Fishing the Elk River, west of Steamboat. Photo Jeremy Kershaw
Maybe some of you have started following this story from Routt county and the SBT GRVL event, Steamboat, Colorado.
I have started seeing more commentary about it from some prominent voices in the world of gravel cycling. I was specially interested in the conflict for a few reasons.
My family and I were visiting friends in Steamboat this Summer, in fact, just days before the SBT GRVL event. A friend who lives in Steamboat and we rode a gravel route that is used in the race. We also hired a fly fishing guide that ranches on the same route along the Elk River. We found the course beautiful and the fishing outstanding. Our guide was a retired school teacher and do-it-all rancher who had long historical ties to the county and the land that surrounds the course. He was a joy to spend the day with. We felt lucky to share this part of the country with someone who knew so much about it.
I have obvious other reasons to be interested in this story. Our Heck of the North Productions events take place on rural, often remote and historically diverse parts of Minnesota. We differ from Routt county in some ways, for sure, namely in the ways in which resources are used by people who live here. I also think our routes have fewer residents on course compared to most gravel cyclings events.
I see one of the primary themes of this story centered around the idea of local vs visitor. But I think there are many others issues, too. Ownership vs Occasional Use. Rural vs Urban. Entitlement vs Hospitality. Profit vs Sustainability. Culture vs Culture. Gravel cycling is not immune to societal issues that we sometimes assume are only part of non-sporting life.
I think a lot about our Heck events and how to keep them relevant, unique, sustainable, and respected. I think this story unfolding in Colorado is a good reminder for us to assess how we manage our events here in Northern Minnesota. I also think it’s a very good time for all cyclists to consider and discuss what they want in gravel cycling experiences.
We (Heck of the North Productions) have grown slowly as gravel events go these days. I have faltered numerous times during my years of creating and hosting gravel cycling events. But I am certainly proud of the relationships that have grown in the process of building these events. I am keenly aware of the room for growth we have, too, both from a business perspective as well as a public user of resources on the North Shore of Minnesota.
We welcome feedback about our events and this place we call home. Please send us your thoughts at jeremybkershaw@gmail.com. We look forward to bringing the best gravel events possible this coming season.
Be Graveleer!
Jeremy Kershaw