – Junior (17 & Under)
Schedule
Friday, May 21
5:00-7:00 PM Packet Pickup/Late Registration – Cherokee Festival Grounds (441 Sequoyah Trail, Cherokee)
Saturday, May 22 – Enduro Racing
7:30 AM-9:30 AM Packet Pickup/Late Registration – Cherokee Festival Grounds (441 Sequoyah Trail, Cherokee)
9:15 AM Racer meeting at Trail Head
9:30 AM All racers up Uktena
TBA Awards Ceremony
Sunday, May 33 – Cross Country Racing
7:30 AM-12:00 PM Packet Pickup/Late Registration – Cherokee Festival Grounds
9:45 AM E-Bikes (M&F)
10:00 AM Beginner & Junior Categories (M&F)
12:30 PM Expert Category (M&F)
12:35 PM Sport, Masters, Single Speed Category (M&F)
The Enduro races will start near the trail head in the upper parking lot of the Oconoluftee Village. The Cross Country races will start at the Cherokee Fairgrounds and begin with a climb on pavement to the trail head.
Enduro
New for 2021: The Enduro Course has been redesigned! The new layout prevents any course overlap, allowing everyone to complete stages in any order, spread out more, and maintain social distancing.
The 2021 Enduro Stages
Spearfinger / Lazy Elk Stage – Starting at the very top of the mountain, this stage uses all of Spearfinger and then continues onto Lazy Elk to finish at the lower pavilion. This is the longest stage and has the most elevation drop.
Upper Kessel Run Stage – Starting at the top of the mountain at the upper pavilion and finishing shortly after the flyover, mid-mountain. After the stage finish, continue along the flat mid-section of Kessel Run to transfer to the Lower Kessel Run Stage.
Lower Kessel Run Stage – Includes the downhill final section of Kessel Run and then merges with the bottom of Lazy Elk. This stages shares a finish with the Spearfinger / Lazy Elk Stage at the lower Pavilion.
Skilly Stage – Starting at the lower pavilion, this stage uses all of the brand new Skilly trail. The wooden features will be mandatory for the Expert Class, optional for all other categories. After finishing this stage, use the Skilly Return trail to climb back to the lower pavilion.
Other Enduro Info:
– Always use the Uktena trail to climb back to the top of the mountain.
– Tinker’s Dream or Lower Tinker’s can be used to transfer across the bottom of the mountain from the trailhead to the lower pavilion. Be aware of 2-way traffic!
– Each stage segment is for downhill traffic only. Do NOT ride back up any of the stages.
– You can complete the stages in any order (although it probably makes sense to do Upper and Lower Kessel together). If there is a big crowd waiting to start a stage, move along and pick a different stage with a smaller line.
– You must complete all stages within the overall time frame for the day.
– Refreshments and basic mechanical assistance will be provided at both the top pavilion and lower pavilion.
– Face coverings required anytime you cannot maintain a minimum of 6’ of distance between other riders, volunteers or race officials
Cross Country
Beginner & Junior – Start climb from the Fairgrounds up to the loop, .9 miles with 325 ft elevation gain: https://www.strava.com/segments/17644883. 3 laps of the beginner loop (2.3 miles each lap with 312 ft elevation gain): https://www.strava.com/segments/17644901. Then there is .9 miles back to the finish line at the fairgrounds. Total: 8.7 miles with 1261 ft elevation gain
Sport, E-Bikes, Masters, Single Speed – Start climb from the Fairgrounds up to the loop, .9miles with 325 ft elevation gain: https://www.strava.com/segments/17644883. 2 laps of the Sport/Expert loop (4.75 miles each lap with 650 ft elevation gain): https://www.strava.com/segments/17644917. Then there is .9 miles back to the finish line at the fairgrounds. Total: 11.3 miles with 1625 ft of elevation gain
Expert – Start climb from the Fairgrounds up to the loop, .9miles with 325 ft elevation gain: https://www.strava.com/segments/17644883. 3 laps of the Sport/Expert loop (4.75miles each lap with 650 ft elevation gain): https://www.strava.com/segments/17644917. Then there is .9 miles back to the finish line at the fairgrounds. Total: 16.05 miles with 2275 ft of elevation gain
E-Bikes (XC Only)
We will follow the UCI, Class 1 rules for E-Bike at the Cross Country Races: No throttle, 250w maximum, 20 MPH maximum, no extra battery. All E-Bikes must pass a pre-race inspection at our technical support tent before being allowed to start.
There will be no distinction between age in this category.
Swag
All racers will receive an event shirt and special gift. Those racing both days doing Dante’s Double will receive a special event shirt and gift.
The Festival Grounds will host all event festivities over the weekend. There will be music, vendors, sponsors, beer from Native Brews, food from local food trucks, and the awards ceremonies for all events.
