The Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (KHMR) is preparing for the upcoming 2011 mountain bike race season and is pleased to be presenting the return of the Western Open BC Cup and Alberta Downhill event.
KHMR and SE Racing will be scheduling the Western Open for August 6 and 7.
Last summer, KHMR hosted the Western Open and set a precedent for future circuit downhill races.
The event last year saw the event grow to over 240 racers and this year the racing should only improve due to the re-worked Pioneer Race Course which provides challenges to experienced racers and thrilled spectators.
Moving with the momentum of last year’s unique event, the 2011 race will embody similar course elements with the addition of further resort animation and secondary celebration events in the plaza.
KHMR events team is focused on supporting the progression and development of downhill bike races and is confident these races will be bigger and better than the great success we delivered in 2010 according to organizers of the event.
This will be a dual sanctioned event weekend with both BC and Alberta racers going for important series points on the same weekend.
This year the resort is preparing for more than 300 racers coming to take part in the weekend of events.
Anyone interested in registering can do so at http://reg.ccnbikes.com/event/1986 and there will be a late registration fee for all registrations on or after August 1 2011.
On site registration will be open Friday night and Saturday afternoon and racers package pick up only on Sunday August 7.
There will be no race day registration.
The Pioneer Race course was first developed for racing in 2002 and has evolved into one of the most popular trails in the Kicking Horse Bike Park.
Last summer this free ride trail was re-tuned for racing and extended to have a finish line in the plaza at Kicking Horse.
The track proved to be one of the longest and most technically demanding courses in the west.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is located high in the Dogtooth Range of the Purcell Mountains, 14 km above Golden, British Columbia.
Surrounded by towering peaks of two other mountain ranges – the Rockies and Selkirks – it is also close to six of Canada’s most spectacular National Parks: Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, Glacier, and Mt. Revelstoke.
The resort is just 1.5 hours west of Banff (145 kilometers) and 2.5 hours west of Calgary (270 Kilometers) on the Trans-Canada highway.
The event will have Brett Tippie on board to be the weekend announcer/host and Kirt and Lindsey Voreis will be on hand with team All Ride.
Kirt will be bringing a fleet of some of Specialized best bikes for you to try and Lindsey will be holding a ladies only skills clinic on the Saturday.
The winning overall time from 2009 was 3:40:43 on this 2,000ft course.
The winning overall time from 2010 in the pouring rain and even some snow 4:03:86 .
Proceeds from the race will go to the Love for Lola fund, which will assist with Stephen Exley’s little girl’s rehabilitation.
Lola was a healthy, active two year old who was stricken with a rare virus, which attacked her brain, leaving her with lifelong disabilities.
She has overcome a great deal of adversity in the past two years, but she still has a long way to go.
With help we hope to be able to decrease her seizures and once again get her to speak.
Her story is posted at http://www.loveforlola.com/ and http://www.ourloveforlola.blogspot.com/.
Her recovery from meningitis and encephalitis is nothing short of miraculous, and many people follow her story around the globe.
To date, donations to Lola’s fund have provided her the opportunity to partake in music therapy, purchase various physiotherapy tools, and improve her quality life.
