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Packed summer calendar for Whistler

Running, biking, ultras, obstacle courses and more in lineup of events
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summer fun Brandon Semenuk flip-whips over the final feature at Crankworx Whistler last summer. The festival will return this year from Aug. 10 to 19. Photo BY Andrew Mitchell

The end of the World Ski and Snowboard Festival typically signifies a switching of gears for the resort, a transition into all of the summer activities that Whistler is becoming known for — mountain biking (both cross-country and downhill varieties), road cycling, triathlon, trail running, road running, paddling, downhill skateboarding, park skateboarding and more.

There's so much to do that it's hard to find a weekend in Sea to Sky that isn't booked for an event — and that list doesn't include all the regular weekly events like trails rides and runs that take place every week.

So get your calendar out and get ready to do some planning.

May

May 26 — NimbyFifty. The second Hell of a Series race takes place in Pemberton a selection of dark blue and black-rated trails. Visit www.nimbyfifty.com.

May 26 — Whistler Kids Triathlon, Adult Try-a-Tri. A short-distance introduction and tune-up triathlon race with a pool swim, bike course and valley trail run. Visit www.whistlertriclub.ca for details.

May 27 — Crud 2 Mud Downhill. This event combines skiing/snowboarding and downhill mountain biking. The course can be raced individually or as a team, with a giant slalom course up top and a downhill bike course at the bottom. Visit www.whistlerbike.com/events/crud/ for details.

May 27 — The 21st annual Whistler Valley Trail Run. Both 5km and 10km course options are available in this annual trail running event in Lost Lake Park. The course is hilly with a mix of gravel trails. Visit www.whistlervalleytrailrun.org for more.

May 27 — Loop the Lakes. Squamish endurance racer Jen Segger is organizing this trail running event, which includes 8km and 15km courses out of Alice Lake Park in Squamish. A kids' 1km race is also available. Visit www.challengebychoice.ca for more.

June

June 2 — Second annual North Face Whistler Half Marathon. This race is sold out for 2012, although there are still spots in the 1km Little Rippers run for kids. Visit www.whistlerhalfmarathon.com.

June 16 — Test of Metal. This 67km mountain bike race has been sold out almost since registration got underway, but there are still lots of ways to get involved as a volunteer or participant in other festival events. Visit www.testofmetal.com.

June 23-24 — Tough Mudder. The Vancouver edition of this obstacle course event takes place over two days at Whistler Olympic Park with 22 challenges over a 16km course. Teamwork is expected for some of the obstacles. Visit www.toughmudder.com/events/vancouver for registration and more details.

June 24 — Comfortably Numb Trail Run. This 25km trail run is one of the best in the corridor with a little gravel at the start and finish and over 23km of mountain bike singletrack in the middle. A must-do for all trail runners. Visit www.runthenorthshore.com for details and registration.

June 30 — Whistler Dragon Boat Festival. After a year's hiatus the Whistler Dragon Boat Festival returns Canada Day weekend with a one-day race on Alta Lake, based out of Rainbow Park. Details at www.watersedgesportperformance.com.

June 30 — Tenderfoot Boogie. This is the second year for this trail race, which starts in Squamish and finishes in Whistler. There are 28km, 50km and 50 Mile (80km) options, and you can run solo or as part of a relay. Visit www.trailwhisperer.ca/Tenderfoot/ for more information.

June 30 to July 7 — BC Bike Race. The fourth edition of this seven-day mountain bike epic starts on Vancouver Island and finishes in Whistler on July 7. It's sold out, but volunteers are still needed. Visit www.bcbikerace.com for details.

July

July 12 to 15 — Whistler Longboard Festival. The event kicks off with something different this year, with a 10-kilometre longboard biathlon "Skate X Shoot" event and 20km Endurance Race at Whistler Olympic Park on July 12. The main event is the downhill race on July 15. For more, visit www.whistlerlongboard.com.

July 15 — 15th Annual Squamish Triathlon. A Triathlon BC sanctioned triathlon event with a twist, as runners follow a mix of gravel and dirt trails rather than the road. Can be raced solo or as part of a team. For details and registration, visit www.squamishtriathlon.org.

July 21 — GearJammer. This Squamish mountain bike race is part of the Hell of a Series, with 45km course of classic singletrack on a 50-plus kilometre course. Visit www.testofmetal.com.

