Grit and Gears: Lutsen 99er Race Recap
Jun 30, 2025 12:14PM ● By Content Editor
This year’s Lutsen 99er trail was in perfect shape, a dream compared to last year’s rain-soaked, mud-splattered grind! All photos by Brittany North
By Brittany North - June 30, 2025
Blue skies, a slight breeze, cooler temps, and a little mud provided excellent conditions for this year’s Lutsen 99er mountain bike race held Saturday, June 28th. With quads and hamstrings fully engaged, racers made their way up the continuous hills of Caribou Trail, over moose tracks along the boreal forest, through aid stations to refuel with pickle juice, across muddy puddles, to a finish line greeted by friends and family. This event truly takes a village to put on, including volunteers, the Lutsen community, Lutsen 99er staff, and many more.
Lutsen 99er Race Results:
1. Chase Wark, Winona, Minnesota - 4:55:29
2. Emile Hamm, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada - 4:55:50
3. Brian Johnson, Omaha, NE - 5:08:11
Lutsen 59er Race Results:
1. Liam Garner, Minneapolis, MN - 3:32:05
2. Stephane Audet, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada - 3:35:14
3. Benon Brattebo, Eden Prairie, MN - 3:35:35
Lutsen 45er Race Results:
1. Brett Brazerol, Duluth, MN - 2:42:49
2. Ian Andrus, Lutsen, MN - 2:49:27
3. Austin Kuehl, St. Louis Park, MN - 2:52:28
Lutsen 29er Race Results:
1. Ben Tesch, Minneapolis, MN - 1:44:41
2. David Harris, Lake Elmo, MN - 1:46:46
3. Kate Vernon, Grand Marais, MN - 1:54:53
The full list of official race results can be found here.
By Brittany North - June 30, 2025
Blue skies, a slight breeze, cooler temps, and a little mud provided excellent conditions for this year’s Lutsen 99er mountain bike race held Saturday, June 28th. With quads and hamstrings fully engaged, racers made their way up the continuous hills of Caribou Trail, over moose tracks along the boreal forest, through aid stations to refuel with pickle juice, across muddy puddles, to a finish line greeted by friends and family. This event truly takes a village to put on, including volunteers, the Lutsen community, Lutsen 99er staff, and many more.
Lutsen 99er Race Results:
1. Chase Wark, Winona, Minnesota - 4:55:29
2. Emile Hamm, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada - 4:55:50
3. Brian Johnson, Omaha, NE - 5:08:11
Lutsen 59er Race Results:
1. Liam Garner, Minneapolis, MN - 3:32:05
2. Stephane Audet, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada - 3:35:14
3. Benon Brattebo, Eden Prairie, MN - 3:35:35
Lutsen 45er Race Results:
1. Brett Brazerol, Duluth, MN - 2:42:49
2. Ian Andrus, Lutsen, MN - 2:49:27
3. Austin Kuehl, St. Louis Park, MN - 2:52:28
Lutsen 29er Race Results:
1. Ben Tesch, Minneapolis, MN - 1:44:41
2. David Harris, Lake Elmo, MN - 1:46:46
3. Kate Vernon, Grand Marais, MN - 1:54:53
The full list of official race results can be found here.
Don’t blink! The front of the pack woodshed passed in the blink of an eye!
The 99er pack after they conquered the first hill on the Caribou Trail.
The 59ers came in hot!
“Lots of racers had smiling faces after completing the first hill of the Caribou Trail.
Cool temps, blue skies, good energy, and lupines - The spirit of Lutsen 99er!
Many parent-child duos participated in all distances of the race.
