HANCOCK - Six family members from the Karinen family participated in the Portage Health Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival bike race over the weekend, a seventh stood by and cheered as four of the kids won their respective divisions and the eighth member was in the minds and hearts of all seven of them.
Bill Karinen of Painesdale died in a tragic accident Dec. 16, and organizers of the annual Chain Drive Festival recognized him Saturday by dedicating the race to Bill, who was an avid biker and participant in the event since it started.
"This is one of those races that meant a lot to him," said Lisa Karinen, Bill's widow. "He had a passion for biking; he was always out biking with the kids, so to them, biking is carrying on the memory of him."
What a fitting ride for the family's first Father's Day without Bill, especially for Pete Karinen, the 14-year-old wunderkind who finished just under a minute and a half behind his father in last year's run.
Pete cruised through the 16-mile race this year, finishing in 1:07:02.7, winning first overall.
"This race meant a lot to him and his father," Lisa said. "The two of them were so close."
About 15 minutes after Pete came in, his 16-year-old sister Nina came into the finishing gate, finishing fourth overall in the women's division and first for the 16-18 year olds.
"I love it, I love this race," Nina said. "It meant a lot to us that they dedicated the race to him. He's who I thought about all race."
Twelve-year-old Oskar Karinen also participated in the 16-mile race, racing tire-to-tire with full grown men three, four or even five times his age and finished third in his age group at 1:27:43.3, while also taking first place in the 13-and-under 3-mile race that took place after the 32-mile bikers came in.
"I just go as hard as I can, and don't really pay attention to everyone else," Oskar said. "I just pass as many people as I can."
Heidi (9) and Ethel (7) participated in the 9-and-under girls 1.5-mile race, with Heidi winning in 9:43.4 and Ethel taking second place.
The youngest of the Karinens, Sami, 4, participated in the .75-mile race, finishing the course in 8:47.
The Karinens were six of nearly 350 participants, including 192 in the 16-mile Chain Drive, 109 in the 32-mile Chain Drive and 47 kids participating in the junior Chain Drive.
"It's another good turnout for the race. We've slowly crept up in numbers each year," event organizer Lori Hauswirth said. "We had good weather, lots of volunteers and the course is in great shape."
A new event was also dedicated to Bill.
"Since it's Father's Day weekend we're combining race totals between children and parents and that part of the race is now called the Bill Karinen Family Challenge (sponsored by Cross Country Sports)," Hauswirth said. "It's a good family aspect to the weekend that a lot of people participated in."
In the 32-mile men's expert, Brian Matter, of Sheboygan, Wis., and Mike Anderson, of Alpena, finished with identical 2:07:01.7 marks, while Sara Kylander-Johnson, of Duluth, Minn., won the women's expert in 2:32:31. Jackie Pribyl of Stillwater, Minn. took first in the women's 16-mile race, finishing in 1:20:11.3.
All results can be found at chaindrive.org.
Michael H. Babcock can be reached at mbabcock@mininggazette.com
