Earlier this month, the Global ElliptiGO Riders Club (GERC) hosted the 9th Annual ElliptiGO Winter Classic in Scottsdale, Arizona. We had 35 riders from ten different states register for the event, which took place January 14-16. ElliptiGO HQ team members Keri and Bryan drove our newly wrapped ElliptiGO van out to Scottsdale and provided rentals for several of the attendees from out of state. Curious about what GO gatherings like the Winter Classic entail? Here’s a recap of this year’s event.
Things kicked off on Friday evening at the Hyatt Place in north Scottsdale, where participants were able to reunite with old ElliptiGO friends and meet some new ones! Our vibrant, inviting and inclusive community can be experienced both virtually and in person through events like this one!
Big Earl’s, a favorite for all attendees, was the meeting spot for the Saturday group morning ride. Riders had their choice of two routes. The “Seven Springs” route was an out and back, covering 25 miles and 2300 feet elevation gain! The “Lone Mountain/Legend Trail” route featured 19 miles of riding and 950 feet of elevation gain.
Both groups rode out at 9:30am into the chilly, cloudy and windy conditions in Cave Creek, Arizona. The desert views were spectacular and riders were treated to a double rainbow along the ride. After the ride, everyone met at Big Earl’s once again and enjoyed burgers on the patio. Talk about a delectable way to recover – these riders more than earned it.
Participants reconvened on Saturday evening for another patio meal at SomeBurros, a local favorite for Sonoran-style Mexican food in north Scottsdale. The evening was filled with delicious food, great drinks and lots of laughs.
Participants gathered at the Apache Wash Trailhead in north Phoenix on Sunday morning. The ride covered an 8 mile loop, allowing riders to customize their riding distance! There were paved paths for all and even non-paved trails for MSUB riders.
After the ride, GERC provided a tailgate style lunch of Streets of New York pizza, cookies and beverages at the trailhead. Many riders brought their own lawn chairs. It was a perfect post-ride hangout, enjoying a nice lunch and each other’s company. A few years ago, a tailgate tradition was born: hula hooping! Riders can show off their skills with full size hula hoops and two smaller arm sized hoops.
The weekend wrapped up on Sunday evening at Coconuts in north Scottsdale, where participants were served tasty Maui-style grilled fish tacos and other island dishes. Overall, the weekend was a great success and the warm Arizona sunshine provided a safe place for the community to gather outdoors to ride and spend time together. Many thanks to Jane and Jim for putting together another amazing event.
We hope you consider joining the Global ElliptiGO Rider’s Club next year for the 10th anniversary of the ElliptiGO Winter Classic in Scottsdale. Mark your calendars for January 13-15th, 2023. See you there!
