John Stamstad, lives in Seattle, WA and competes in some of the world’s
most difficult Ultra-Marathon MTB races. Stamstad has dedicated himself to seeking
those events which claim to be the ‘most challenging’ or the ‘most difficult’. Stamstad
first entered Ultra-marathon cycling by competing in the 1985 race across Missouri–547
miles non-stop from St. Louis to Kansas City and back. Thirty-six hours later Stamstad
was hooked. In 1991 Stamstad switched to mountain biking when he entered Montezuma’s
Revenge–a 24 hour wilderness race in Colorado in which competitors are required
to climb a 14,272 foot mountain–Gray’s Peak. In 1992 he traveled to Australia for
the first off-road crossing of that continent by bicycle–The Australian Bicycle
Challenge, a 3500-mile off-road race through the remote Outback. Also that year he
entered his first Iditasport, a race in Alaska, in February, along the famous Iditarod
Trail. Stamstad won that race in 1993, ’94, ’95, and ’96. In ’97 the race was changed
to the Iditasport Extreme and distance of the race was increased from 170 miles to
an arduous 350 and went across the Alaska Range of mountains. Stamstad was the winner
again with a time of 5 days, and 5 hours. Stamstad followed that with victories in
1998, 1999, and 2000.

Stamstad also holds the Ultra-Marathon Cycling Association 24 Hour Off-Road World
Record of 352 miles, and in 1996 Stamstad was the first person to ride the 24 Hours
of Canaan solo when he entered the relay as 4 different variations of his name. The
next year an Official Solo category was created, and 24-Hour Solo racing has grown
in popularity every year.

1999 was highlighted when Stamstad conquered the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route–the
longest off-road trail in the world. He completed the 2500 miles and 200,000 vertical
feet of climbing in 18 days and 5 hours.

John’s Racing Accomplishments

1st Iditasport 1993 (course record), ’94, ’95, ’96

1st Iditasport Extreme 1997, ’98(course record), ’99, ’00

1st Leadville Trail 100 1994

1st 24 Hour Off-Road World Record 352 miles 1995

1st Wilderness 101 1993

1st Montezuma’s Revenge 1991 (course record), ’96(record)

1st 24 Hours of Canaan 1996, ’97, ’98

1st 24 Hours of Adrenaline-Toronto 1996(course record), ’97, ’98

1st 24 hours of Adrenaline-Laguna Seca 1999

1st 24 hours of Adrenaline–Canmore 1998

1st 24 hours of Adrenaline–Silver Star 1998

1st 24 Hours of Adrenaline–Calgary 1998