Whiskey Off-Road

The 16th Annual Whiskey Off-Road is dedicated to not one person, but a group of folks instrumental in making Prescott an international model for community development through trails – Over the Hill Gang (OTHG). Don’t let the name fool you, as this army of local trail building volunteers is anything but over the hill in age, energy or motivation.

This past year was a milestone for the City of Prescott, surpassing 100 miles of multi-use trails connecting with the 56-mile Prescott Circle trail, linking 12 trail systems with a combined 450 miles of trail in both the city and the Prescott National Forest (PNF). And according to Hosking, OTHG is responsible for the majority of all this dirt magic, putting in 8,000 hours of volunteer work on the city’s trails in 2018 alone.

The 15th Annual Whiskey Off-Road is dedicated to Willow Rockwell, a three-time Collegiate National

Champion mountain biker and a two-time bronze medal winner at the Cross Country World Championships in 2009 and 2010, riding for Subaru-Gary Fisher and Trek World Racing. Willow discovered mountain biking in its heyday of the mid-1990s, looking up to riders like Juli Furtado, Paolo Pezzo, and the dominant Volvo Cannondale team.

Zapata “Zap” Espinoza is one of the most identifiable figures in the history of mountain biking, thanks in part to his punk rock style sporting numerous earrings, signature stretched left earlobe piercing, pointy sideburns and bold wardrobe. But his appearance isn’t only what made Zap a household name; his outspoken and opinionated demeanor as editor of Mountain Bike Action (MBA) during the heyday of the sport between 1986 and 1993 was just as bold. As a 1995 Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee, Zap was the early voice of mountain biking that helped take the sport to rock star status.

A mountain bike pillar of the east coast, Sue Haywood started 

her professional cycling career later in life than most at the age of 27.  From UCI World Championships to 24HR races, she proceeded to churn out high caliber results across many different disciplines of the sport.   Always comfortable when the speed picks up and the terrain gets gnarly, Sue now spends her time as an IMBA certified level II instructor, passionately teaching mountain bike skills to as many women as she can reach.

Boasting a 2001 UCI World Cross-Country Mountain Bike Championship, a UCI World Cup overall title, appearances in two Olympic Games, a Pan-Am Games gold medal, six U.S. National Cross-Country and Short track titles and six National Cyclocross Championships, Alison Dunlap is one of the most decorated American cyclists in history.

To share her love for the bike, since 2003 Alison has been coaching athletes and teaching skills clinics. Alison’s contributions to the sport have been immeasurable, and now as a mother, she has a broader perspective on helping develop the skills and fitness of people new to the sport.

As a 1990 UCI World Mountain Bike Champion, six-time NORBA National Champion, two-time XTERRA World Champion, UCI Masters Cyclocross World Champion and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame member; most people need no introduction to the personality known by millions as “The Lung” and “Deadly Nedly”.  And at 58 years young, Ned Overend is showing no signs of slowing down, recently having bested more than 300 competitors in Cable, Wisconsin to win the 2014 Fat Bike National Championship.

Nicknamed “Queen Juli” for her dominant reign of national and international wins between 1990 and 1995, Juliana “Juli” Furtado won virtually everything she set her sights on including the very first World Mountain Bike Cross Country Championships in 1990, World Downhill Championships in 1992, three World Cup titles, five national championship titles and a 12-race unbeaten streak between 1992 and 1993.

She represented the USA when mountain biking debuted in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and retired shortly thereafter upon being diagnosed with lupus. Since then, Juli has lived a colorful life of self-discovery, figuring out her place in the world as a young retired professional athlete, and moving on to a fulfilling life as a mother who is still immersed in the bike industry.

Epic Rides is honored to Dedicate the 9th Annual Whiskey Off-Road to Joe Murray. The first person inducted into the Mountain Biking Hall of Fame and the US Cycling Hall of Fame, Joe Murray has an incredible pro racer resume with 73 wins in some 400 races. Joe designs and tests and has been a fixture and a force in the mountain bike world for some three decades, and his legacy continues.

Epic Rides is excited to announce the 2011 Whiskey Off-Road is dedicated to Joe Breeze: bicycle designer, bicycling advocate, and founder of Breezer Bicycles. Joe is a charter member of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, and is best known for designing and building the first successful modern mountain bikes.

During the 1970s, a time when bicycling was considered a novelty and bikes were only used for tooling around town, Joe was taking 200-mile bike trips and fixing up old Schwinns for downhill off-roading. Not built to endure the rough terrain and off-road abuse, the converted ballooners started falling apart, so Joe developed a mountain biking-specific frame. His first ten bikes, called Breezers, were the first all-new bikes built with rugged frames designed specifically for off-road riding.

