September 2008 - Posts

• Sleemans Year Ender Bender DH

  Sept 20th, 2-4pm What a great way to finish off another epic summer of riding!  DH racing, refreshing beverages, and some end of season shwag from our great bike park sponsors.  Come one, come all, this is the year ender bender! Register at the ticket kiosk from 1:30pm to 2pm, then head out and rip it up at the last race if the season.  We'll see you at the year-end BBQ after the race! Bike Park Passholder race price is $10, non-passholders race for $15.  All competitors get the race, a post-race bevy, and BBQ.  Good times! For more information contact Mount Washington Alpine Resort 250-338-1386 www.mountwashington.ca Posted Sep 09 2008, 09:00 PM by Skifreak with no comments Filed under: Mount Washington, Downhill Racing

• Cumberland host for big adventure race

  The Schick Xtreme3 Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race (MOMAR) series is set to end its ninth season with its return to Cumberland on September 27, 2008. The course is planned to be approximately 40 km long, including one kayak stage, two biking stages, three trekking/trail running stages, and a true orienteering stage. "We come back to Cumberland year after year because of the incredible turn-out, community support and the spectacular landscape", said Race Director and course designer Bryan Tasaka. "For our 8th consecutive year here we have completely redesigned the course. We'll be using terrain never seen before in a MOMAR, including some of the best single-track BC has to offer." Over 240 participants are already registered, including racers from Arizona, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, the Yukon and all over BC. Local athlete, Comox resident Sarah Seads, will be returning to defend her impressive, long run at the top for solo female racers. Last year's overall winners, Victoria's Todd Nowack and Gary Robbins of Squamish, will also be back to defend their spot at the top. The MOMAR post-race festivities will be held at Mount Washington Alpine Resort. The event is Hawaiian-themed in honor of the $14,000 in prizes to be given out, which includes a trip for two to Hawaii. Other great prizes include a team entry for the 2009 BC Bike Race, a custom bike frame from Berg Bikes, Helly Hansen gear, Keen footwear, Frontrunners gift certificates and more. Adventure racing is a relatively new sport that is quickly gaining popularity worldwide. The Schick Xtreme3 Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race Series (MOMAR), one of Canada's most popular adventure race series, is a one-day event that challenges the bodies and minds of racers over 40-45km of rugged and visually stunning West Coast terrain. It features the multi-sport disciplines of mountain biking, trail running, orienteering, kayaking and mystery events. Competitors race solo, or in teams of two or four. For more information go to http://www.mindovermountain.com/momar/, e-mail info@mindovermountain.com or call 1.866.912.3331. Posted Sep 09 2008, 08:54 PM by Skifreak with no comments Filed under: Cycling Events, Cumberland Trails, MOMAR, Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race Series

• Local rider wins juniors at provincial downhill race

  Marcel Tetrault - Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, September 09, 2008 A local 18-year-old mountain biker topped the juniors at this year's Provincial Downhill Mountain Bike Championships, held at Mount Washington at the end of August. Simon Garstin completed the two-kilometre course, which over its length drops about 1,400 vertical feet, in three minutes and 43 seconds. That fastest time of the day, by a senior elite rider, was just one second ahead of Garstin's time. "They're the fastest in B.C.," said Garstin. "I was a second off from the first place in pro. I wanted to get the fastest -- I knew I could, but I made a few mistakes. "I was pretty familiar with the course because I ride up there quite a lot -- it's kind of my local course. I've been able to analyze it and see where I can go faster." The end of August saw a lot of rainfall, making a technical course even trickier. "It was muddy," said Garstin. "The first half of the course turned into kind of like a river in spots. There are a lot of rocks and roots on the course. So there was a thin layer of mud on top of all that -- it's quite slippery. It's easier to make mistakes when it's like that. "Mount Washington did a good job on the course. I look forward to next year." The race ends Garstin's season. Next year he will compete with the top riders in the senior elite division. "What I'll be doing now is just preparing for next year, trying to get sponsors and just getting everything ready so that, come spring time, things are in place to just train and race," he said. "I'll be training all winter." Garstin wanted to thank his sponsors: Mountain City Cycles, Giant Bicycles, Gary Murdoch Chartered Accountant, Eddy Betinol Physio, Canadian Tire, Brian Mclean Chevrolet, Theme Gardens Landscaping, River Meadow Farms, Rotary Club Of Cumberland, VIMSS, Bank Of Montreal and Ascent Coaching. mtetrault@comoxvalleyecho.com Posted Sep 09 2008, 08:47 PM by Skifreak with no comments Filed under: BC Cup Races, Cycling Events, Simon Garstin