The first-ever world championships for fat bikes will be held January 27-31, 2016, in Crested Butte, CO, with Borealis Fat Bikes as its title sponsor. The inaugural Fat BikeWorld Championships will feature four days of racing on four different courses; a summit on the state of fat biking in the state of Colorado; vendor showcases and of course free beer for competitors.
Colorado Springs-based Borealis Fat Bikes is the title sponsor for the event.
“We’re proud to be the title sponsor of such a monumental event for fat bikes. We pride ourselves in being a pioneer in the market and that means pioneering new event types that showcase how fat bikes can be ridden,” said Steve Kaczmarek, Borealis founder and CEO.
Riding the giant wave of fat bike popularity, Borealis Bikes was born in Colorado Springs in 2013 and quickly became a leader in the fat bike industry, bringing the first commercially produced carbon fiber fat bike to market. They also do business as The Fat Bike Company, dedicated to designing and producing the lightest and most technically advanced fat bikes and fat bike components in the world. With just 11 employees designing and building bikes in its newly renovated 10,500-square-foot headquarters, the brand currently operates in more than 22 countries with continued expansion planned for North America and globally.
“It’s been a crazy ride,” said Kaczmarek. “Talk about a start up!” In 2013 he loaded up his 70-foot RV and headed to Interbike, stopping at Backcountry.com headquarters along the way, securing his first dealer. Landing in Las Vegas with nothing but a trailer full of carbon fat bikes and the simplest of booths, Kaczmarek ended up selling $1.1 million dollars worth of bikes and securing nearly 100 retail doors, winning Best in Show from BikeRadar.com. The city of Colorado Springs named Borealis Start Up Company of the Year.
“Now, with everybody in the market, how do we differentiate ourselves?” Kaczmarek asked. “We always want to be better than the next guy, constantly pushing the industry.” One way he’ll do that is by introducing an aluminum-frame fat bike next year with Sram GX-1 componentry and carbon parts, retailing for just $2199. He’ll also stick with his wholesale-only distribution model, aiming to do more than $5 million in business in 2016.
One of Borealis’ keys to growth is sponsorships, such as its upcoming title sponsorship of the Fat Biking Worlds. Being a critical part of the growing fat biking trend, ranging from sand to snow and now almost omni-present at Nordic centers around the country, Kaczmarek says he offers a Ferrari product at a Mercedes price point. “The question is how do you keep the culture, how do you keep the quality, as you grow,” he said. “We want to be the market disruptor. We keep our products light weight, well equipped, and offer a different kind of experience.”
Experience the difference at any of the many Nordic centers offering Borealis rentals, such as Breckenridge’s Gold Run Nordic Center, or at the Worlds in Crested Butte.
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