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Copper Harbor Fat Tire Festival
Sept. 2- 2007

Keweenaw
Adventure

906.289.4303

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About Sam Raymond
 
 

Sam after the Fat Tire race Sam has spent most every summer of his life in the Keweenaw, residing at his family's cottage, near Copper Harbor. He has a genuine love for the area, its people, history, geology, all around natural beauty and of course, Lake Superior.

 After college, Sam moved to Colorado and spent his first 5 entire years in the Vail Valley (Avon most specifically) including the summers.  It was during this time that his love for the sport of mountain biking blossumed, with the abundance of sweet trails to ride and participation in the local race series. During this time living out west, Sam realized he had a strong yearning to return to the Keweenaw and tried to figure out a way to make a living here and thus is ultimately how he wound up as the propritor of Keweenaw Adventure Company.  After doing the seasonal gig between spending winters in Colorado and summers in the Keweenaw for a number of years, Sam is now a full-time, year round resident of Copper Harbor. One of his other favorite places to spend time is in the Canyonlands, near Moab, Utah where he still tries to make an annual trip. Sam kayaking by the Copper Harbor lighthouse

Sam graduated from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan in 1992. He received a Bachelor's of Business Administration Degree in Marketing and Management and an Associate of Arts Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. He became the owner of Keweenaw Adventure Company in the Fall of 1998 at the age of 30. He attended Barnett Bicycle Institute (BBI) in Colorado Springs in 1999 to learn more about bicycle mechanics. He now has a general understanding of mechanics, but considers himself to be more of a wanna-be than a real mechanic. Sam is also certified in Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and is active with the Michigan Mountain Bike Association, the Copper Harbor Improvement (business) Association, the Copper Harbor Trails Club and currently serves on the Keweenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission.  He was asked to serve on a 10 month long Citizen's Advisory Committee with the DNR to represent the interests of silent sports and non-motorized trail development on the newly acquired State land on Keweenaw Point in 2004..."it's really all about the cause and the cause is the trails!", says Sam.

Although Sam enjoys the great outdoors from a variety of perspectives, his number one passion is mountain biking. He tries to ride whenever possible and also has spent 1000's of hours as a volunteer working to establish the Copper Harbor Mountain Bike Trail System over the years. He hopes that one day Copper Harbor will be on the "mountain bike map" and may become known as the "Moab of the Midwest" due to its unique terrain and public access to the land. He has been the race director of the annual Copper Harbor Fat Tire Festival, mountain bike race since 1998. The race has gradually gained a reputation for being one of the most challenging race courses in all of the Midwest and riders now make the journey from literally all over the country to compete in this fun-filled event.

cartoon by: Bobby Sutton
When not behind the desk at the office, Sam may likely be found instructing sea kayak lessons during the summer. He has been active with the ACA (American Canoe Association) and is certified as a "Basic" level Instructor. Most of his paddling experience has been on Lake Superior including many trips on the Keweenaw Peninsula, Isle Royale and the Apostle Islands.

Winter means snow and more importantly, FRESHIES!!!  Nearby Mount Bohemia (opened in 2000) is the primary reason that Sam now spends his winters in the Keweenaw.  Even after 11 winters of being a ski bum on the slopes of Vail & Beaver Creek, he honestly feels that his skiing experience is not too compromised due to Bohemia's steep terrain, fantastic glade skiing, lack of crowds, and consistent Lake effect POWDER!!!  He also enjoys cross country skiing, back-country ski touring and snowshoeing during the winter and has been an active volunteer helping to maintain and groom the Copper Harbor XC ski trails. He normally works nights waiting tables and bartending so his days a free for skiing.

Sam loves live music and tries to see shows whenever possible. He's into a variety of music, but rock, folk, bluegrass, reggae and blues are his favorites. Some of his favorite bands include the String Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic, the Del McCoury Band, Leftover Salmon, Bill Monroe, Galactic, the Grateful Dead, the Funky Meters, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and local favorites such as Chasin' Steel, the Blackflies, Mojo Perry and Steppin' In It. You will often hear these tunes and more drifting through the streets of Copper Harbor coming from the shop. Sam loves to get down and boogie!

 
 
     
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