NIWINSKI WINS THE GRIZZLY BIKE RACE
GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN, NC – Close to 100 bikers geared up for the 3rd annual Grizzly Bike Race, the second leg of the extreme athletic challenges held as part of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans. Grizzly bikers pedaled through the fog and cool breezes throughout the 65-mile mountainous course to reach the finish line in MacRae Meadows.
The fog and chilly conditions proved to be ideal for Noah Niwinski of Boone N.C. The 24 year old won completed the race with a time of 3:17.4. This is Noah’s second time racing the Grizzly.
"The weather was perfect, it kept you cool," said Niwinski. "The hardest part of the race was on US 221 between Linville and the Parkway which was open, flat, and windy. The best part of the race was climbing up the backside of Beech Mountain with all of the Boone Bike guys."
Eric Marland, 38, from Boone finished second in the race with a time of 3:20.58.
"The last climb was the toughest for me, Beech Mountain is steeper, but the last climb was harder," said Marland.
The third place award went to Luke Winger, 28, of Banner Elk. Winger, who was riding in the Grizzly for the first time, finished with a time of 3:21.01. A coach with Lees-McRae College’s three-time National Champion cycling team, Winger trained three hours a day in preparation for The Grizzly.
"The hardest part of the race was the back side of Beech Mountain," said Winger. "Catching up with Noah and Eric after they passed me was the most exciting part of the race."
Beth
Frye, from Boone finished first for the women with a time of 3:40.13.
Frye,40, is a professor at Appalachian State University and this is
her third time competing in The Grizzly and she was the second woman
to cross the line in each of the two previous contests.
"The course was well marked, the race was well organized and the weather was perfect," said Frye. "It was such a thrill to finish in MacRae Meadows and be a part of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games."
Finishing second in the women's division was Alisha Lion from Raleigh N.C. Lion, 28, finished the race with a time of 3:58.15. This is her second year racing in The Grizzly.
"This was a tough course but I liked it a lot, these roads were awesome," said Lion.
Kristi Ray, 39, from Charlotte finished the race with a time of 3:07.14. Ray is a stay at home mother of five children and trained 20-30 hours a week for the race. Ray competed in the running of The Bear last night and plans on running in the Grandfather Mountain Marathon on Saturday.
"The hardest part of the race was the dirt road on the back side of Beech Mountain," said Ray. "I loved the descent before Beech; that was the most exciting part for me."
Close to 100 bikers registered for The Grizzly at the Grandfather Mountain
Highland Games. The course ran 65-miles throughout Avery County.
The competitive spirit will continue on Saturday at the Grandfather
Mountain Highland Games with the Mountain Marathon. That contest holds
a reputation of being "America's Toughest" marathon.
In addition to the Marathon, Saturday will also be filled with heavy-weight Scottish athletic competition, high land dancing competition, piping and drumming competition, track and field events, sheep herding demonstrations, parades and a Celtic Rock Concert.
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