Set a goal and PLAN to succeed!

As you prepare for warmer weather and the fact that November and the Iceman Commeth Challenge are approaching, we asked Kurt to provide some inspiration for your preparation.

Since you will be hearing Kurt’s words for the next several weeks, here is a little more about him:

Kurt Schaldenbrand has been racing bicycles since 1983. He’s been a licensed coach working with competitive and developmental cyclists since 1990 and has been head coach for the University of Michigan Cycling team since 2012.

Do you have a goal for this year’s event? Do you want to achieve something specific, or do you just want to ride for the fun of it? Both answers are great – but if it’s the former, it’s important to write that goal down and think about how to achieve them. If the goal is big, break it down and work on the smaller ones throughout the year! It may sound corny but it’s true: you can be successful without goals and a plan, but it’s often accidental and rarely repeatable.

Iceman Cometh – 30th annual event Photography by John L. Russell Great Lakes Images

Save the Date(s)

2023 is just around the corner and we wanted to make sure that you added some dates to your calendar!

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023 – Registration opens to the public at 9:00am for the 2023 Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge. Any participant that was registered for the 2022 race will receive an email earlier that week that inviting them to register. Be sure to add “Icemaninfo@iceman.com” to your safe senders list so you don’t miss these important announcements!

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2023 – Ice Cycle Expo at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. Pick up your race packet, Iceman Gear and shop all the local bike shops in one place, plus other gear from companies all over the country!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023 – This is the DAY! Join your friends and family as you ride the Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge presented by Trek from Kalkaska to Timber Ridge Resort in Traverse City. Celebrate at the BISSELL Celebration Zone with your favorite Bell’s Beer and cheer on the racers as the finish!

UPDATED Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge Course

With the reports of rain coming into the area there is a small reroute in the Sands Lake/Broomhead area of the course. This is approximately between kilometer markers 25 and 23. You will now continue north on Sands Lake to Broomhead. Turn North on to Broom Head and continue for about 1km. This will then take you to a left turn that will place the you back on the original race course.

The updated course has been posted on Ride with GPS. A course map marking feed stations and checkpoints is posted to the Iceman website.

It’s Here! Updated Slush Cup Course

Here is the Official Course for the Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge. Reminders: Still watch for logging activity and do not go on to the airport property until Race Day.

The Meijer Slush Cup Course is published as well. Below are images of the race routes This just in! We have an update Meijer Slush Cup Course for 2022.


Happy training and we will see you in November!

Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge presented by TREK Official Race Course

2022 Meijer Slush Cup Course

Race Rules & Trail Etiquette

Below are the rules and regulations for this year’s Iceman Cometh Challenge!

Please also look at the USA Cycling rules because we abide by those as well.

Most of all have fun! We will see you in November.

  1. Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge follows the USAC rules, MTB Rules start on page 91: bit.ly/USACRULES22
  2. You must pick up your packet in person. ID REQUIRED (Exception: parents/guardians may pick up for their children under 18)
  3. No headphones Bluetooth speakers, or other audio devices that will impede your ability or other people’s ability to hear on the trail
  4. No E-bikes or motorized bikes
  5. Be Polite. Announce if you are passing and move out of the way if you are being passed
  6. Be Aware. If your bike breaks down or you are injured, please step off the trail if able
  7. Water/Feeding Stations. There are three water/feeding stations throughout the Iceman Course. These are NOT medical stations. If there is an emergency, please call the number on your plate 231-944-5437 and our Search and Rescue team will take it from there
  8. If you need to drop out of the race, please report your drop by texting 231-944-5437 your name and a photo of your plate number. There will be several transports available back to the Bissell Celebration Zone
  9. Watch for Deer. We have posted signs for the deer to tell them to be aware of riders however, in the event the deer can’t read, please watch for them
  10. Most importantly, RIDE FAST & HAVE FUN!

33rd Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge DRAFT Course

Our inboxes are flooded with everyone wanting to know what the course in 2022 is going to look like and (oops) The Year of the Owl flew onto some screens before it was fully ready. While we were trying to give you, a 100 percent finished course to ride, we got delayed working around logging operations in some areas.

In the meantime, our friends out at NMMBA were working at the speed of light to get the rest of the trail ready. We know some have been out riding the course area based off past years and others have been asking so we thought you’d rather have a tentative course than wait any longer.