In honor of Mike Janelle, Epic Rides has made a few additions to the Whiskey Off-Road in effort to help everyone get a better understanding for who Mike Janelle was and why he was so fun to hang out with. Additions include…

• Ice cream sandwiches, one of Mike’s favorite foods to eat while riding, will be available at the 50 proof turn around point; now, the Skull Valley Café.
• Mike’s father, Jack Janelle, and close friend, Jay Henry, will share a couple stories and provide some of their personal experiences with Mike during the pre-ride meeting on Friday evening.

Ride Like Mike… everyone riding will have the opportunity to join some of Mike’s closest friends, riding buddies and family including Jay Henry, Jimi Mortenson, Gretchen Reeves, Nat Ross, Myron Billy and many many other people at the start line and along the route… Ride like Mike!

What’s Included?

Register by March 31st to guarantee your size of the insanely soft Official Event T-Shirt and personalize your number plate plus receive an Official Event Poster, decal & goodie bag.

Each participant has an equal opportunity to earn their Finisher’s Award: a custom Event Pint Glass emblazoned with the distance they finished.

The fee below includes initial Registration and a Donation from the event to beneficiaries. Does not include Distance/Category Modifications, or Taxes.

Amateur Riders

Packet Pickup: Friday, 12p – 9p, Whiskey Row

Rider must present a government issued ID to receive a packet. If you are not able to pickup your packet, a friend or family member can with a copy (photo on your phone is fine) of your ID.

Mandatory Pre-Ride Meeting: Friday, 7p, Main stage on South Courthouse Steps

This meeting is when Epic Rides briefs the group on important course & event updates/changes for the following day’s activities. In essence, this is a safety meeting.

Pro Riders

Packet Pickup: Friday, 3p – 4p, Hassayampa Inn

Rider must present a government issued ID to receive a packet. If you are not able to pickup your packet, a friend or family member can with a copy (photo on your phone is fine) of your ID.

Mandatory Pre-Ride Meeting: Friday, 2p, Hassayampa Inn
This meeting is when Epic Rides briefs the group on important course & event updates/changes for the following day’s activities. In essence, this is a safety meeting.

Online distance & category modifications

There is no change fee when changing a distance or category. Rider is responsible for any difference in price when changing from the 15 Proof Fun Ride to 30/50 Proof Ride. Online changes are available until March 31, and can be made here.

Rider Swaps

Registrations can be transferred to another rider until March 31st for no fee. Email us directly to transfer a registration. See below (Transfers or Refunds) for Event Transfers.

On-site rider changes & category/distance modifications: Rider changes, and category/distance modifications can be made at packet pickup for a $20 change fee*

*Rider is responsible for paying the price difference when changing from the 15 Proof Fun Ride to the 30/50 Proof Ride.

Much like dropping in on a steep rocky descent or committing to ride a distance outside of your comfort zone, risk is inherent in our sport.

The act of registering for an Epic Rides event, although not quite as dangerous as riding your bike, presents risks.

Epic Rides takes great pride in the high level of organization and scenic venues our events utilize. In order to assure each event is up to par with Epic Rides expectations it’s critical we make sure nature is cooperating in the effort to avoid unnecessary impacts on both the rider and the trails.

If an act of God or another event beyond our control occurs, what can event participants expect?

1. Decisions made by Epic Rides will be based on participant safety & environmental impact. Oftentimes these decisions are in the hands of the landowners or agencies through which our events are permitted.
2.  If an event is required to be cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control, Epic Rides requires each participant to accept the financial responsibility of their entry fee.

The skinny: Epic Rides does not save any money if you do not participate. Epic Rides needs to pay for all the supplies and services associated with the event, regardless of the outcome. These include (but are not limited to) permits, third-party vendors, transport, administrative expenses, and awards

The COVID EXCEPTION.

COVID Cancellation Policy: As COVID’s presence evolves, Epic Rides is making its best efforts to produce mountain bike events safely while avoiding financial insolvency.

Appreciating the amount of upfront costs that are required to be incurred prior to an event weekend, if an event is required to cancel due to COVID, registrants will receive the following:

Priority + Discounted Registration into 2024 Whiskey Off-Road 

2023 Refund Amount

• 90+ days out – 70% refund
• 60-89 days out – 50% refund
• 30-59 days out – 40% refund
• 29 days or less – 25% credit toward 2024 event

*Refunds and/or credit exclude processing fees and donations

If you feel further conversation is necessary, we welcome your phone call at 520-623-1584.

Each registration includes a $20 donation toward event fundraising efforts.

The Whiskey Off-Road raises funds for the Yavapai County Food Bank (YFB), Prevent Child Abuse Arizona and other local and national non-profit organizations. The YFB feeds 4,000-5,000 families a month through its main distribution center in Prescott Valley.

