It was clear sailing for the Stormrider Race Series mountain bike event held last weekend in the South Cariboo.
The event was hosted jointly by the Hun City Mountain Bike Club and the Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium in sunny and warm conditions. Day 1 (Sept. 22) saw the cross-country races held on the 108 Trail Network, with the start and end at The Hills Health Ranch.
Riders completed a 14-kilometre loop, which followed a fast and flowing single-track course. Registration for that was low at 11, but according to Steve Law, one of the key organizers, it was to be expected.
“You don’t get the younger riders entering that one. The demographic for cross-country is typically 40-plus [years]. The kids are more interested in the fast and furious downhill.”
First place in Men’s Elite went to Mike Winkel and the winner in the Men’s Recreation race was Peter Swann of 100 Mile House.
Melissa Johnston of 100 Mile House won the Women’s Elite event and Pauline Robinson took the Women’s Recreation race.
Downhill racing on Sept. 23 took place on the Stormrider Downhill course at the 99 Mile Trail Network with 24 riders tackling a three-kilometre course.
Landon Pinette took first place in the Men’s Elite class and 100 Mile House rider Adrian Angus finished fourth.
In the Men’s Recreation event, it was Sean O’Flaherty in first place, and in Junior Men’s, Mason Seaward was the winner.
The Women’s Elite category win went to Johnston and the Women’s Junior winner was Alexandra Hamm.
In the Women’s Recreation event, Karen Bernardy was the winner and Jodie Saville of 100 Mile House was second.
The Cariboo class for last-minute registrants saw Renato Klacer take the win. Local racers included Connor Runge in third place, Jock Saville in fourth, Peter Swann in fifth, Nigel Swann in eighth and Nelson Swann in ninth.
Following the downhill race, competitors were invited to a barbecue prepared by the Rotary Club of 100 Mile House in the skills park at the bottom of the course.
Law says he got a lot of good feedback about the races.
“People say they will come back again and bring friends. I’m really excited about next year. We have a bunch of different things to try.”
He adds they would like to see more of the masses compete next year and assures the series is not just for elite riders.
“The downhill course is a bit more of a gentler course and so is the cross-country. It’s easier and less technical than a lot of other ones. Part of our goal is to promote mountain biking and the earlier we get kids involved, the better.”