July 21-22 — Whistler Xterra. This off-road triathlon event takes place over two days this year with lots of options; a 10km trail race, full-length duathlon (run-bike-run), a sport duathlon, a championship length race (1,500 metre swim, 30km mountain bike, 8km trail run), a sport distance race (500 metre swim, 15km mountain bike, 5km trail run and even a short kids race (50 metre swim, 3km mountain bike, 1km trail run). Visit www.runthenorthshore.com/events/whistler-xterra-2012/.

July 27-28 — Charlie's Angels. Sanctioned by WORCA, this two-day women's only mountain bike competition includes a Friday night downhill event in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park and a Saturday cross-country race. Registration is underway at www.worca.com.

August

Aug. 2-5 — Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival. Professional loggers sports and lots of activities open to the public. The Squamish Days 10km Run is on Aug. 5 and is the 10th race in the Lower Mainland Road Race Series. As well, there will be a Flashback Mile race to commemorate one of the first runs held in Squamish. Visit www.squamishdays.ca.

Aug. 5-12 — 2012 Canada Nationals Paragliding. Pemberton hosts this unique, incredibly spectator-friendly event, which is a preview for a global event planned for 2013. Visit www.paraglidenationals.com.

Aug. 10-19 — Crankworx. The world's biggest freeride mountain bike festival returns to Whistler with 10 days of competitions and special events — a few of which are invitational though most are open to the public. Visit www.crankworx.com for details.

Aug. 11 — Squamish 50 Mile Trail Race and Relay. A new 50 mile (80km) trail running race with over 80 per cent of the course on singletrack and 3,000 metres of elevation gain from start to finish. Visit www.squamish50.com.

Aug. 18 — Just Another Bike Race. The final event of the Hell of a Series, this mountain bike race is billed as a cross between the length of the Test of Metal and the technical difficulty of the Gear Jammer. Visit www.testofmetal.com.

Aug. 24-26 — the Sinister 3 series, which hosts multi-day mountain bike events in Fernie and Moab, is hosting a three-day event in Whistler this summer. The first day will be based out of the south end of Whistler and follow 36km of trails, day two in 39km and includes west side trails and the Flank, and day three is also close to 40km and features Comfortably Numb. For more, visit www.furious3.com.

Aug. 25 — 5 Peaks Trail Running Series. Back for more, the Whistler 5 Peaks event takes place in the high alpine of Whistler Mountain with both Sport and Enduro course options available. There's also a one kilometre Children's Challenge. Visit www.5peaks.com.

September

Sept. 1-2 — Meet Your Maker 50 Mile Trail Ultra and Relay. This is a tough new race for solos and relay teams, covering 80km of trails in Whistler. Visit www.meetyourmaker50.com for details.

Sept. 7 to 9 — The third and final edition of the series, the Four Kings is a three-day, four-race WORCA-sanctioned mountain bike competition that rewards all-around talent rather than just speed or technical ability. Visit www.worca.com.

Sept. 8 — The RBC Whistler GranFondo. This 120km road ride from Vancouver to Whistler is expected to sell out all 7,500 spots. For information and registration, visit www.rbcgranfondowhistler.com.

Sept. 15 — West Side Wheel Up. A Whistler mountain bike tradition with a short technical course on West Side trails and an after-party that never disappoints. It's also a fundraiser for the BC Para-Alpine Team. More info at www.worca.com as it comes available.

Sept. 22 — Squamish Super Spartan. A 12km obstacle course race with at least 12 obstacle sections from start to finish. Race solo or with a team. Visit www.spartanrace.com.

Sept. 30 — Rubble Creek Classic. This is a tentative date only for this scenic 25km trail run that starts at the Cheakamus Lake parking lot and winds around Black Tusk before descending to the Garibaldi Park parking area at the south end of Daisy Lake.

October

Oct. 20 — Whistler 50 Relay and Ultra. The second year for this relay and ultra running event, which is hosted by BC Athletics and replaces the Haney to Harrison event on the provincial calendar. The 50 Mile/80km distance can be run solo or as part of a relay team. Visit www.bcathletics.org/Whistler50.

The sports events calendar is available online at www.piquenewsmagazine.com. If you have an event that hasn't been listed — including regular weekly clinics and events — please email andrew@piquenewsmagazine.com for inclusion on the website. The weekly sports briefs will include calendar events for the next few weeks with more details, and we will publish results and photos when they are available.