Brownsville
Lou Schmertz, longtime race marshal and original mountain bike route designer, died suddenly on Monday night at age 63. The Windsor resident and co-owner of Hartland’s Skunk Hollow Tavern suffered from a range of health problems, but attended a race committee meeting in Brownsville on Monday and was slated to join Vermont 50 director Mike Silverman and others for prep work on Tuesday.
The exact cause of Schmertz’ death was still unknown on Wednesday morning, according to his sister and Skunk Hollow co-owner, Gretchen Schmertz, though she said it was likely due to “a heart attack, stroke or blood clot.”
The loss leaves Vermont 50 personnel in need of filling race marshal duties for Sunday’s event, which is expected to draw nearly 1,300 mountain bikers and runners — more than the population of West Windsor. More significantly, Lou Schmertz’ attentiveness and enthusiasm can’t be replaced.
“The one word you think about when you think of Lou is passion,” said Silverman, director of both the Vermont 50 and July’s Vermont 100, which also begins and ends at the defunct Mount Ascutney Resort. “He was passionate about the Vermont 50, passionate about the community, passionate about all of the activities he was a part of. You could always see the joy in his face.”
The Vermont 50 was originally conceived by West Windsor resident Laura Farrell, founder of the nonprofit Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, to complement the Vermont 100 as a fundraiser for that organization. She initially had no plans for a mountain biking component, but Schmertz persuaded her.
After an inaugural race-day course that consisted primarily of hilly dirt roads, some of which remain part of the course, Schmertz and friend Seth Warren rerouted a large portion into wooded areas in time for the second edition in 1994. The adjustment required the cooperation of 60-70 land owners, Farrell said, and Schmertz facilitated the outreach.
Today, the course is roughly 65 percent trails, including areas with sweeping views of the surrounding landscape, and so appealing that registration fills within minutes of opening every spring.
“I call Lou the basin of the Vermont 50, because he’s the reason there is a mountain biking component and he has played such a huge role over the years,” Farrell said. “He was great with the property owners because he had the type of personality that he could work with anybody. He was great about letting landowners know about the benefits of the race to the community and to Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports.”
Schmertz also helped pioneer mountain biking culture in the West Windsor area, which today is home to more than 30 miles of marked trails that are the cornerstone of Sport Trails of the Ascutney Basin (STAB), a chapter of the nonprofit Vermont Mountain Bike Association dedicated to protecting and expanding the network.
The 37-year-old Warren, 26 years Schmertz’ junior and his partner designing the Vermont 50’s original mountain bike course, recalled Schmertz’ influence on him as a teenager.
“I was 13 years old when I first met Lou, and he would take me out mountain bike riding,” Warren said. “He went out of his way to introduce kids to mountain biking and he was very kind to do that. He was a gift to have around because he could easily relate to people from all walks of life. He had a way of making people very comfortable around him and you became friends with him very easily.”
Schmertz’ contributions to the Vermont 50 have inadvertently fostered numerous relationships born at the event over the years, Silverman noted.
“I know couples who met here, got married and now they bring their kids here every year,” the director said. “It’s those kinds of stories that make the event special.”
Added longtime volunteer Bill Stillson, 77, of Windsor: “A much higher percentage of participants do it for the beauty of the ride rather than the racing element. You’ve got your expert riders out there, but even most of them will tell you they’re mainly here because they love the course, not going for time.”
Among those continually drawn to the race are Laura Farrell’s two sons, Bobby and Brad, who are now in their mid-20s and have been riding in the event since they were 8 and 9 years old, respectively. Sunday will mark the 19th consecutive mountain bike race for Bobby Farrell, 26.
“Every aspect of the event is awesome,” he said. “It’s got to be some of the best scenery in the world, and all of the support at the aid stations and the volunteers are great. I remember during my first ride when I was 8, I told my mom, ‘This is better than Christmas.’ ”
Public access to the Vermont 50 on race day is hindered by limited parking, prompting organizers to ramp up Saturday pre-race festivities. This year’s activities, beginning at noon at the old resort, include vendors, free children’s events, yoga and — for the first time — an adaptive bike race. The day ends with a buffet-style spaghetti supper from 5-8:30 p.m. hosted by the nearby Holiday Inn Club Vacations.
“We’re trying to get more of the general public to come and enjoy the events on Saturday, because it will be very festive,” Silverman said.
Along with Schmertz, Silverman is dedicating this year’s race to his mother, Edna, who died six weeks ago at age 93.
“Registration always opens on her birthday, May 25, and will continue to do so,” he said. “I’ll be speaking about both her and Lou (to participants) on race day.”
Jared Pendak can be reached at jpendak@vnews.com or 603-727-3225.