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The idea about a point to point mountain bike race began in early 1998 within a group ride. “How great would it be to ride from one Great Lake to another in a race format”?. A hundred questions arose, all centering around one – it is possible to get an off-road route complete across the Niagara Region.
Conspiring with Kurt Geswick of Liberty who was thinking about the same prospect and Tim Farrar the man behind Paris-Ancaster, a core group of seven friends began to explore the possibility. A few more recon rides along the Welland Canal and surrounding areas and an idea was born.
In May of 1999 the 1st annual Great Lake to Lake mountain bike adventure was on the calendar. It would start at HH Knoll Park in Port Colborne on the shores of Lake Erie and race across the Niagara region to Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie on Lake Ontario, a rough distance of 50 kilometers.
That first year we had roughly 400 riders experience the first of thirteen epic editions of Lake to Lake. The event grew over the years with Tim Horton’s lending a hand in sponsorship and marketing. A second shorter event, the Pond to Pond emerged, catering to younger cyclists and parents. This 22km adventure rode out of B rock U and shared the same finish line on the beach.
As Lake to Lake became a constant on the MTB calendar the numbers pushed over 1000 riders at the start line, and the date changed from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day to accommodate family gatherings while allowing the trails to dry from wet spring weather.
Giant Bicycles took over sponsorship in 2007 and remains the races title sponsor as again changes evolved. The original course began to grow in with a lack of endure motorcycles keeping them open and clean around the Welland portion of the Seaway. This combined with the proposed development at our finish in Port Dalhousie, and changes needed to be made.
The brand new Lake2Lake 29er was born around a campfire and introduced in 2012. A new start at Brock University and a brand new finish at Charles Daly Park in Lincoln. Punning the new 29in mountain bike craze, we came up with a distance of 29 kilometers, with a ton of new singletrack and challenging terrain for everyone to enjoy.
Lake to Lake Events Inc consists of four individuals and their families and close friends, who are committed to bringing the Niagara region a quality mountain bike event each year. We are very excited about our 15th annual and the new changes we will share this year.