The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“It’s been incredibly cool seeing it gain traction and gain energy”
by Than Acuff
What started as an idea, became a reality and may very well become a summer tradition.
When Will Frischkorn was hired as the executive director of Crested Butte Devo, a local non-profit dedicated to getting kids on bikes and having fun, he had some ideas in mind, one of which was starting a Short Track series right in the town of Crested Butte.
“The goal with this is that it’s still fun to ride,” says Frischkorn. “For a lot of kids, racing is intimidating. This way, if you want to dabble in it, whether you’re an adult or six years old, this is a way to get in it. Being downtown is super easy access and to do it, you can just roll over with your buddies.”
The idea gained some momentum, a course was designed and roughed in near and around the Crested Butte Nordic building and the first of four races was set to go on Wednesday, June 24. There was one problem, smoke, and lots of it, so Frischkorn and CB Devo decided to cancel the first race.
“The smoke cancellation was rough,” says Frischkorn. “That was zero fun.”
Two weeks later the Crested Butte Community Short Track Series officially started and 68 riders from strider/push bike kids all the way up to adults signed up, paid the minimal fee and gave it a go. Last week, participants eclipsed 100 riders at the second race of the series and included an official starter for the kids’ races, defending two-time National Short Track racing champion Bjorn Riley.
“He just happened to be in town having fun,” says Frischkorn. “Every single group got bigger. Beating the 100 mark was big, that was one of my private goals.”
The 2026 Short Track series wraps up this Wednesday, August 5 with the strider/push bike kids kicking things off at 5 p.m. and races every 15 minutes following that from 8 and under all the way up to adults and culminating with the Townies, Clunkers and Costumes race at 6:25 p.m. All of which is followed by a raffle that will include jerseys signed by Bjorn Reily. In addition, all kids that did all three races are entered into a raffle for a free summer of Devo next year donated by a local family.
Registration happens on site 15 minutes before your race start and the entry fee is free for the strider/push bike class, $5 for the kiddos, $15 for the adults and $1 for the Clunker event. Race fees help cover the cost of putting on the event but the success this first year came down to the volunteers.
“It’s been incredible to see the volunteer effort behind this,” says Frischkorn. “It’s made the series such an easy thing to put on.”
Given the success of the inaugural year, Frischkorn already has plans in mind for next year including a spring series in Gunnison and expanding the Crested Butte schedule beyond four races.
“It’s been incredibly cool seeing it gain traction and gain energy,” says Frischkorn.
For more information check out cbshorttrack.com.
