With two weeks of jam packed concerts, food and entertainment across Calgary, Chinook Blast is claiming rank as Calgary’s biggest winter festival. But aside from enjoying hot treats and watching live music, there are also great outdoor activities to participate in, including fat biking.
This year, for the first time, The Cycling Co is partnering with Shaganappi Nordic Operations (SNO) club and Bow Cycle to host public fat biking events as part of the Chinook Blast festival. These events will be happening exclusively at the Shaganappi Point Golf Course where SNO has created a network of new trails specifically for fat biking.
For a long time I was a strong proponent of letting the seasons dictate which sports I took part in. When that first big dump of snow blanketed the Rockies, the mountain bike got put away and out came the snowboard. That age old ethos disappeared the first time I tried fat biking.
With the encouragement of a friend, I rented a fat bike a few winters ago and despite my initial reservations, I had a blast! Fast forward a couple of years and now there’s a fat bike in my garage, parked right next to my snowboard.
For Chinook Blast, fat biking days will be hosted on a new section of trail recently opened up in Calgary. The new Shaganappi Point Golf Course network comprises approximately eight kilometres of trails that are suitable for beginners and anyone looking to try the sport for the first time.
The objective with these events is to curate a unique experience for those new to fat biking, while helping people access the sport in a safe and fun manner.
Participants will have opportunities to learn and build their skills including practicing braking, body positioning, and cornering, as well as low speed maneuvers and balancing.
In addition to the skill sessions, there will also be guided trail rides and warming stations available on site.
Bow Cycle will provide Norco demo bikes for those that would like to try before they buy. All you need to borrow a demo bike is a signed waiver, a helmet, and warm, comfortable clothing.
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If you’re anything like me, you enjoy a cold beer after a ride. Well, you’re in luck as Eighty-Eight Brewing will also be onsite, pouring samples of their newest beers, as well as some old favourites.
I’m not asking you to stop any of your favourite winter pastimes but if you love cycling, the season doesn’t have to end just because the snow started falling. Fat biking is just one more way us Calgarians can get outside and embrace the long, cold winter we’ve grown accustomed to.
The Chinook Blast fat biking events are the perfect way to try something new and exciting and will keep you from hibernating all winter long.
Chinook Blast fat biking events are happening at Shaganappi Point Golf Course:
These are free events but a donation to support SNO and the trails they maintain would be greatly appreciated.
Looking to get started on fat biking? Read Tyler's story on our sister site, ZenSeekers.com: How To Get Into Fat Biking This Winter.
Tyler Dixon is a frequent Seekers correspondent and #seekersambassador, and writes the outdoor series Wild Jobs.
Fat biking, sledding events, concerts and more—winter is full of festival fun. Check out these snowy events.
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