Enduro
Expert – Top 3 M/F receive cash ($200-1st, $100-2nd, $50-3rd) and a commemorative prize
Sport – Top 3 M/F receive a commemorative prize
Beginner – Top 3 M/F receive a commemorative prize
Junior – Top 3 M/F receive a commemorative prize
Master 40+ – Top 3 M/F receive a commemorative prize
Master 50+ – Top 3 M/F receive a commemorative prize
Cross Country
Expert – Top 3 M/F receive cash ($200-1st, $100-2nd, $15-3rd) and a commemorative prize
Sport – Top 3 M/F receive a commemorative prize
Single Speed – Top 3 M/F receive a commemorative prize
E-Bikes – Top 3 M/F receive a commemorative prize
Beginner – Top 3 M/F receive a commemorative prize
Junior – Top 3 M/F receive a commemorative prize
Master 40+ – Top 3 M/F receive a commemorative prize
Master 50+ – Top 3 M/F receive a commemorative prize
Dante’s Double
All those finishing both days of racing will receive a special award after the cross country race on Sunday.
In addition, the male and female with the lowest combined time from the Enduro and Cross Country races will be named Inferno God and Inferno Goddess and win a special prize and have their names engraved on a plaque posted at the Raven’s Roost on Fire Mountain Trails.
The Enduro races are chip timed with your time recorded for each run. Timing chips will be distributed on race day at the Indian Village Parking lot near the trail head. They must be returned at the same place after your final run.
The Cross Country races will be manually timed with your clock starting when you cross the start line and ending when you cross the finish line.
Parking will be available at three locations for the event:
- In front of Fairgrounds
- Parking lots around the Council House (south of Fairgrounds)
- Parking lots across Drama Road, behind Qualla Arts and Post Office
Parking will not be permitted in the parking lot outside north gate of Fairgrounds at the museum and the Trailhead/Indian Village Parking lot
Directions
From Asheville, NC (approximately 1 hour)
Take I-40 west to exit 27 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway). Continue west on U.S. 74 past Waynesville, Sylva, and Dillsboro to exit 74, Cherokee. U.S.Hwy 441 will take you into Cherokee. Turn right on US Hwy 19. Turn left at first traffic light – Tsali Boulevard. The Cherokee Fairgrounds are approximately ..3 miles on the left.
From Knoxville, TN (approximately 2 hours)
Take I-40 east into North Carolina to exit 27 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway). Continue west on U.S. 74 beyond Waynesville, Sylva, and Dillsboro to exit 74, Cherokee. U.S. Hwy 441 will take you into Cherokee. Turn right on US Hwy. 19. Turn left at first traffic light – Tsali Boulevard. The Cherokee Fairgrounds are approximately ..3 miles on the left.
From Atlanta, GA (approximately 2.5 hours)
Take I-85 north to I-985 which becomes U.S. 23 north, and eventually becomes U.S. 23/441 north. You will travel through the towns of Clayton, GA, Franklin, NC, and Dillsboro, NC. Just beyond Dillsboro, take U.S. 74 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway) west to exit 74, Cherokee. U.S.Hwy 441 will take you into Cherokee. Turn left at first traffic light – Tsali Boulevard. The Cherokee Fairgrounds are approximately ..3 miles on the left.
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has a NO REFUND policy. However, we do offer partial discounts for those canceling during our cancellation periods.
If the event is NOT sold out, a discount code for 50% of your race registration fee will be offered until 7 days prior to the race date. No discounts codes will be given within 7 days before the event, if the event is not sold out.
If the event IS sold out, a discount code for 100% of your race registration fee will be offered until 7 days prior to the race date. No discounts codes will be given within 7 days before the event, if the event is sold out.
Partial discount codes are only available for cancellations of completed registrations. A registration is considered incomplete if payment was mailed in and has not yet been received. Discount codes can be used to register for the 2020 event.
To cancel or update your registration, go to www.IMAthlete.com, log in, My Races, select this event and make your changes.
Transfers of entries between participants will be accepted through Monday, May 17 by completing and submitting this Transfer Form. This is the only way transfers or the selling of bibs between participants will be allowed. Anyone who is discovered to have purchased or accepted another person’s bib without submitting this form will be disqualified and banned from future races.
This policy only applies to the Fire Mountain Inferno. Discount codes from the previous year may not be used for any other events owned or managed by Glory Hound Events or its partnerships.
Unofficial results will be posted at the event site both days. Officials results will be posted here after each day of racing.
Would you still like to be part of this great event but don’t want to ride? Volunteering is the perfect way to do that. We have spots available on Saturday and Sunday in a variety of roles. registration. Please email jere.hyat@nc-cherokee.com if you are interested in volunteering yourself or have a group that wants to join the fun.
RACE SPONSORS