This DRAFT course is close to the final. We are working with the DNR to keep the riders away from the logging activity. So please note two very important items regarding this course:

  1. NO ONE is allowed on the airport property until race day per FAA regulations
  2. Be aware of your surroundings while biking this course

Without further adieu here is

The Year of the Owl

Prize Money Increase for Ice(wo)man

The Iceman staff is excited to announce additional cash prizes awarded this year in the Women’s race. “We are adding $2,910 in prize money to the pot this year and 6 additional women’s categories,” Executive Director Kat Paye stated. Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge is striving to continue to create more equitable racing for women. Since the inception of the Pro/Cat 1 Race, the Iceman Cometh was one of the only races in the Nation to pay women the same amount as men.  As our team continues to bring women to the forefront of Mountain Bike Races while maintaining a competitive field, the following category changes will occur:

  • Retired Categories: Women 30-34, Women 35-39, Women 40-44, Women 45-49, Women 50-54, Women 55-59
  • New Categories: Women 30-32, Women 33-34, Women 35-37, Women 38-39, Women 40-42, Women 43-44, Women 45-47, Women 48-49, Women 50-51, Women 52-54, Women 55-56, Women 57-59

We can’t wait to see all the Ice(wo)men in November! Keep training.

New Prizes for Junior Riders


This year the overall Iceman Junior Men & Junior Women riders will receive gift cards and swag from local bike shops valued at over $1000.

In addition, gift cards will be awarded to 1st through 5th place,
along with medals for each category in the Junior Iceman.

Overall winners and first place winners will also be awarded with an Iceman Cometh Jersey by Borah. Over $6,000 in prizes will be awarded to our Junior Riders in 2022.


Here is the breakdown:
Overall Junior Men/Women Winner: $1000 in gift cards
1 st Place: $200 in gift cards
2 nd Place: $150 in gift cards
3 rd Place: $100 in gift cards
4 th Place: $50 in gift cards
5 th Place: $25 in gift cards

This marks the largest increase in Junior Prizes since the inception of the Iceman Junior.


Meet Lyllie

This is a guest post by the overall junior women’s winner 2021, Lyllie Sonnemann

Hi! My name is Lyllie Sonnemann, and I really like bikes.

My favorite thing about bikes is the places they take you and the people you meet through them. Although I’ve been riding since before I can remember, I didn’t start racing bikes until I discovered cyclocross races when I was 10 (I’m now 14). When the pandemic started, I got my first mountain bike, and now I race both MTB and CX.  I was privileged last year to have the opportunity to ride and race bikes all over the country, and it was amazing. I got to see so many different landscapes (like the Colorado Rocky Mountains), eat lots of delicious foods on my rides (the tacos in Tucson, Arizona are the best!), and learned lots of lessons (try not to fall off your bike onto a cactus, ouch!). I raced in 6 different states, competed in 30+ races, and the Iceman was one of my favorites.  Although I did my first Snow-Cone at age 7 (and several Slush Cups after that), I didn’t realize it was a real race until my second Slush Cup. After finishing and learning that it wasn’t just an organized ride in the woods, I remember asking, “I was supposed to go fast?!” I didn’t care about whether I was at the front or the back, I was interested in having fun, and I sure did. I’ve started to love the competitive aspect of bike racing, but my top goal in each race is to have fun. I have a blast each November flying down the descents, making my way through the sand, and pushing myself to the top of climbs. The atmosphere and community also make this race one of the best, and I’m already counting down the days until this November!

If you would like to share your Iceman story, please email your story and photos to Fanphotos@iceman.com

Transfer Season

Whether you are looking for a spot in the Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge presented by TREK or need to give your spot up, here are our most asked questions regarding transfers.

Can I transfer out?

Riders can apply to transfer out starting August 1, 2022 until September 15, 2022. Once transfers close no additional applications will be accepted.

How will I know if my transfer out application is accepted?

There are several ways to see if your transfer out application is accepted. (1)  Keep an eye on your financial account, if we process your transfer out request you will receive your fee back less $20.  (2) Sign in to you’re your Bike SignUp account by going to iceman.com and clicking on the register button. You will be able to see if your race entry is still active or (3) you can search for your name on the front end of the website to see if you are still listed.

Can I transfer my entry to a friend?

No. We use a first come first served basis on transfers. Your place will be offered to the next available person on the waitlist, once they accept it then you will receive the refund.

Transferring In

I’m on the waitlist, what can I expect?

If you are transferring in, starting in August watch your inbox closely for emails from “runsignup”. These emails will say a place has been reserved for you. You will have the day you received the email and the next day until midnight to claim your spot. If you miss this email, you will remain on the list but will go to the end of the list.  

What are my chances of getting in the race?

It’s hard to say, as it all depends on the amount of people that are transferring out, but last year every person on the list was offered a spot at least once.

Tips and tricks?

Go to iceman.com and click on register. Sign in to your account and make sure the email on your account is up to date. That is the email we will be sending the reserved entry to during the transfer period.

The waitlist will close on 9/15/2022.