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Carter Nieuwesteeg
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Last year I signed up for my first gravel race, the Dusty Bandita. It is an all-women’s race along the continental divide that starts and finishes in Ovando, Montana and the roads, scenery, people and overall vibe were what made it so memorable. Also, the suffering. Having only raced mountain bikes, I soon realized that gravel racing is full tilt… you’re just always on the pedals and working hard to stay in a group. So, of course I decided to also sign up for the Fernie Gravel Grind. I had volunteered to lead ladies’ rides with the Anything Goes team and was really impressed with the community their events create and the focus on inclusivity, giving back and that anything goes with gravel.
Carter Niewesteeg is the man behind the Anything Goes Event Series (AGES), a saying that reflects the values of this organization… no matter your age, level, gender or bike, you are welcome at these events. I love it! So, what led Carter to creating AGES?
Carter was born and raised in Fernie, with parents from Ontario and Calgary.
“They were the OG ski bums, coming to town in the late 80s. They eventually bought a house in the 90s and moved here,” Carter tells me.
After graduating, Carter went to the University of Victoria and studied Economics with a minor in Business. Not surprisingly, he chose Victoria because you can train year-round on the island.
“I had just started getting into bike racing and thought it would be a cool opportunity. I came back to Fernie during the summers to train and to have support from my family, and worked at Straightline,” he adds.
While Carter grew up mountain biking (reluctantly), his main focus was actually ski racing and hockey.
“In my last years of high school, I realized that biking would be great cross training for my winter sports. I signed up for the Fernie 3 and was immediately hooked. From there it was the Singletrack 6 and then I fully went down the rabbit hole.
I had never been to the island and didn’t know anyone out there, but I knew I could keep biking and that the national team was based out of there.”
Carter started training year-round and racing, chasing the Canada Cup circuit, but realized marathon style and stage races were his strength. “Plus, I always had more fun doing them!”
Graduating in 2020 during the pandemic, Carter headed to Fernie and continued to train while waiting for races to get going again. He had a lot of routes that he loved to ride for training, and decided to create the Fernie Gravel Grind which would be virtual the first year, with people signing up and challenging Carter’s various routes and posting them on Strava.
“I anticipated maybe 50 people signing up,” he tells me, adding that hundreds participated, and all funds raised went to support the Fernie Trails Alliance. “It was a way to shine a light on the amazing gravel roads in the Elk Valley and to give people something safe to do during the pandemic. The main feedback we got was, ‘Wow! This place is amazing!’”
In 2021 the event was able to be held in person (with many changing requirements along the way). Carter enticed some of his good friends to join his efforts, adding to the AGES team, and they held a successful event during the rainiest weekend of the year. Unfortunately, that fall also saw an atmospheric river event, which washed out a portion of their course and the team had to shift once again. With a new route in 2022 out to Harvey Pass and back, they saw a record number of racers and a very successful event that took over Station Square in downtown Fernie.
“The FGG has really grown since its first ever event. From 2022 onwards we have been based at Station Square hosting 20 vendors, local food trucks, beer gardens and two nights of live music open to the entire community. It’s really become a giant block party that just so happens to have a gravel race in the middle of it,” Carter shares.
The FGG and AGES in general has continued to grow, adding the Cranbrook Gravel Grind to their repertoire and additional participants with each year.
Carter’s vision is to continue to see this growth, with events across Western Canada.
“Whether that’s the AGES team, or AGES inspiring other organizers to adopt some of the standards we’ve created. I would love to see an event in Alberta as well as one out on Vancouver Island, but at this point I would have to clone myself due to the amount of time that would require. If anyone is interested in joining the team we should chat (not joking at all)!”
Having competed and volunteered with AGES, I can see the allure of being a part of this team. Every single individual involved, from the organizers to the volunteers, make these events meaningful, memorable and so much fun (even when you’re redlining).
“I’ve experienced a lot of really great and a few pretty bad events,” Carter tells me. “I developed a good idea of what makes a good event and AGES reflects that. A lot of my most memorable moments aren’t actually the racing aspect, but the experience and activities outside of that. We also try to make the volunteer experience just as exciting. Our events would not be what they are without them.”
1. When did you first arrive in Fernie and what brought you here?
First arrived on scene January 1, 1997 at the Elk Valley Hospital. Extremely proud and fortunate to be born and raised right here in Fernie.
2. Who do you remember first meeting?
I first remember playing in the backyard year round with my sister, loving every second whether that was in deep snow
in the middle of January or sitting in my mom’s garden playing in the mud.
3. Do you remember your first general impression of Fernie?
My appreciation for Fernie hit hard when I came home after my first year at university. The community, trails, endless activities, amazing weather… Fernie is definitely home and always will be.
4. What keeps you here?
Family, close friends, the trails, the snow, the ‘laid back don’t take things too seriously’ vibe, close proximity to everything, the list goes on.
5. Do you have a favourite pastime?
Off the bike and away from event organizing, I love fly fishing the Elk River. I spent years on that river growing up. I certainly don’t spend enough time on the river these days, but any chance I get I am there whether that’s with a rod or an inner tube from Canadian Tire.
6. What time of the year do you love most and why?
I really love May when the trails just open up, the dirt is velcro and everyone has that raw excitement to get the bike out and go for it after a long winter. I also love the other side of summer, September. Fall here is hard to beat with the colour, cooler temps and the return of velcro dirt - not to mention it aligns with my off-season, so I get my fair share of beer laps with my best friend Nakoda and other close pals.
7. Where do you see or hope to see Fernie in five years?
Maybe it’s the old timer local in me starting to show, but I hope Fernie’s core sense of community and vibe doesn’t change. I don’t think many communities are this tight knit, and it would be unfortunate if that was lost. Aside from that, there are some cool things happening with Fernie’s trails thanks to the Trails Alliance and I am really excited to see where things go over the next few years.
8. How do you start your day or what is one of your daily rituals?
My day doesn’t start until I’ve had at least one good coffee, sometimes three if the training or event organizing is full tilt. After that, it’s usually a few hours of event work on the computer before anywhere from 2-6 hours of training.
9. Tell us something people might be surprised to learn about you.
Like I said earlier, I was born and raised in Fernie. Which sometimes catches people by surprise and when that happens makes me even more proud to be from Fernie.
10. Quote to live by:
Go all in. Whether it’s hard intervals on the bike, organizing events, spending time with family, partying with your buddies, whatever, go all in. Life is too short not to live it to the fullest, so whatever you do make sure you go all in.
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mountain biking Fernie
