Seventeen people raced down the famous Huckin’ Eh Trail in the 20th annual McBike downhill race last weekend.
Justin Tarasoff finished first place in the 12 and under category in 5:12.
Heiko Krause finished the 13-16 age category in 4:34 and the chainless under-19 in 4:39.
Oren MacDougall finished first in the masters, while Logan Malkow finished the men’s open in 3:57 and came first in the chainless over 19.
Peter Krause, event organizer, said the race caters to people of all ages.
“It’s not really super aggressive terrain and it’s not super steep, that way 10- or 12 year-olds can also ride it,” said Krause. “It’s fast and flowy, a little bit of burns, a couple of good air jumps.”
The race usually draws about 35 riders with people from Kitimat, Terrace and Burns Lake.
However, this year, only half of the usual number of riders signed up.
Krause said many of their out of town racers weren’t able to make it, likely due to the fact that there was an event in Terrace.
Tashi Newman was the only one to race in the open women’s category this year.
“I love biking and I want to support any race I can,” said Newman who rides in the race every year.
“The trail is in perfect shape and it’s fast. It’s good for any level.”
Nine-year-old Poppy Sakals was the only girl to race in the girls’ 12 and under category.
“It was good. I did it with my family,” said Sakals, adding that this was the first time she participated in the race.
In previous years, the downhill race happened on the Back Door Trail on Hudson Bay Mountain.
They switched trails roughly four or five years ago.
