From July 19th to the 22nd, Canada’s best downhill and cross-country mountain bike racers will be visiting beautiful Vancouver Island. Mount Washington Alpine Resort, home of the Island’s premiere mountain bike park, plays host to the 2007 Tim Hortons National Mountain Bike Championships.
“One of our goals over the last couple of years has been to host the National Championships,†explains Mike Manara, Mount Washington’s Race Director. “We’ve hosted Canada Cup and BC Provincial races in previous years but this will be our biggest race to date. We’re honoured to be staging this year’s National Championships.â€
Over 400 riders from across Canada are expected to compete in the four day competition. Racers scheduled to compete in this year’s championships include local riding sensations Kiara Bisaro (2006 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist) and Geoff Kabush (currently 3rd in World UCI MTB rankings), both of Courtenay, BC. Other Islanders competing at this year’s National Championships include Max Plaxton and Seamus McGrath. Both riders are off to an unbelievable start this season with impressive placings at early season international events.
The Monster Mile, Mount Washington’s notorious downhill course, will be ready to test the skills of Canada’s fastest downhill racers at the Nationals in July. But, Downhill racers aren’t the only athletes being challenged by the mountain; cross-country racers will have to negotiate Mount Washington’s physically demanding XC loop and overcome that all-too-familiar leg burn.
Mount Washington urges the Vancouver Island community to get out and cheer on both national and local racers. If you would like to contribute some of your time to the event, volunteering is the perfect way to get close to the action. People are needed for marshalling, information, registration, plus a host of other key positions. If you’re interested, email volunteers@mountwashington.ca for more details.
For more information and registration information, visit the mountain’s Canada Cup website at www.mountwashington.ca/canadacup.
Mount Washington Alpine Resort opens for summer sightseeing on June 22, 2007 and mountain biking by June 30th (trail conditions permitting). The Resort is located 30 minutes above The Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. WestJet, Air Canada, Central Mountain Air and Pacific Coastal Airlines service the Comox Valley Airport (YQQ). For accommodation and package information, call Mount Washington Alpine Resort at 1-888-231-1499 toll free or locally at 338-1386. Surf to www.mountwashington.ca for additional information including the live mountain cam.
Date:Wed May 2, 2007
Source: Mount Washington
