New Mammoth Tuff Gravel Race Announced
Gravel is booming, and another gravel race is on the books. Mammoth Tuff has been launched for September 19 in Mammoth Lakes, California. It is being put on by David Sheek and his partner Amanda Nauman.
Tuff (tÅf) is a general term for all consolidated pyroclastic, volcanic rocks.
The name, Mammoth TUFF, is a nod to the Long Valley Caldera and the volcanic stone that defines ‘gravel’ in the area. The caldera was formed about 760,000 years ago in a volcanic eruption from which the magma still underlies it, heating underground water and fueling hot springs the event will ride by. The short course is around 45 miles with 2,000 feet of climbing and will circle the famous caldera. The long course is around 100 miles with 8,000 feet of elevation gain and travels through the Volcanic Tableland formed by the Long Valley Caldera. Prepare to be transported back in time on an old stagecoach route used by miners and even further back past Native American petroglyphs left by ancestors of the Paiute-Shoshone tribe.
The short course is around 45 miles with 2,000 feet of climbing and will circle the caldera. The long course is around 100 miles with 8,000 feet of elevation gain. The route includes portions of an old stagecoach route used by miners and goes past Native American petroglyphs left by ancestors of the Paiute-Shoshone tribe.
David Sheek created this event with his partner, Amanda Nauman, to share the adventures they have cherished around Mammoth Lakes and as a thank you to the town that has given them countless memories. With more than six years racing at gravel events across the country, during the pivotal rise of the discipline, and years of training and exploring the Eastern Sierra playground, Sheek and Nauman have built a TUFF adventure for all to experience. “These are the roads I’ve trained on to prepare for some of my biggest goals and I want to share the magic and see who’s “tuff” enough to join me,” said Nauman.
So, in 2019 David Sheek founded Sheek Group to build the TUFF. After a few years of talking about and planning for an event in this area and the desire to continue to develop product in the outdoor/bike industry, we are happy to share a lot of TUFF in the future. We are happy you have an interest in Mammoth TUFF ® and look forward to you joining us in Mammoth Lakes, California.
Registration will open at mammothtuff.com on February 21 at 8am PST and is limited to 850 participants. Entry fees will be $75 and $180 for the respective distances.
