Two Kelowna teams hit the podium in the second annual Atmosphere Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race (MOMAR) last weekend beginning and ending at Burnaby’s Barnet Marine Park.
Tammy Howe and Daryl Spencer of Kelowna placed third in the team of two co-ed category for the 30km sport course as well as fifth overall. Team True North of Cameron Worman, Shane Worman, Sandy Magee and Ben Bruch came second in the team of four male category and sixth overall for the 50km enduro course.
The MOMAR course included 10km of kayaking, 6km of trekking, 18km of mountain biking, a 7km orienteering stage through the SFU campus followed by another 6km of biking, then a 3km orienteering run. The 30km Sport Course included all the same elements, just 20km shorter. The exact course route was only known to racers on race day, about an hour before the race began.
Co-ed competitor Daryl Spencer says he found the course to be an ideal balance of scenic beauty, endurance and technique. He felt that the serene paddle around Boulder Island eased them into the race, followed by a “lung straining 500 stair climb up to the summit of Burnaby Mountain” that got their hearts pounding.
“The orienteering and mountain biking that ensued challenged our navigation and bike-handing skills, as the course led us through urban pathways and muddy, rooty single track descents,” said Spencer. “We stayed the course, and with the finish line in sight, our endurance was again tested when our route passed through blackberry and devil’s club thickets and plunged us into Burrard Inlet.”
Howe says she appreciated the race was designed to create challenges but also provide opportunities for all abilities.
“You had to just laugh and go with it,” she said. “I’m sure the course designer was smiling as we tackled that final stage. I could not stop smiling and laughing – it just kept coming at us.”
Both Howe and Spencer appreciated the enthusiasm of the volunteers, spectators and photographers who remained kind and supportive, even during thunderstorms that brought hail and torrential rain.
“This was so appreciated by the athletes,” said Howe. “Thank you to all who enabled us to enjoy a simply fabulous race.”
The 200 plus racers and volunteers headed to Burnaby from Washington State, Oregon and all over B.C.
The final MOMAR event of the year returns to the historic mining town of Cumberland on Sept. 22.
For more information on the MOMAR series, visit www.mindovermountain.com.
