Donald Teuma-Castelletti
PONTIAC Feb. 10, 2018
Those living close to the PPJ may have noticed a peculiar sight on Saturday, as bikers continued to ride the trail, albeit with tires about five times their regular size attached.
This sight was all thanks to the third annual Wendigo Ultra fat bike marathon, where biking enthusiasts competed to be first to cross the finish line in either the 50, 100, or 150 km routes, all while riding fat bikes.
The bikes have grown in popularity over the last few years, offering cyclists the chance to ride through snow and harsh terrain with greater stability.

The Wendigo Ultra is an entirely fat bike-oriented event and runs in three distances, with only the most bike-hardened taking on the ultramarathon strain. It’s a route only for the most prepared cyclists, with event organizer Cameron Dubé listing some fairly strict guidelines on the registration website for participation in the 150 km route.
Of the 22 racers who competed, only nine crossed into Quebec as they competed in the longer strains, with five in the 100 km and four in the 150 km.
Racers coming in at the Portage du Fort checkpoint were in for a welcome sight. Situated right where the PPJ crosses Hwy. 303, racers met their first checkpoint into Quebec. For some, this meant they could turn back as they met the halfway point, while others saw it as just a third of the route completed.
From there, those in the 150 km route would continue the route until ending up at a checkpoint in Shawville, at the Art Brûlant & Impressions café, their official sign that they’re on the road back.
Dubé said that he first began organizing this event because he had been such a fan of racing in them himself, mostly at races in the U.S. Hoping to drum up some interest and show off a favourite biking spot close to home, he’s organized a few rides throughout the seasons in the Pontiac and hopes to continue to see them grow in popularity.
“I like the allure of going over the Ottawa River into another province,” said Dubé. “And I have a friendship with Raymond from the café just from biking … coffee goes really well with riding and he’s a rider, too.”
Which, so far, has worked great for the Wendigo Ultra, which went from 13 riders last year to 22.
“Even the biggest ones in North America will see 120 riders, maybe,” said Dubé. “These distances on a bike are not for everybody, so you’re not going to get your mass amount of riders. I’m happy that the numbers went up this year but if we remained the same, I’d still be doing it.”