Over the past 13 years, Dirty Kanza helped to put Emporia on the international map when it comes to endurance sports. Now DK leadership is giving the handlebars to another company.
On KVOE’s 8:05 am newscast Tuesday, co-founder Jim Cummins said DK has been sold and is now part of the Life Time Fitness family.
Cummins told KVOE listeners Life Time reached out last July, shortly after the 2017 DK, and discussions began picking up speed in December. Based out of Minnesota, Cummins says Life Time operates athletic resort destinations and high-profile athletic events nationwide, including the Leadville Trail 100 MTB in Colorado and the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival in Wisconsin. It also offers additional resources and an approach that other potential suitors couldn’t match.
Both Cummins and operations manager LeLan Dains say Life Time is keeping the current DK team on board in its entirety. Dains also says Life Time will protect the integrity of the event and work hard with current DK management to “keep Emporia amazing.” He called this a sweet time for Dirty Kanza.
Developed 13 years ago with one race and less than 40 participants, DK now has several races and draws more than 2,000 riders alone from around the world to Emporia the first weekend in June. DK has also branched out into new race lengths and audiences, including a race for high school students and the grueling DK XL 350-mile race last year, and it has created new endurance events including Race the Chase and Ride the Rails. Dains says that approach will continue under Life Time management.
Other terms of the arrangement are not being released.
6:30 am Tuesday: Dirty Kanza announces major partnership with Minnesota fitness company
Dirty Kanza has a new owner.
On the DK’s social media platforms early Tuesday morning, co-founder Jim Cummins said the family of races has now become part of the Life Time company. The news release did not say whether Life Time has bought Dirty Kanza, but Cummins announced on KVOE’s 8:05 am newscast Tuesday DK has indeed been sold to Life Time. Terms were not announced.
Based out of Minnesota, Life Time operates athletic resort destinations and high-profile athletic events nationwide, including the Leadville Trail 100 MTB in Colorado and the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival in Wisconsin. Cummins also mentioned Life Time’s track record in supporting local communities with “philanthropic and community-building initiatives” as a reason for the move.
Cummins says Life Time will bring added resources to “continue all that is great about Dirty Kanza,” and at the same time he says the event won’t change.
Developed 13 years ago with one race and less than 40 participants, DK now has several races and draws more than 2,000 riders alone to Emporia the first weekend in June.
Cummins and DK operations manager LeLan Dains will be on KVOE’s 8:05 am newscast Tuesday with details.
