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Boehm wins West Side Wheel Up

In the 19-year history of the Westside Wheel Up, Mike Boehm figures he has raced in the event 15 times. "I haven't missed this in 15 years," Boehm said at the event finish line near Rainbow Park after he took top honours in the race on Saturday.
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WESTSIDE WIND UP Women's winner Lesley Clements leads Dustin Gordon heading to the Westside Wheel Up finish line at Rainbow Park.

In the 19-year history of the Westside Wheel Up, Mike Boehm figures he has raced in the event 15 times.

"I haven't missed this in 15 years," Boehm said at the event finish line near Rainbow Park after he took top honours in the race on Saturday.

This was his year as he won the race in a time of one hour 12 minutes and 17 seconds. He said at the finish line that his win came at the expense of other riders who crashed and suffered mechanical issues. Boehm said he rode much of the final leg, A River Runs Through It, with a tire that was almost flat.

Matt Bodkin was second across the finish line just over two minutes after Boehm. The third place finisher was Brett Grayston with a time of 1:17:47.

Boehm said many of the region's top riders weren't in the race and that worked in his favour. Neal Kindree, the winner of many local mountain bike races this season, didn't compete and last year's winner, Matt Ryan, was also absent from the start line. Ryan has won the event every year in the last five but he is currently training to be a firefighter and couldn't make the race fit in his schedule.

Austin Reith clocked the fastest junior time. He did the Westside course in one hour, 23 minute and 39 seconds.

Special mention goes to Lisle Stopforth, the only junior woman in the race. Her time would have placed second in Open Women and fourth for all juniors.

Lesley Clements was the first female competitor to finish and her time was 1:37:51. Natalie Morel Wood followed Clements with a time of 1:43:12 and Isabelle Papillon was the third female finisher.

A total of 100 riders competed in the race under sunshine and warm temperatures.

All proceeds from the event will go towards the B.C. Para-Alpine Ski Team.

Results

Open Men

1. Mike Boehm — 1:12:17

2. Matt Bodkin — 1:14:29

3. Bretty Grayston — 1:17:47

4. Eric Crowe — 1:20:19

5. Tony Routley — 1:20:26

Open Women

1. Lesley Clements — 1:37:51

2. Natalie Morel Wood — 1:43:12

3. Jenny Angus — 1:43:22

4. Isabelle Papillon — 1:45:24

5. Vanessa Knee — 1:52:10

Junior Men

1. Austin Reith — 1:23:38

2. Spencer Wright — 1:32:39

3. Mathew Wentzel — 1:36:14

4. Finn Iles — 1:51:16

5. Conrad Murdoch — 1:51:17

Junior Women

1. Lisle Stopforth — 1:40:52

Full race results are available at www.webscorer.com.

The West Side Wheel Up is the last major mountain bike event of the season for Whistler, aside from the annual WORCA Halloween Toonie taking place on Oct. 25, the last Thursday before Halloween. The Halloween Ride takes place at night and headlamps are mandatory for riders.

As well, die-hards can fit in one more race this Saturday, Sept. 22 as the Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association's XC Toonie season wraps up. Visit www.sorca.ca.