‘An Epic for Taylor’ theme celebrates life of community icon
By Mira Brody VP MEDIA
At the start of the Big Sky Biggie on Aug. 22, Barbara Rowley held the starting gun high in the air, and fired a single shot. On their cue, hundreds of eager bikers took off from Big Sky Town Center on their 50-mile journey.
The shot, and following race, was held this year in memory of Rowley’s late husband, and longtime Big Sky influential figure, Taylor Middleton. Middleton loved everything outdoors Big Sky had to offer, including biking, and competed in the Biggie every single year, many times podiuming in his age category. Race Director and Founder Natalie Osborne recalled the event’s early days, when she was working hard to get landowner permission to piece together the course. After Middleton, president of Big Sky Resort at the time, gave her the green light, much of the community followed, making the Biggie, and its robust trail route, possible.
“He paved the way for us getting buy-in for this crazy idea for a bike ride,” Osborne said. “His support really helped with the momentum of getting other leaders to say, ‘yes,’ and support the event.”
“The Biggie owes a lot to Taylor,” she added.
Six-hundred and sixteen starters from 33 states raced the 50-, 30- and 15-mile courses, plus a kids’ course. The event has grown each year, with its inaugural race hosting 209 riders and last year’s event drawing 596 finishers.
The course routes, Osborne said, are what makes the event stand out against other mountain bike races in the West.
“I am really proud of our course,” Osborne said. “It’s very unique in a few ways.” She described its “wide footprint” of double track, single track, some pavement, flowing resort trails, and rugged forest service trails, providing a “true backcountry experience,” she said. First and Second Yellow Mules, or “The Mules,” is her personal favorite section. She also mentioned working with various landowners, with special thanks to Lone Mountain Land Company, is what makes the uniqueness possible.
The Biggie is also passionate about its charitable causes. This year, the event donated $12,000 to the Big Sky Community Organization, $12,000 to the Big Sky Trail Dogs chapter of the Southwest Montana Mountain Biking Association and $2,500 to Big Sky Search and Rescue. That contributes to a total of $145,000 raised and donated since the first event in 2018.
Over the event’s eight years, Osborne said she is most proud of the diverse participants it attracts. From pro-athletes to hobbyists and youth cyclists—the National Interscholastic Cycling Association plans their race schedule around the Biggies each year—the Biggie feels welcome to all ages and abilities.
“It doesn’t matter what your skill level is, it doesn’t matter how fit you are, but that you show up at the starting line,” Osborne said. “You’re going to have a challenging day, but you’re going to be supported, and at the end you cross the finish line with a tremendous amount of achievement.”
