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