Local Utah riders shine in grueling Point 2 Point mountain bike race

Park City local Chelsea Bolton celebrates a first place win on the podium. Photo: Mack Lambert

PARK CITY, Utah — Seventy-five miles of singletrack. Ten thousand feet of climbing. Three hundred fifty-five racers.

The Point 2 Point mountain bike race in Park City has a reputation as one of the toughest single-day races in the U.S. The 17th edition wrapped up on August 30, with riders enjoying “great trail conditions and near-perfect temperatures,” according to race organizers.

Competitors ranged in age from 15 to 67. While 70 percent of the field hailed from Utah, 23 other states were represented, along with three riders from Canada and one from as far away as Nepal.

Both the men’s and women’s winners set new course records. Park City local Chelsea Bolton won the women’s race with a time of 7:01:01. It was her fourth P2P, and she told organizers she hopes to dip under the seven-hour mark next year.

On the men’s side, Zach Calton, 28, of Ogden, broke the record for the second year in a row, finishing in 5:45:29. This was his seventh P2P.

True to tradition, the race also honored the final rider across the line with the “Red Lantern” award. This year it went to Garrett Burt of Lehi, who finished in 13:54:44. The award, borrowed from Alaska’s Iditarod sled dog race, symbolizes perseverance and determination in completing the course.