Island Cup Races, social events, trail days and more.
While 2009 may still be a month away from completion, we have already been working hard on the 2010 Vancouver Island Mountain Bike Race Series. Race Calendar, insurance updates and series planning has been underway. We hope to have the calendar ready for you within the next few weeks!
Stay tuned for an updated 2010 website and all the info you need for racing on the Island!
United Riders of Cumberland or UROC is a local Cycling BC affiliated mountain bike riding and racing group in Cumberland, BC. Host of events such as Island Cup XC and DH races, the Twelve Hours of Cumberland, weekly group rides for both the guys and gals, and other mountain biking events, they are always interested in new members for the club. Come join the fun.
Cycling BC Insurance
As a club who participates in the Island Cup Race Series we are affiliated with Cycling BC. Registration and membership can be made through www.cyclingbc.net
Perk Package
10% off at Dodge City Cycles, Trail Bicycles, Mountain City Cycle, Riding Fool Hostel, Simon’s Cycle, 0 water bottle, tube, insured group rides, UROC sticker, excellent events, discount on custom cycling orthotics at Cumberland Chiropractic, free beginner entry for 1st race hosted by UROC and bike fit and suspension set up by Dodge City Cycles.
BC Bike Race is much more than the challenge of the ride…it’s about everything experienced along the way – spectacular scenery, fascinating culture, interesting people, and tantalizing tastes. The stages of BC Bike Race wind through nine beautiful west coast communities, each showcasing unique qualities and elements that make British Columbia a world-class destination for athletes, adventurers and tourists alike.
Day Zero – North Vancouver
The beautiful North Shore is the starting point for your epic journey in BC Bike Race 2010. Here you will complete the registration process and then experience the BCBR Prologue.
The Prologue is Tour de France style: a fun 20-30 minute rally on amazing North Shore singletrack to ease your nerves and get you in the groove. No mass start, and nothing crazy technical…just a chance to open up your legs and dial into the experience that lies ahead!
The warm community of Lynn Valley in North Vancouver is your host at the end of Day One.
Stage One – Nanaimo – Parksville
We’ll leave beautiful Lynn Valley in North Vancouver, to head for Horseshoe Bay where you’ll experiene your first ferry ride of the race – to the historic and picturesque city of Nanaimo, the gateway to Vancouver Island.
From Nanaimo, you’ll make your way through some incredible singletrack and finish just metres from the ocean in the beautiful seaside village of Parksville. Boasting one of Canada’s finest climates, Parksville is an outdoor enthusiast’s delight – beaches, lakes and mountain bike trails abound. With six provincial parks within 30 minutes drive, Parksville is a favourite destination!
Stage Two – Cumberland
From Parksville we’ll relocate to the Comox Valley, the recreational capital of Vancouver Island.
Here you’ll find diverse terrain including rich forests, rolling foothills, raging rivers, and beautiful pacific beaches. And, an amazing network of inspiring single track trails awaits you. The sister cities of Comox and Courtenay are nestled in the valley, along with Cumberland. As arts and culture thrive in this region, there is every opportunity to stimulate your senses with gourmet food, creative crafts, and music, museums, theatre and festivals. Recharge and revitalize!
Stage Three – Powell River
*NEW FOR 2010*
A ferry ride directly across the Straight of Georgia from Courtenay/Comox brings you to the warm, friendly community of Powell River on the Upper Sunshine Coast.
Accessible only by sea or air, BC’s spectacular Sunshine Coast is an outdoor enthusiast’s delight. Experience the creations of local artisans and unique heritage of First Nations peoples, soak up the spectacular scenery and bask in the mildest climate in Canada.
Your day’s adventure both starts and finishes in Powell River and we are stoked to introduce these incredible trails to you!
Stage Four – Earls Cove – Sechelt
Your first 30kms from Powell River to the ferry will be on buses. Kick back and enjoy the scenery then we’ll get you to the ferry crossing to Earl’s Cove. Then it’s race time, right outta the ferry terminal, with roughly 60km of road and trail which bring you to the community of Sechelt, your Stage Four host, teeming with arts and culture.
Stage Five – Sechelt – Langdale Ferry
Wake up to some of the most polished, elaborate singletrack trail networks on the coast! Pass through beautiful Roberts Creek as you ride from Sechelt to Gibsons and on to the Langdale Ferry Terminal.
