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Photos: Climbing the hill in Anamosa

Motorcycle riders from across the United States were in Anamosa Sunday for the 75th annual hill climb competition

Elizabeth WoodElizabeth Wood

Sep. 7, 2025 5:49 pm

Mike Copetko, of Cuba City, Wisconsin, rides up the hill for the open class during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Copetko said he’s been competing in motorcycle events since he was 5 years old, because he enjoyed competing with his dad and brother. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Mike Copetko, of Cuba City, Wisconsin, rides up the hill for the open class during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Copetko said he’s been competing in motorcycle events since he was 5 years old, because he enjoyed competing with his dad and brother. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Bentley Slaton, 13, of Cedar Rapids, pumps his fist up in the air after making it a little past halfway up the hill during intermission at the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Slaton said he was a little nervous at first, but he popped the clutch and rode up the hill as far as he could. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Bentley Slaton, 13, of Cedar Rapids, pumps his fist up in the air after making it a little past halfway up the hill during intermission at the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Slaton said he was a little nervous at first, but he popped the clutch and rode up the hill as far as he could. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Community members watch as participants attempt to ride up a 160-foot hill during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. The hill climb has seven categories: 600 4 stroke, open, 600, 750, 125-400, vintage and kids. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Community members watch as participants attempt to ride up a 160-foot hill during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. The hill climb has seven categories: 600 4 stroke, open, 600, 750, 125-400, vintage and kids. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Kids race up the hill for a prize during intermission at the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Throughout the year, Anamosa hosts two competitions, on the Sunday after Memorial Day and the Sunday after Labor Day. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Kids race up the hill for a prize during intermission at the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Throughout the year, Anamosa hosts two competitions, on the Sunday after Memorial Day and the Sunday after Labor Day. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Wade Schultz rides up the hill during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Schultz said the first time he raced on the hill was in 1982. “I’ve been racing here my whole life,” Schultz said. “The thing that has changed over the years is that the equipment has gotten better and faster. I would say the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s bikes, they’re nothing like today’s.” (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Wade Schultz rides up the hill during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Schultz said the first time he raced on the hill was in 1982. “I’ve been racing here my whole life,” Schultz said. “The thing that has changed over the years is that the equipment has gotten better and faster. I would say the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s bikes, they’re nothing like today’s.” (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Matt Altfillisch, of Elizabeth, Illinois, grabs a few tools to work on the sprocket of his bike during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Throughout the competition, riders said Anamosa’s hill was unique compared to others in the Midwest because it has a natural terrain compared to man-made hills. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Matt Altfillisch, of Elizabeth, Illinois, grabs a few tools to work on the sprocket of his bike during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Throughout the competition, riders said Anamosa’s hill was unique compared to others in the Midwest because it has a natural terrain compared to man-made hills. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Angela Kopetko (left), of Cuba City, Wisconsin, Ryder Kopetko, 5, and Brynlee Kopetko, 10, cheer on Hadilyn Kopetko, 8, as she attempts to ride up the hill during intermission at the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Angela Kopetko (left), of Cuba City, Wisconsin, Ryder Kopetko, 5, and Brynlee Kopetko, 10, cheer on Hadilyn Kopetko, 8, as she attempts to ride up the hill during intermission at the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Bridget Dowdell (left), of North Liberty, Kish McNish (center), of Des Moines, and Becky Marshall, of Altoona cheer for a rider who made it over the hill during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sundday. Dowdell said she comes to the Anamosa Hill Climb every year with friends because she enjoys watching the riders compete. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Bridget Dowdell (left), of North Liberty, Kish McNish (center), of Des Moines, and Becky Marshall, of Altoona cheer for a rider who made it over the hill during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sundday. Dowdell said she comes to the Anamosa Hill Climb every year with friends because she enjoys watching the riders compete. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Richard Hoschar, of New Mexico, cheers on his son, Skylar, as he attempts to ride up the hill during intermission for the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. During intermission, kids of all ages were able to attempt to ride up an easier section of the hill. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Richard Hoschar, of New Mexico, cheers on his son, Skylar, as he attempts to ride up the hill during intermission for the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. During intermission, kids of all ages were able to attempt to ride up an easier section of the hill. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Austin Kelsey (left), 17, and Logan Ericson (center), 16, help Joe Fawley tie a rope around the handlebars of his bike during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Volunteers rigged the bike up to a vehicle to assist the bike up the 160-foot hill. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Austin Kelsey (left), 17, and Logan Ericson (center), 16, help Joe Fawley tie a rope around the handlebars of his bike during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Volunteers rigged the bike up to a vehicle to assist the bike up the 160-foot hill. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Kalob Blain, of Morley, Michigan, catches some airtime after making it over the top of the 160-foot hill during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Blain said he started racing motorcycles 23 years ago, and this is his fourth year as a professional hillclimber. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Kalob Blain, of Morley, Michigan, catches some airtime after making it over the top of the 160-foot hill during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. Blain said he started racing motorcycles 23 years ago, and this is his fourth year as a professional hillclimber. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Joe Fawley rides up the hill for the 125-400 division during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. This year is the 75th anniversary of the Anamosa Hill Climb. Wade Schultz said his dad, Denny Schultz, has been putting the hill climb on since 1965, but the hill climb has been going on since 1934. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Joe Fawley rides up the hill for the 125-400 division during the Anamosa Hill Climb in Anamosa on Sunday. This year is the 75th anniversary of the Anamosa Hill Climb. Wade Schultz said his dad, Denny Schultz, has been putting the hill climb on since 1965, but the hill climb has been going on since 1934. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

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