Chequamegon Fat Tire Fest entry blanks due March 15

Winter finds the Chequamegon area bicycle trails frozen solid and covered with a welcome blanket of snow. Nevertheless, while the northland winds howl, off-road cyclists focus on the annual rush to submit an entry blank for the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival sponsored by Trek. The September 16-18 weekend will mark the popular off-road events 29th running at Telemark Resort in Cable, Wisconsin.

Hopeful Chequamegon Festival participants must meet the March 15 entry blank submission deadline to be included in the random participants drawing. For 2011, the event limit has been raised from 2,500 to 2,750 riders, including 1,850 in the Chequamegon 40 and 900 in the Short & Fat.

Entry blanks can be obtained in two ways. Until March 15 entry forms can be downloaded from the event's web page at www.cheqfattire.com. Those preferring to receive a hard copy sent via the postal route, should send a self-addressed stamped envelope to event headquarters in time to receive, complete and return the entry to meet the postmark deadline. Those who have already submitted an envelope or who purchased one at last year's event will see their entry blanks delivered shortly if they haven't already.

To be included in the 2011 random lottery, entry blanks must be completed and submitted with the entry fee payment by the March 15 postmark deadline. Entries mailed after the postmark deadline will not be included in the drawing.

After the entries are randomly selected and entered into the event database, confirmation cards will notify those who have been accepted into the event. Those who are not picked in the lottery drawing receive a "better luck next time" letter along with the return of the submitted entry fee. Each year nearly 1,000 entry submissions are returned to their senders when the event limit is reached during the lottery drawing.

For complete details of the registration lottery procedure and other event information, visit the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival web page, www.cheqfattire.com. Direct all correspondence to CFTF, P.O. Box 267, Cable, WI 54821; call 715/798-3594 or e-mail to cheqfat@cheqnet.net. And if you find yourself in downtown Cable, stop by the event headquarters at 13460 Spruce Street.