The seaside village of Gibsons lies southeast of Sechelt and is home to a delightful, bustling harbour. Much like its Sunshine Coast siblings, Gibsons has the best of west coast scenery, with sweeping sea-to-summit views. Explore the working harbour, wander through the village, and discover the restaurants and artist studios.
Depending on your finish time in Langdale, you’ll be on one of three ferry sailings to Horseshoe Bay. Regardless of which ferry you catch, you will enjoy a bus ride from Horseshoe Bay up the famous Sea-to-Sky Highway to Squamish, the recreation capital of BC, and your rest stop for the next two nights.
Stage Six – The Best of Squamish
Situated at the head of Howe Sound and surrounded by mountains, scenic Squamish is quickly gaining the reputation as Canada’s Outdoor Playground. Hikers, climbers, paddlers, bikers and surfers galore flock to Squamish for its vast array of activities. This stage starts and finishes in this beautiful community and offers up the best trails of two legendary singletrack races combined – the Test of Metal and Gear Jammer. This one will not disappoint!!!
Stage Seven – Whistler – All Classic Singletrack
We’re making a few changes to the Whistler course for 2010, but rest assured it will be an incredible journey through some of Whistler’s first and original singletrack trails. This final day, your victory lap, will reflect a parade of awesome singletrack that is he hidden gem of Whistler!
A world-renowned destination for first-class skiing and mountain biking, Whistler Village is tucked at the base of both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Amazing restaurants and quaint shops tempt you when you’re not taking advantage of the spectacular terrain in the area. What a finish to 7 incredible days!
*Race route subject to change
To register and find out more check out www.bcbikerace.com
The United Riders of Cumberland present the Vancouver Island Premier of NWD 10 “Dust & Bones”
Location: Riding Fool Hostel, Cumberland BC
Date: Thursday Oct 15th
Time: All ages – Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7:00pm 19+ Doors open at 8:30pm, show starts at 9:00pm
Tickets: All ages $5 19+ $10
NWD 10 “Dust & Bones” is the final chapter in the epic saga known as New World Disorder. Shot in high definition with RED cameras you’ ll witness the ultimate throw down segment by Darren Berrecloth, unbelievable back flip combinations from Greg Watts and the new school styles of Graham Agassiz. Follow the Clump, Stumps and Jumps Tour as they jam the west coast and entertain a Giants baseball game from the Hell Barge in San Francisco Bay. Watch Paul Basagoitia slay his personal playground in Nevada, Gee Atherton “keep it lit” through the forests of Italy and Aaron Chase with Adam Hauck and friends session Highland MTB park in New Hampshire. Pile in the rest of the top freeriders, dirt jumpers and slopestylers and this world class film will have you reeling.
Not sure where to ride? Looking for some new riding partners? Check out some of the local riding groups heading out on our local trails each week. Check with the hosting organization regarding requirements for participation.
Looking for a ride on other days? Want some help finding trails suited to your skill level? Why not check out the Guided Mountain Bike Tours with Island Mountain Rides.
Also don’t forget some of our local events including Lucky Thursday’s at Mount Washington Alpine Resort throughout August.
Canadian Geoff Kabush (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) and Czech Katerina Nash (Luna) won Sunday’s short-track races at the U.S. Cup/PROXCT event at Mt. Snow, Vermont.
Kabush’s win — following victories in Saturday’s cross-country and last week’s World Cup at Bromont, Quebec — confirmed his wave of good form, which he’s hoping to ride into the world championships in Australia next month.
Nash’s win also revealed her recent good form, which she was unable to turn into a victory on Saturday after flatting while leading the cross-country.
Sunday short-track races have become something like consolation races at national series weekends. There is at least a hair less prestige associated with winning a short track, rather than a cross-country, and a more relaxed atmosphere on the start line reflects that.
But while there is perhaps less professional stress, there is often more personal pressure. There are always a few riders — OK, everyone except Saturday’s winner — determined to redeem their weekend. And Saturday’s victor is set on showing that win was no fluke.
What this all leads to is the argument that Sunday short tracks are often the best races of the weekend — all-out painfest throwdowns, like a Sunday hammer session between buddies with a few grudges to work out, all held in full public view.
Nash was the first off the line and rode aggressively the first few laps as the women’s field shook down to a core group of five: Nash and teammates Catharine Pendrel and Georgia Gould (in her new short track national champion kit) and their Subaru-Gary Fisher rivals, Willow Koerber and Heather Irmiger.
