The Marquette Trails Festival offers young trail lovers several youth-specific options to compete throughout the course of the weekend. Please refer to the Schedule of Events for all times and locations of races.

Friday, June 21st – Youth Dual Slalom

• Competitive Youth Dual Slalom for youth aged 8-16 years old – Max of 16 Participants total. There will be a podium for girls and boys. The Competitive Youth DS is FULL – Waitlist is open.
• Non-Competitive Youth Dual Slalom for those that want to try out the course with a single, timed run. This will be ideal for younger kids on strider bikes or those that have never raced on the course before. The gate will be dropped during this race. There will be an awards ceremony following the race, but no podium. Max of 16 Participants total.

Friday, June 21st – Youth Trail Run

The kids race will start at the Two Track Grade (Snowmobile Grade) on the West side of M-553 and run a course to the finish line at the Marquette Mountain. The course will be approximately 1.5 miles in length with both singletrack and gravel road sections. Boy and girl age groups are as follows: 5 & under, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-15.

IMPORTANT !!!!!!!!
The Youth Run will start at the Two Track Grade (snowmobile trail) on the other side of CR 553. Please park at Marquette Mountain or the South Trails parking lot and safely make your way across the highway or go under the Carp River bridge (watch out for possible racers coming at you!). Do not park on the highway! We will have road-crossing volunteers to assist you if you cross the road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, June 22nd – Youth Criterium Bike Race

The race starts and finishes at Rippling River Resort and Campground. Ages 16 and under. There will be a podium for both Boys and Girls (no age groups in this race).

The Youth Category will race 2 laps around the loop in the campground for a 1-mile race.

 

Sunday, June 23rd – Youth Mountain Bike Race

The race starts and finishes at the Marquette Mountain, covering a course just under 3 miles in length. The course is roughly 1/2 singletrack for a real mountain bike race feel and 1/2 gravel road to allow racers to pass. Boy and girl age groups are as follows: 5 & under, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-15.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Options for our Youth racers

Competitive youth are also welcome to race all of our events.