Day Two of the Life Time Sea Otter Classic: A Record-Breaking Gravel Race and Community Events

April 12, 2025

The amateur Gravel Race sees record numbers of participants; Panel talks, athlete signings and creative activations bring the festival atmosphere to life

Monterey, CA /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Thousands of cycling fans returned to the Laguna Seca Recreation Area for day two of the Life Time Sea Otter Classic presented by Continental, where energy ran high across race courses, expo booths, and community events. Here’s a rundown of some of the day’s action.

The Gravel Race saw record numbers of amateur riders challenge themselves on epic Monterey terrain 

Following an action-packed Life Time Grand Prix on Thursday, today’s Gravel Race gave amateur cyclists the chance to take on Monterey’s rugged terrain in one of the show’s most popular events. Riders chose from three distance options—30, 60, or 90 miles—each featuring more than 3,500 feet of climbing per 30-mile loop. Whether testing endurance or just getting a feel for gravel riding, the race delivered a true Life Time Sea Otter Classic experience for riders of all backgrounds.

Record participation saw over 700 riders, which is 35% up on last year’s entries. View the results here.

Beginner, amateur & para riders lit up the Dual Slalom track

A Life Time Sea Otter Classic fan-favorite, the Dual Slalom presented by Fox Racing & Pinkbike, kicked off today for beginner, intermediate and para racers. Competitors battled it out side-by-side down technical tracks, testing their skills against rollers, berms and flat corners designed by Kyle Strait of Strait Acres: one of the best slalom riders and builders in the world. See the results here.

The Elites are ready to fight it out on the Dual Slalom tracks early tomorrow evening, to bring the curtain down on a packed day of racing events on Saturday.

Liv Cycling Panel Talk explores the future of women’s cycling

In the afternoon, Liv Cycling hosted “Betting on Better – Building Our Own Future in Women’s Cycling”, a thought-provoking panel talk. Moderated by Rachael Burnside (Uplift & SHIFT Active Media), the session featured industry leaders Anne-Marije Rook (Cycling Weekly), Michelle Duffy (Life Time Events), and Cassondra Spring (Liv).

The panel offered honest insights and actionable strategies for advancing equity and inclusion in cycling. A packed audience engaged in a lively Q&A, leaving with new perspectives on how to create a more welcoming and empowering future for women in the sport.

Life Time Grand Prix athletes connect with fans

Top athletes from the Life Time Grand Prix took to the awards stage for a fan meet-and-greet and Q&A session. Riders including Alexey Vermeulen, Hannah Otto, Matthew Beers and Paige Onweller signed autographs, shared racing insights, and offered their top tips for tackling tough courses. The event gave supporters the chance to engage directly with some of the sport’s standout talents in a relaxed and interactive setting.

SMITH Optics celebrates 60 years with ice cream and custom tees

To mark its 60th anniversary, SMITH Optics hosted a crowd-pleasing celebration at its booth, serving up free ice cream and live t-shirt printing. Fans lined up for custom linocut designs created by gravel athlete Anna Yamauchi, the second-highest ranked Wild Card rider in Thursday’s Life Time Grand Prix.

For more information including opening times, parking, travel, accommodation and camping options, visit seaotterclassic.com.

About Life Time Sea Otter Classic presented by Continental
Known as the “World’s Premier Cycling Festival,” the Life Time Sea Otter Classic presented by Continental is a four-day celebration of cycling featuring more than 1,000 brands, 6,000 athletes, 70,000 attendees and almost 6,500 campers. The 35th annual edition takes place April 10-13, 2025, at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monteray, California. For more information visit www.seaotterclassic.com.

About Life Time
Life Time (NYSE: LTH) empowers people to live healthy, happy lives through its portfolio of 180 athletic country clubs across the United States and Canada, the complimentary, comprehensive Life Time app and nearly 30 of the most iconic athletic events in the country. The health and wellness pioneer uniquely serves people 90 days to 90+ years old through its healthy living, healthy aging, healthy entertainment communities and ecosystem, along with a range of healthy way of life programs and information, and the most trusted LTH nutritional supplements and products. Life Time was recently certified as a Great Place to Work®, reinforcing its commitment to fostering an exceptional workplace culture on behalf of its more than 42,000 dedicated team members.