Vermont local Lea Davison, cheered on by a raucous cadre of girls from her Littlebellas youth program, fought her way onto the back of the elite group, but then crashed on a rutty right-hander. She got up slowly, bleeding from her arm, and said later she only continued because of her cheering section.
Luna had a three-to-two advantage in the group, and Nash and Pendrel attacked several times, forcing Koeber and Irmiger to chase. Pendrel threw down a big attack just after the finish line on the seventh lap, about 15 minutes into the 20-minutes-plus-two-laps race.
“It happened so fast I’m not sure what happened,” said Pendrel, who flatted and bent her wheel and walked away disappointed.
Gould had got dropped on the accelerations so the remaining lead group became a two-to-one affair, with Subaru-Gary Fisher now holding the advantage.
But Nash didn’t give the pair any time to use their numbers, accelerating away on the climb and opening a small gap with three laps to go.
Koerber chased alone and then was joined by Irmiger. The pair worked together to close to within a bike length or two at the top of the final climb, but Nash managed to get over the top before them and held her lead to the finish.
The next five places were identical to those places in Saturday’s cross-country: Koerber was second, followed by Irmiger, Gould, Mary McConneloug (Seven-Kenda) and Davison.
In the race, Kabush watched a series of other riders have their lap or two of pain (and glory) relying on his good form to keep within striking distance. Then with a lap and a half to go, the man with the trademark sideburns entered the pain zone himself and no one could stay near.
Twelve minutes into the race, Wells bridged up to Taberlay, who had attacked alone a lap earlier and was enjoying his lap or two in the pain cave.
Wells sat on the Australian rider for a lap and then took off on his own. He may have timed his effort a bit too early, however, because Kabush suddenly bridged to Wells with two laps to go, rode with him for a bit and then dropped the Coloradan on the last climb of the day, taking the win by about five seconds.
Behind, Craig had found new life and blasted by a handful of riders in the last three laps to take third.
Craig later explained that his legs were sore at the start from doing the Super D race earlier in the day, but he started to feel better late in the race (Craig finished second in the Super D, behind teammate Carl Decker).
• Wells and Irmiger now lead the series short track competition. Check www.singletrack.com this week for more Mount Snow galleries, an interview with Lea Davison and a report on the Mount Snow Mountain Bike Festival, which was held concurrent with the races.
Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain’s Geoff Kabush, formerly of Courtenay, got the win of his career Sunday winning the Bromont, Quebec World Cup mountain bike race in a stacked field.
Kabush, who is currently tied for the most U.S. series cup wins of all time and has had 8 previous World Cup podium finishes, but until now had never stood at the top of the World Cup podium.
The men’s race began under worse conditions than the women, if that was possible, with officials reducing the distance by one lap to six. T
he rain and the 50-plus women racers had churned up the mud, making the climb an even harder grind than usual. The mud also began to impact equipment, with most riders experiencing brake failure at some point in the race as brake pads wore away in the gritty mud.
Ralph Näf (Multivan Merida) got off to his usual fast start, and was quickly joined by Absalon, with Kabush steadily making his way up towards the front.
Näf dropped back from Absalon on lap two, to be passed by Kabush, who joined the Olympic champion near the top of the climb, just before Absalon broke his chain, putting him out of contention as he lost nearly 40 places before rejoining the race.
Kabush was now alone at the front, with Näf dropping back to a chase group with his team mate Jose Hermida, Florian Vogel (Scott-Swisspower) and Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower). Kabush would continue to power away from the chasers to finish over 90 seconds in front of Hermida, with Näf holding on for third ahead of Vogel and Lukas Flückiger (Trek World Team).
Both Todd Wells (Specialized Factory Team) in ninth and Adam Craig (Giant) in tenth moved up in the latter half of the race.
“To win here, in my own country, it still hasn’t sunk in,” said Kabush. “I knew I was riding well, after finishing third a week earlier, and this course really suited me, so I was confident that I could go head to head with Julien. It’s too bad that he broke his chain, because I am still confident that I could have ridden against him.
“I didn’t have any of the mechanical problems the other riders were having, so I really have to thank my team and the mechanics. I went with the hardtail and the mud tires, and I was able to ride everything with no problems. This win is the biggest of my career, because with Julien so strong, for anyone to win a World Cup is very hard. This just shows that it can be done.”
For more information, please visit www.bikes.com and www.maxxis.com
The final race in the Coast Mountain Sports Mind Over Mountain Adventure Racing Series (MOMAR) takes place in Cumberland on Saturday, September 26th, 2009. Racers from across North America, along with a strong contigent from the Comox Valley, will be on the start line for the 29th edition of the MOMAR.