For more information regarding the Yavapai County Food Bank please visit Yavapaifoodbank.org.

Fast Pass

The Fast Pass is a list of riders who have finished within one hour of the 1st-place rider of their distance, in the last two years of any Epic Rides Series event or Tour of the White Mountains. This is not based on category or gender, but based on distance. These riders will be placed in the front corral of the first wave.

Wave change requests must be done on Friday, April 28th at packet pickup.

2023 Wave Lists will be posted early April.

Amateur Wave Starts

In the interest of optimizing your ride experience, distances with 250+ participants will be broken into wave starts. This enhances rider safety while decreasing potential impact to the trails. Ride times are based on gun time and when the participant crosses the finish line.

To determine which wave start suits you best, we’ve taken into consideration:

• Your self-determined estimated finishing time input at registration
• Your last year’s finishing time if available

So you’re ready to do some cheering and support riders when they need it most? Great, choose either of the two locations below to do some hooting and hollering while supporting friends, family and random riders. Just remember to be respectful of the Prescott National Forest and volunteers in the area that are helping with crowd control. And, don’t forget your cowbell!

Location 1: Intersection of Copper Basin Rd. and Thumb Butte Rd./FR 373. To access this location, spectators are required to drive up Copper Basin Rd. For rider safety purposes, absolutely no vehicles will be allowed to access the course past this intersection. Please plan to park and hang out while cheering on riders as they approach the final mile of the climb from the Copper Basin aid station. Spectators are welcome to walk to Sierra Prieta Overlook from here if they’d like an expansive view of the riders ascending from Skull Valley!

Pro riders will begin passing through this section on Sunday at 9:45a.

Directions to Copper Basin/Thumb Butte from Downtown Prescott

Location 2: Thumb Butte Park just before participants exit the course and pin it on the pavement back to Whiskey Row. To access this location, spectators are encouraged to drive to Thumb Butte Park. Park their cars ($5 fee) in the designated parking area, and then hike in on the trail to see as much of the course as you’d like. Just be mindful that participants are riding toward you.

Directions to Thumb Butte Park from Downtown Prescott

Riders will begin passing through this section at 9:30a on Saturday.

Spectators note: Please remember to be a good steward of the land when venturing into nature. Pack out what you pack in. Thank you!

Our wonderful volunteers will staff 4 Aid Stations throughout the weekend:

1. Aspen Creek Aid Station (Friday Only)
2. 4-Way @ Copper Basin Aid Station (Sat)
3. Mike Janelle Memorial Aid Station (Sat)
4. Spence Basin Aid Station (Sat)

AID STATIONS

15 Proof Fun Ride

1. Aspen Creek Aid Station (at 5.5 miles)

30 Proof backcountry course

1. 4-Way @ Copper Basin Aid Station (at 8 miles)
2. Spence Basin Aid Station (at 22 miles)

50 Proof backcountry course

1. 1. Mike Janelle Memorial Aid Station (at 18 miles)
   2. 4 Way @ Copper Basin Aid Station (at 24 miles)
   3. Spence Basin Aid Station (at 38 miles)

Aid Station Fare

SUPPORT CREWS

Participants may receive “hand-ups” from their support crews at the following locations:

• Aspen Creek Aid Station: access via Copper Basin Rd. Park beyond/past the Aid Station so that you’re not obstructing the participants. (FRIDAY ONLY)
• Please do not attempt to drive to the discontinued Copper Basin Aid Station used in previous years. You will obstruct the participants.
• 4-Way @ Copper Basin Aid Station located at the intersection of FR 373/Thumb Butte Rd and Copper Basin Rd (one mile from the top of the Sierra Prieta overlook). Parking will be limited as this is now an Aid Station location.
• Mike Janelle Memorial Aid Station: Access by taking Iron Springs Rd into Skull Valley and unto Copper Basin Rd. for approx. 4.5 miles. Do not attempt to access via Prescott side (you will impede the ride/race if you do so)
• White Rock Trailhead Parking Lot: Leave Prescott on Gurley Street toward Thumb Butte and continue on that road as it turns into Thumb Butte Rd. This parking area is about 1.5 miles beyond the Thumb Butte picnic area. The TH is a large gravel lot on the right side of the road. Parking is free.

Spence Basin Aid Station: Leave Prescott via Iron Springs Rd. at FS 332. Parking will be very limited at Spence Basin Aid Station. Please do not block right of way for emergency and support vehicle access.

Friday (15 Proof Fun Ride): 2:00p – 6:00p  |  (El Yucateco Fat Tire Crit): 6:00p – 7:15p

Saturday (30 & 50 Proof Amateur Rides): 7:30a – 4:00p

Sunday (Professional Backcountry Race): 8:30a – 1:30p