Sports Wisconsin Lists Upcoming Events

Sports Wisconsin has listed a number of upcoming events, including cycling, fishing, wrestling and more.

Single Track Biking, Statewide: In single track biking, there is news from multiple corners of the state. In Door County, the Friends of Peninsula State Park, with the help of a professional trail-builder, created a new single track loop suitable for both mountain biking and fat tire biking. The Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association’s (CAMBA) Bike Trail System has dramatically expanded over the past few years, now with more than 40 miles of groomed winter trails adding to its status as the “Singletrack Capital of the Midwest.” CAMBA hosts a Women’s Mountain Bike Weekend June 9-11 in Coon Valley, tailored to beginner- and intermediate-level female mountain bikers. The CAMBA trail at Mt. Ashwabay, popular in both winter and summer, just opened a dog-friendly trail for pet owners who like to skijor, snowshoe and cross country ski. Steinhaugen Recreation Area, a 270-acre park just east of Stevens Point, has developed fat tire biking trails for use in the winter season. 

La Crosse Area Bicycle Festival, La Crosse – September 1-4: Highlighting the region’s top-notch bicycling opportunities, Bike Fest features four-days of road, mountain and trail rides, as well as paddling excursions and guided city explorations over the Labor Day Weekend. The 7th annual event anticipates more than 1,500 participants from across the country to venture into the bluffs and coulees overlooking the Mississippi River.  

Recumbent Bike Rally, Stevens Point – August 4-6: If you prefer more than two wheels, ride your recumbent to the Stevens Point area for the world’s largest recumbent rally. Not for your average 10-speed, the Midwest Recumbent Rally features seminars, test rides and scheduled rides. 

10TH ANNIVERSARY: Battle on Bago, Oshkosh – February 24-25: The Midwest’s largest ice fishing tournament is celebrating 10 years. Battle on Bago was created by local Rotarians to support area youth and conservation efforts throughout the state of Wisconsin. Local beneficiaries receiving funds from Battle on Bago embody the mission statement of the event - “For Kids & Conservation.” 

RETURNING: NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championships, La Crosse – March 10-11: The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus serves as the host school for the National Wrestling Championships. The college hosted the Championships in 2011 and 2012.

HOSTING: 2017 Ice Skating Institute Synchronized Skating Championships, Pleasant Prairie – March 31 - April 2: The RecPlex Ice Arena is the host site for this three-day event, with categories from tot to masters spanning skaters as young as six to over 40 years of age. Organizers are expecting some 1,000 participants.  

HOSTING: National Collegiate Table Tennis National Championships, Eau Claire – April 6-9: The National Collegiate Table Tennis National Championships will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus. More than 250 of the best collegiate table tennis players in North America will compete. Up for grabs are national titles in singles, doubles and team events.

HOSTING: Walmart Fishing League Worldwide Tour, La Crosse - May 18-21: The most competitive tour in professional bass-fishing will be hitting the waters of the Mississippi River in La Crosse for four days of professional fishing. FLW is the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for prize money.

HOSTING: Team World Horseshoe Tournament, Beloit – May 19-21: The 33rd annual Team World Horseshoe Tournament will be held in Beloit in May at Telfer Park. This marks the 28th consecutive time Beloit has hosted the event.

NEW: Madeline Island Marathon and Half-Marathon, Bayfield/Madeline Island – May 20: This new event will take place right on the island in the northernmost tip of Wisconsin, accessible by a 25-minute ferry ride from Bayfield. All participants are encouraged to stay on the island the night before to ensure arriving at the start line on time. Courses are mostly pavement with small sections of packed gravel road.

NEW: IRONMAN Wisconsin 70.3, Madison – June 11: Host to the IRONMAN Wisconsin for more than 15 years, Madison unveils a new, half-distance IRONMAN triathlon. A great entry point for newer triathletes, the IRONMAN Wisconsin 70.3 takes place in June.

FIRST TIME EVER IN WISCONSIN: U.S. Open, Erin - June 12-18: The U.S. Open is being contested for the first time in Wisconsin, with top golfers vying for the title at Erin Hills Golf Course in the state’s Kettle Moraine region, just a short drive from Milwaukee. The 18-hole, walking-only course opened in 2006 and is just the sixth public access course to host the championship. The topography in this part of the state is distinctive, having been sculpted by colliding glaciers that left dramatic ridges and vistas. More than 35,000 spectators are expected to attend each day, and more than 5,000 volunteer positions were quickly filled. 

10TH ANNIVERSARY: Three Rivers Roleo Log Rolling Tournament, Onalaska – July 8: This started as an amateur event 10 years ago and has grown into a nationally televised log rolling tournament. Athletes include home-town favorites as well as pros. The event is free and takes place at the Great River Landing, a historic logging site on the Black River in far western Wisconsin near the mighty Mississippi.

RETURNING: Coolest Coast Pro-am Volleyball Tournament, Two Rivers – July 14-16: The EVP Coolest Coast Pro Am returns to Neshota Beach in Two Rivers for the second year in a row. Last year’s event drew 40 teams, both amateurs and professionals, with a crowd of 4,000 fans cheering them on.

NEW: CrossFit Games, Madison – August 1-6: After 10 years in California, this championship event relocates to the Badger State for at least the next three years. Hundreds of elite CrossFit athletes, the “fittest on earth,” will compete in a variety of competitions, taking advantage of the natural resources and world-class facilities in Madison.  

HOSTING: ASA and USA Softball Northern Nationals, Eau Claire – August 3-6: The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball Northern Nationals girls fast pitch 10U and 12U tournaments will be held at Jeffers Road Park and Seymour Ball Fields. Thousands of youth are inspired to participate in this top national pastime, starting with the youngest players, with opportunities to advance to the collegiate level and even international competition.  

RETURNING: US Kubb Open Tournament, Beloit – August 5: The second annual US Kubb Open Tournament will once again be held in Beloit. Last year’s inaugural event drew 42 teams with competitors hailing from the Midwest and New York. Organizers expect this year’s competition to attract upwards of 64 teams. 

NEW: International Aerobatics Club, U.S. National Championships, Oshkosh – September 24-29: Look to the skies of Oshkosh September 24-29 to see some of the country’s most talented aerobatic pilots compete for national honors. The International Aerobatics Club U.S. National Championships will take place on the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Grounds and Wittman Regional Airport. Oshkosh was a natural choice for this event by virtue of its 45-year history as the site for EAA AirVenture. All nine power and glider categories participate, with each competition category flying a different set of sequences with varying degrees of difficulty. 

NEW: World Arm Wrestling League Fitness Challenge, Stevens Point – October 13-15: The World Arm Wrestling League will be hosting a Fitness Challenge in the Stevens Point area this fall. The event will include a combination of arm wrestling, MMA and crossfit challenges, drawing some 100 participants from around the Midwest.