Over 300 adventure athletes will navigate their way through a series of checkpoints by way of kayak, mountain bike, or on foot. The race is open to solo racers, teams of two, or teams of four with two course options: a 50km ‘enduro’ or a 30km ‘sport’ course.
Racers, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters will celebrate their accomplishments at the infamous MOMAR After Party at Mt. Washtington Resort. The banquet features a first rate buffet dinner, lively awards ceremony, and dancing well into the night. We’ll be giving away a trip to Hawaii, a custom bike frame build from Berg Bikes, a mega prize package from Coast Mountain Sports, plus tons of other great prizes from our sponsors.
To register, please go to www.mindovermountain.com/momar. This race sells out every year. Volunteers are also needed.
Hope to see you there,
Bryan Tasaka
Race Director
By Gary Kingston, Vancouver SunJune 26, 2009 9:25 AMIn cycling’s venerable B.C. Superweek, which will be slightly less super this year with no Tour de Gastown, the road racing through Delta and White Rock goes by such classic terms as prologue, criterium and hill climb.
But before some of North America’s best pavement scorchers take to the streets July 10-19, a whole other group of elite cyclists will be attacking some of B.C.’s most notoriously gnarly mountain bike trails.
They’ll be trying to stay upright on such handle-bar rattling tracks as Screamin Demon, Severed, Buggered Pig, Black Hole and Powerhouse Plunge.
It’s called simply B.C. Bike Race, a seven-day mountain bike stage race that starts Sunday on the North Shore and includes stages on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast before winding up in Whistler.
B.C. Bike Race is in just its third year, but has quickly become one of the most well-regarded mountain bike stage races in the world, rivalling the Cape Epic in South Africa and the Trans Alps in Europe.
Close to 400 riders, from pros to recreational enthusiasts, have ponied up the $2,250 entry fee, which covers meals created by local caterers in each community, base camp tenting, B.C. Ferries transfers, secure bike storage, daily awards and more.
“It’s the only race in the world where ferry crossings are part of the event,” said media manager Dave Howells.
About 25 to 30 pro riders are expected to take part. While a solo division has been added this year, most of the pros will be riding as two-person teams.
Kris Sneddon of Sechelt, who races in North America for Team Kona, won the men’s event last year with Kona teammate Barry Wicks, an Oregon native.
“A lot of people want to come up and do it, just want to experience that sort of epicness,” said Sneddon. “[Wicks] had raced World Cups on Grouse, but he’d never been to Vancouver Island. Everywhere we went, he was pretty much blown away.”
The first two years, the race, also billed as ‘The Ultimate Single Track Experience,’ began on Vancouver Island. This year, for the first time, a stage will be held on the North Shore trails with a 30-kilometre trek along the trails of Mt. Seymour, Mt. Fromme and into the Lynn Valley.
“Guys are going to go crazy with the stuff on the North Shore,” said Sneddon. “They’ll be blown away how technical it is. I haven’t ridden [Stage 3] Cumberland, but I got a chance to go over this year’s Nanaimo stage and that blew me away. It’s fast and flowy and not ridiculously steep. It’s going to be super fun.”
Catharine Pendrel of Kamloops, who finished fourth at the Beijing Olympics, is making her B.C. Bike Race debut this year, partnering with Czech Olympian and Team Luna teammate Katrina Nash.
“Being a post-Olympic year, people are wanting to try something new. I know a lot of the trails, they’re just so amazing and this is something I really wanted to do.”
Pendrel is competing even though the event concludes just a week before the mountain bike nationals in Quebec, which are followed by two World Cup stops in that province.
“It’s a little closer to nationals than is ideal and not having done one of these before, I don’t know if my legs will feel totally flat or okay. It’s going to make it hard to be at 100 per cent at nationals, but hopefully for three weeks later at the World Cup, I’ll be in incredible shape.”
As a team of two, Pendrel and Nash have to remain within two minutes of each other during each stage.
“Some days one of you will be feeling stronger than the other and I’m sure that will reverse, so a lot of it is helping each other with pacing, giving each other a push.”
And trying to stay civil.
“Last year, a couple of teams had little arguments and break downs in the race,” said Sneddon. “It was sort of comical watching it happen. ‘Geez guys, get along.'”
gkingston@vancouversun.com