Pro Challenge organizers focus on fundraising

 LOC looks to raise $60,000

This is the third time the race will come through Crested Butte; previous races occurred in 2011 and 2012. The 2014 race kicks off on August 18, and racers will come into Crested Butte from Aspen via unpaved Kebler Pass on August 19. “We’re a little bit better than half way to our fundraising goal,” said Marjorie Trautman, fundraising chairman for the LOC. “It will take between $120,000 and $140,000 to pull this off. Mt. Crested Butte and Crested Butte have both already made substantial commitments to the event. Their collaborative efforts show that this is very important to our communities, and a valuable opportunity to show a worldwide audience our towns.” Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte will be hosting several events aimed at involving locals, visitors and the racers in festivities. On August 18, Crested Butte will host a kids’ criterium race and block party in conjunction with the Center for the Arts and the last Alpenglow concert of the summer. There will also be a Girls Night Out time trial race from Almont to Crested Butte on August 18. Then on August 19, the third annual Townie Crit will take over the alleys flanking Elk Avenue. Participants and nonparticipants are then invited to join the Townie Parade, which will travel from downtown up to the Pro Challenge finish line on Mt. Crested Butte. “The Finish Line Festival will start at noon at the finish area on Mt. Crested Butte,” said Aaron Huckstep, LOC co-chairman. “The race should hit Crested Butte between 3 and 3:30 p.m. It will probably be a broken group because of McClure Pass and the dirt on Kebler. There will be a sprint line in front of the museum and Donita’s in Crested Butte, with the anticipated finish on the mountain happening at about 3:45.” The Finish Line Festival will include a vendors’ area with booths both from local business and organizations and from companies associated with the race. There will also be a beer garden, jumbo-tron and podium ceremonies. A cordoned-off VIP area with live feeds, catered food and drinks, country club bathrooms and other amenities will be available for those with tickets. VIP tickets are being sold by the LOC; all other events are free and open the public. “This is going to be similar to the 2012 event,” said Huckstep. “On August18 and on race day we want to encourage parents to bring their kids out. This is a family event and the more the merrier.” Right now the LOC is in the thick of nailing down the details for the event. These range from determining Internet needs and accessibility to securing liquor licenses and special permits. The largest focus, however, is on fundraising. “The biggest thing we need is local support, sponsor dollars, and even corporate sponsorship,” said LOC co-chairman Dave Ochs. “That would be the biggest help for our efforts of right now. Our website, elkmountainevents.com, has info on how to donate, and even $5 helps.” The LOC is hoping the inclusiveness of the event, the exposure it garners in national and international media markets, and the opportunity it provides to market both the town and the businesses associated with it acts as a selling point for sponsors. “This race is an unprecedented spectator event for our communities,” said Trautman. “More than two billion people worldwide will see the race as it comes into Crested Butte, and we know from past races that people who see the race come here have later visited. You cannot put a price on the exposure that it garners to an audience that tends to be well educated, affluent and international. These are people who we want to have visited Crested Butte and the surrounding areas.” According to Trautman, individual and business sponsors for stage two of the Pro Challenge will have several opportunities to take part in the race festivities. For example: businesses and those who want to be sponsors can have their names associated with some of the activities like the block party and the sprint line race. Or they might be able to present podium awards and have their names announced over the PA system throughout the day. Sponsors can also have their names appear on banners and signs at the Finish Line Festival. There will even be an opportunity for a couple of people to travel in one of the Pro Challenge vehicles as it follows the racers from Aspen to Crested Butte. “It could be a pretty fun and exciting thing for a race enthusiast to be right there, riding with the peloton over Kebler Pass,” said Trautman. “We can also arrange for discounted opportunities for some sponsors at other stages of the race.” It’s not just the big dollars the LOC is looking for, rather “any amount” is valuable as they work to meet their goal. “If everyone in Crested Butte and the greater Crested Butte area gave just $10 we would be able to pull this off,” said Trautman. For more information about the Pro Challenge, or to donate visit elkmountainevents.com.