Tuscobia Winter Ultra

We have a lot of returning partners this year and some great new ones too! Check out these folks both locally and all over the Upper Midwest, and be sure to thank them for their support.

Out There: Nordic Sports:  local to Rice Lake, Bjorn & Kris have supported the event for many years and this year will again be providing the Ski podium awards and together we provide the Ski raffle prize (a full ski package).

TC Running Company: Kurt and the team at TCRC in the Twin Cities continue to support the event with the Run podium awards.

Adventure Running Company: For the Run raffle prize, Kim & Andy (Duluth) will take one lucky runner on a trail running adventure of a lifetime!

Onyx Racing Products: The team at Onyx (St. Augusta, MN) are again providing a beautiful hub set for the Bike raffle prize (the ‘token’ hub that you’ll receive at the raffle is almost as beautiful as the real thing!).

Boeshield T-9: A bike’s “best friend”, John (Holland, MI) is providing product for everyone to keep your bike in working order and will be out there sharing the trail with you.

PSI/Vanicream: While Boeshield keeps your bike working, Vanicream will do the same for your body parts! Joe (Rochester, MN) is providing product for everyone. Speaking from experience, you will want to have this in your kit.

Empire Wool & Canvas: Again this year, Kevin (Duluth, MN) is donating one of his beautiful pieces to the raffle.

Off the Deck Hot Sauce: Jeremiah and Rachel (Fargo, ND) – both winter endurance athletes themselves – craft small batch hot sauces, sourcing from local farmers. Look for podium & raffle prizes – and say Hi to Jeremiah on the bike this weekend!

Embark Good Energy: Bree & Eric (Viroqua, WI) are the team behind this venture harvesting WI maple syrup to create goodness for the trail (and pretty much any other time). In addition to providing sampler packs for everyone (!) check out their “Good Energy Award” here. Nominate a worthy fellow adventurer this weekend.

Again this year, Rice Lake Tourism has kindly shared the cost of providing $10 Chamber Bucks to all participants. These can be spent in businesses all over Rice Lake.

Reminder that event registration closes on Tuesday November 30th! We have a few spots left in each distance at this point. As always, contact us with any questions tuscobia@gmail.com

We’ve opened up a few more spots so if you are interested in joining the New Year’s Party, sign up here!

We also need a few more checkpoint volunteers – please spread the word. Anyone interested should email us: tuscobia@gmail.com

If you signed up early (paid $35) you have until tonight to complete your registration using the link sent to you from UltraSignup on October 20th. Check your spam if you can’t find it.

Starting tomorrow, the waitlist will be offered your spots.

Also the fees go up tomorrow so anyone who completes their registration after tonight will pay the higher fee (this doesn’t apply to anyone already on the waitlist).

Thank you for registering for this year’s event! After working with our local partners, including the DNR, over the past few months, we are ready to move forward with full confirmation of the event and collect the balance of payment.

You should have already received an email from us via UltraSignup requesting you to pay the balance ($65 for the 80-mile, $125 for the 160-mile). Registration will close by Oct 31st so make sure you complete the payment by then. We will then open the event to those on the Waitlist.

If you didn’t get the email, contact us at tuscobia@gmail.com

Please be aware that we are still finalizing the specifics of our checkpoints. Given the Covid situation, we want to re-iterate that it is possible that both the Ojibwa and Park Falls checkpoints will be outdoors only and providing water only. So make sure you plan for this as you prepare for the event.

All entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Please don’t ask.

Registration will open at 8am central tomorrow August 1st on UltraSignup.

All entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Please don’t ask.

Due to the uncertainties around Covid, we do not want to charge the full amount for the event right away, in case we cannot make it happen. However, we do have expenses regardless of whether the event happens every year. Therefore, when you register, you will be charged a non-refundable $35 fee to hold your spot.

• Early registration fees (by October 31st) are $100 for 80 mile, $160 for 160 mile
• Late registration fees (after Nov 1st) are $150 for 80 mile and $210 for 160 mile

Once we are fully confident of holding the event, you will be asked to pay the balance.

You can be sure we are doing everything we can to make this event happen in 2021!!

Registration details and qualification requirements (160-mile) are here.

We are planning to hold the event in 2021!

Format will be similar to previous years. Below is the tentative schedule – please be aware that it may change, even after registration opens –

• 160 mile foot / ski to start in Rice Lake Friday December 31st @ 6AM
• 160 mile bike to start in Rice Lake Saturday January 1st @ 6AM
• 80 mile (all) to start in Park Falls Saturday January 1st @10AM

Registration will open on August 1st via UltraSignup. You can add an alert on your UltraSignup account to ensure you don’t miss it. The 80 mile is likely to fill quickly.

If you finished the Tuscobia Winter Ultra in any of the following years and would like to purchase an additional finisher beanie for $10, please email us at tuscobia@gmail.com. All proceeds will go to the Winter Train Depot project where the memorial bench for Logan & Randy will be placed.

2019 (teal), 2017R2 (red), 2017R1 (black), 2016 (grey), 2015 (yellow), 2013 (orange).

Duluth photographer Amy Broadmoore took some great shots throughout the weekend –

Facebook album Free watermarked photos to enjoy and share!

SmugMug album Photos available for purchase.

The Tuscobia Winter Ultra is a human powered run, bike or ski event held on the Tuscobia and Wild Rivers State Trails in Northern Wisconsin, in the middle of winter.

There are two options: an 80-mile one-way route or a 160-mile out and back. The 160-mile requires completion of a qualifying event, and is itself a qualifier for the Iditarod Trail Invitational.

Both distances have required gear and are largely self-supported, with minimal checkpoint support. No outside help is allowed from family, friends, or random strangers. Patronizing local businesses is encouraged: this means buying a soda or a burger, while taking a break; this does not mean drying out all your gear, using the restroom, filling your water, and taking off without spending a cent.

As in life, respect and common sense go a long way in this event.