COHASSET, MN — More #reddirt!

That's probably the single best way to recap the first annual Tioga Thrillseeker, held on July 11, 2021, just outside Grand Rapids — a course of topsy-turvey flowing singletrack through the woods and old iron mine trails of the northern Minnesota Iron Range.

The course — which just opened to Minnesota mountain bikers just over a year ago — joins the now famously "other red dirt" mining trails at Cuyuna — which is hosting its 2021 race on Aug. 22.

"The course is actually pretty awesome," said High School League Racer Anthony Herlitz. "The downhills were really fast and flowy — all kinds of jumps and offshoots. I thought the course was pretty great!"

Race Director Emily Bujold said the event — the first of what they are planning to be annual — turned out tremendously for what they had hoped. More than 150 racers turned out for the event, which took place at the Tioga Recreation Area just outside of Cohasset.

"It was challenging," Bujold said. "Good uphills, downhills ... there's a lot of good flow. People really like it."

And how. For some, the Tioga Thrillseeker is already a favorite.

"It may be in one of my top places to race — I really love the course," said Elite category racer Leah Hiller. 

Indeed, the course was fast. With just around 2,000 vertical of climbing, the course boasts superfast rollercoaster pops and descents on both red and brown dirt trails.

The most challenging part of this year's race was the dry conditions: With little rain the previous week, more than a few riders spent time skidding and slipping out on the high banking turns throughout the course.

"It was really sandy and soft," Hiller said. "I washed out on one berm — but it was a soft crash. And so then I said I'm just going to hold my position and not overcook the bike."

But even with the dry conditions, the course was an absolute blast — an approximately six-mile loop that flew along the shores of water-filled mines and Cavanaugh and Pokegama Lakes.

Even the race director found time to race — and had a great spin.

"We got a lot of really good feedback," Bujold said. "I did the Sport course and I liked it — I had a lot of fun!"

Peace Coffee Racer Troy Melhus is a former Expert racer in the Minnesota MTB series and former staff writer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He can be reached at tmelhus@gmail.com.