The pandemic disrupted the PNW athletic events calendar. Some events disappeared. Some were acquired by new or different race organizers. A few new events have emerged.
On the emergent end of the continuum are the Guerilla Grinds–“underground” gravel cycling events that highlight the exceptional gravel terrain in Kitsap County west of Seattle.
First launched by Tom Sumter in 2021 and pandemically dormant since then, there are three Guerilla Grinds in the 2024 calendar:
Guerilla Grind #1 February 10 Results:
–Men’s Open: Kevin Sullivan, The Streets @ 2:20PM
–Woman’s Open Vermont Berk, Team Booger @ 3:38PM
–Men’s Masters Christian Ward Zauner @ 2:45PM
–Women’s Masters Annie Bilotta @ 8:40PM
–Men’s Grand Master Chad McCammon @ 3:54PM
–Woman’s Grand Master Tisch Williams @ 8:40PM
Organizer Tom Sumter is excited about the 2024 schedule.
“We just had the first Guerilla Grind–a trip to Seabeck and Holly–that went off pretty well. Number two goes from Southworth, to Belfair, and then back to Bremerton on some really creative trails that I’m sure people don’t know about.”
“These are the kind of routes that I like to ride, my friends like to ride, and I thought that other people would enjoy them as well. There are a ton of gravel and dirt roads in Kitsap County. But, the routes are intimidating if you don’t know the area. I’ve taken the time to learn the area. I’ve figured out cool ways to get to cool destinations. Based on my research and experiences, I’m building a set of routes that other gravel riders will enjoy.”
“I’m trying to make the routes the stars of the events. The only thing other than the route that I would like to be the star is the beer at the end! Guerilla Grinds embody the spirit of gravel: Underground, low key, low budget, and self-sufficient. On most of these events, about 20 to 30% of participants are female. We’re set up to offer equal prize money across each category’s top finishers.”
Guerilla Grind #2 Southworth > Belfair > Bremerton March 16 Register
Guerilla Grind #3 Dewatto April 13 Register
“The April the Guerilla Grind will be from Bremerton to Dewatto, and features North Shore road that’s a really cool section of road with sections of dirt wherever possible.”
(For more gravel rides, and events in general, check out Northwest in Motion’s Calendar. Set the dates you’re looking for, and enter “gravel” in the text search field. Or just browse the “list” or “calendar” views.)
The pandemic delayed the first planned iterations of the event. Meanwhile, Sumter continued to refine the routes and event logistics.
“I had been riding in Kitsap County for a long time, and I started to get this idea that it would be possible do a ride where everyone took a ferry and we could all do the same route, and it would even be feasible to keep track of everyone’s time. It would work for everyone–folks who wanted to race it or and ride it. I’m trying to thread the needle between a race and something that’s open and inclusive for everybody.”
“I also realized that while some people like to race, others like to ride, and others want to be part of an event. I really wanted to create something that would appeal to all of these groups. So I came up with “Guerilla Grinds,” and did the first version in 2021.”
Unfortunately, after 2021, “…the Bremerton ferry was down to one boat, and the logistics became difficult. The Bremerton ferry is an hour crossing, and the boats run every two hours and 30 minutes or something like that. If you miss one, the wait for the next one is too long.”
A few years passed, then Tom learned that that Kitsap Transit had their own fast ferry. He’s able to restart the Grinds because there are now two ferries servicing Bremerton.
“Guerilla Grinds allows the fast kids to go out and thrash each other. That’s the part that I like to watch–the fast kids’ showing their stuff. That’s pretty cool. I know how long it takes me to do these routes. And then watching them do it in like, you know, two, three hours is super impressive.”
Participants can race or ride the Guerilla Grinds, and either way, making new friends and connecting with the gravel community is part of the experience.
