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.
Chinook Blast is Calgary’s annual winter celebration. The festival brings together partners from various communities to showcase the best cultural and sports offerings from across the city. For the second year in a row, Shaganappi Nordic Operations Club (SNO) is offering 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 maintains a network of trails specifically for fat biking.
This year organizers are hoping to reach an even wider audience and showcase the efforts of SNO to expand access to the golf course beyond the more traditional winter recreational activities such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The network comprises approximately 8 km 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. In addition to guided fat biking sessions, this year will also feature guided cross-country ski and snowshoeing sessions. There will also be expert instruction for fat biking and cross-country skiing.
These events are happening February 3rd and 4th from 10am to 2pm. These are free events but a voluntary donation to support SNO and the trails they maintain would be greatly appreciated. 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. Attendees will also have an opportunity to walk away with some fantastic prizes from Crank Brothers, Two Wheel Gear, and the Flannel Crew.
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.
For even more biking content, please see my previous Wild Jobs posts about Trail Builders and Mountain Bike Guides. You can also review this piece from ZenSeekers about How To Get Into Fat Biking This Winter.
