July 10/98 9:24 am - Whistler Update, Yet Another Injury!

Posted by Editor on 07/10/98
 

Race, Ride or Relax ˆ Whistler Bike Festival has got it all!

Whistler, BC: Organizers of the upcoming Whistler International Classic Mountain Bike Festival on July 22-26th are getting geared up for a jam packed week of cycling and celebrations. Between 800 and 1000 riders are expected to participate in the event. The Festival schedule offers activities for a wide range of cycling enthusiasts, from the recreational biker to the hard core racer, kid‚s events and plenty of celebrations.

The week kicks off on Wednesday, July 22 with Delta‚s Great Canadian Ride, a fundraiser for the Canadian Olympic Association. On Thursday, July 23 Fanatyk Co. will host the weekly Loonie Race on the newly designed Dual Course. On Friday, July 24, Whistler Village will welcome the return of the Okanagan Spring Fat Tire Criterium. Pro and expert racers will take to the streets of Whistler Village and race around the same course that was used for the Fat Tire Criterium in Whistler a couple of years ago. "It‚s fast, fun and spectator friendly ", Claire Bonin of TEAM Management explains.

On Saturday, July 25 Cross-Country riders will see the action on an improved course, with a longer lap distance, which reduces the overall amount of climbing for the race. Following the Cross-Country, the action moves to the Roach Dual Qualifiers with an exciting new format which features a two lane course which eventually narrows into one lane. Both these events will be held at the base of Whistler Mountain in the Village.

Sunday, July 26 sees the downhillers take to the slopes of Blackcomb. New features, such as burms and jumps will line the course to increase the technical difficulty. The Roach Dual finals will follow immediately after the downhill event. Non-race types can take in the Recreational Valley Tour on Sunday morning and get a guided ride around some of Whistler‚s best trails. The Tour is open to all abilities and ages. The ever-popular Kid‚s Race is also scheduled for the last day of this soon to be legendary Festival. In addition to all the structured events, local bike shops will be putting forth their best creative ideas and will present new twists on such events as the wheelie contest, biggest skid contest, obstacle course and rumors have it "a bike joust". These events will be full of laughs to enter or watch!

The Whistler International Classic is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), The Canadian Cycling Association (CCA), the USCF/NORBA and Cycling BC. The event will allow riders to gain valuable international points in the cross country event as part of the National Team selection process for the World Championships in Mont-Ste-Anne, QC in September. The international event is one of the two Canadian stops of the American Mountain Bike Challenge Series (AMBC) a US national sanction series.

Organizers are still looking for volunteers to assist with the events. Many positions are available, including course marshalling, registration, security, etc. Please contact the Volunteer Hotline at 604-905-8538 for further information. Riders looking for registration information can contact the race hotline at 604-935-1155 or register in person at Grinders Bike Shop, Whistler Marketplace. You can also go to the website for more information by clicking on the AMBC graphic at the top of the page.


It‚s An Epidemic!

Ian Barnes, of Black Cat Bikes, one of Victorias top Track Racers, was another Canadian to break a collarbone in a fall at the Jan de Fuca Velodrome during Thursday night Track League racing. Thanks to Steve Lund of the CCSD National Cycling Centre for this bit of news.


Coming Up...

This weekend will be very busy: World Cup in Conyers, Georgia; Canada Cup in Mont Tremblant, Québec; end of the Giro Femminile (will Linda overtake Luperini?); and the start of the Tour. We will be bringing you all of the above, so check back regularly.