by Steve Aderholt (Race Director)
The 16th riding of the Park City Point 2 Point is in the books. We had racers from 16 years old to 64, and although the race is internationally known, we are proud to have a strong Utah contingent with 70% locals in addition to another 12 states represented and two racers from Canada.
The Park City Point 2 Point is a tough race. Finishing is not a given. 355 racers started and 277 rolled across the finish line. Congratulations to each and every one of you.
Zach Calton. Photo by Mack Lambert
A new male record of 5:55:03 was set by 27-year-old Zach Calton of Ogden. This was Zach’s sixth P2P start and other than one DNF, he has continually bettered his performance. He looked strong and fresh from start to finish, well maybe not entirely fresh at the finish, but his favorite quote is “hard work beats talent”. Apparently, he has both. Zach broke the previous record of 6:02:30 set in ‘22 by Heber’s Keegan Swenson, who is arguably the country’s strongest endurance rider.
Chelsea Bolton. Photo by Dirk Badenhorst
On the female side, 35-year-old Park City local Chelsea Bolton, had a ridiculously fast year of 7:12:53, shaving nearly half an hour off her time from last year’s P2P. This was her fourth P2P finish and every time she has stood on the podium. Chelsea pushed the pace hard at the front of the race all day, especially in the morning, finishing less than two minutes behind the fastest female to finish a P2P course, Larissa Connors 7:11.37 in 2017. We would be amiss not to mention possibly the strongest female finish at a P2P race, the late great Pua (Mata) Sawicki, who in 2009, the inaugural Point 2 Point, finished in 7:34:15. The P2P is always a very hard course but back then the course was so hard it would make your head spin. Rest in Peace, PUA.
All P2P finishes are things to be proud of. And we should mention that P2P course records are a little arbitrary. The course changes every year. Most of the time (especially the last 10 years) it has been only minor tweaks. But over the past 16 years, it is certainly different, especially as the Park City trails have become what they are today. That doesn’t, and shouldn’t, take away from any of these stellar performances, It just puts things in perspective that the course record should be more aptly named “fastest to finish a Point 2 Point course”. Again, all P2P finishes are things to be proud of. Special mentions go Keith Payne and Sam Sweetser. Keith finished his 14th Point 2 Point, only missing a start the first year 2009 and the Covid year 2020. Sam is 16 for 16, our only racer who has started AND FINISHED Point 2 Point every single year.
Sam Sweetser 16 time P2P finisher with P2P Founder Jay Burke. Photo by Dirk Badenhorst
Another special mention goes to Point 2 Point Founder, Jay Burke. The P2P concept originally came together when Burke saw the burgeoning popularity of 100-mile MTB races like the Pennsylvania Wilderness 101 and Leadville 100, and he knew Park City had the potential to rival them. Burke states, “There was another endurance bike event in Park City at the time, it was 100 miles and used many trails multiple times. My vision was for a true point to point race that I felt would provide a truly epic day for riders. The goal was to never repeat the same trail twice”. In 2009 he put those thoughts into action with the inaugural 75-mile event, 148 entrants participated that year and some within a duo category featured. The event has come a long way since 2009. Thank you so very much Jay for all you have done for the PC mountain biking community!
Jamie Leatham. Photo by Mack Lambert
Jamie Leatham of SLC won the “I’m somebody” award, a Scott Speedster bike presented by Scott Sports and inspired by the character from the movie The Jerk. In the movie, Navin R. Johnson was elated to finally see his name in the phone book and declared, “I’m somebody.” You typically see the same fast riders winning stuff at races because they podium time and time again. Well, this program is designed for those of us that finish…but not on the podium. We draw a number between 41 and 275 (275 is our average number of actual finishers). Whoever crosses the finish line corresponding with the drawn number wins the bike. Jamie, you are somebody!
The Red Lantern award went to SLC local Andrew Flynn who crossed the finish line at 13:00:04. The Red Lantern award is borrowed from Alaska’s Iditarod race where a red lantern is given to the last musher who crosses the finish line and completes the Iditarod. The Red Lantern is a symbol of perseverance and determination. We were so happy to welcome Andrew across the finish line and close out the 2024 Park City Point 2 Point.
Just as with riding, sometimes life is Steps, sometimes it’s Iron Bill, and occasionally, it’s Seldom Seen but we only get one ride. Happy riding!