There are a lot of reasons why event planners pick September to
run some of the biggest races in Whistler: the weather is good, the holidays
are over, people are feeling fit after a summer of activities. In 2006, looking
at all of the events taking place, Tourism Whistler officially promoted
September as the Month of Pain.
That name has stuck among locals. This year there are three
bike events and two runs over four weekends in September — not counting
the Samurai of Singletrack, which is closed to the public, and regular events
like the WORCA Loonie races.
West Side Wheel Up — Saturday, Sept. 8
This is the 14
th
annual West Side Wheel Up bike
race, and it will be similar to past years.
The race starts at the entrance to Function and follows the
Millar Creek Road to Alta Lake Road and the entrance to Lower Sproatt. From
there, the course circles Beaver Lake trail, then climbs back up through
Kadenwood to Upper and Lower Beaver Pass. After climbing back up Whip Me Snip
Me, riders will make their way on the Muni Trail to Bob’s Rebob, and A River
Runs Through It.
About twice the length of a Loonie Race, the fastest riders can
actually finish in less than an hour and average times are around an hour and a
half.
The highlight of the event is the post race barbecue and party,
with free food and refreshments for participants.
The cost is $20 to enter, which includes the party and a ticket
to the raffle. Once again the top prize is a season pass donated by
Whistler-Blackcomb, with other prizes donated by local hotels, restaurants and
retailers. Other raffle tickets will also be available at sign-on and at the
after-party.
The event is a fundraiser for the B.C. Disabled Ski Team, which
is coached by event director Phil Chew.
The Wheel Up is one of Whistler’s oldest local races, started
by Les Clare to finish the riding season on a high note.
To take part, register at the entrance to Function Junction
from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 8. The race gets underway at noon. You need to be a
member of the Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association (WORCA) to race, and
memberships will be available at the start.
Sea 2 Summit — Sept. 8-9
LOOKING FOR INFO, MAY HAVE BEEN CANCELLED
Soo Valley Rumble — Sept. 16
This is a new event created by WORCA and Chromag Bikes to
bridge the gap between the West Side Wheel Up and Cheakamus Challenge.
Most of the information is still being kept under wraps at this
point, but it will include trails in and around the Soo Valley, and will cost
$15 to enter.
More details will be announced in the coming weeks.
Terry Fox Run — Sept. 16
This is the 27
th
anniversary of the Terry Fox Run,
which has raised more than $400 million worldwide for cancer research since 1981.
The Whistler event has grown steadily since the arrival of the
Four Seasons in Whistler, as the company has been a huge supporter of the Terry
Fox Foundation since Fox himself started his bid to cross Canada and raise
funds for cancer research.
Recent runs have raised more than $13,000 for the Terry Fox
Foundation, with more than 300 walkers, runners and wheelers taking part.
This year’s run will be a little different, starting and
finishing at Meadow Park. There will be both 10 km and 5 km routes available,
and participation is by donation. The suggested donation is $20, and people who
register will receive a tax receipt from the Terry Fox Foundation.
Sign-on is at 9 a.m., and the run gets underway at 10 a.m.
24
th
annual Cheakamus Challenge — Sept.
23
Riders have a choice between the full 71 km course from
Squamish to Whistler, with more than 40 km of trails and singletrack, or a
shorter 42 km race that includes all of the technical singletrack. The entry
fee is $50 for riders going the full distance, and $40 for the Cheakamus
Challenge Lite route sponsored by Pique Newsmagazine.
This is the longest race in Sea to Sky, and with 2,000 metres
of climbing and descending it’s also one of the toughest.
For more information and registration, visit
www.cheakamuschallenge.ca
.
Rubble Creek Classic — Sept. 24
This event is hosted by Escape Route and Whistler Running
Experience, and is entering its 22
nd
year.
The run starts in the Cheakamus Lake Trailhead parking lot with
sign-in from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., and a start time of 8 a.m. The course follows
the Rubble Creek Trail from the Cheakamus Lake Trail to the Rubble Creek
Parking Lot, a distance of roughly 26 km. Runners climb about 900 metres and
descend almost 1,300 metres from start to finish, with astonishing views of
Garibaldi Park and Black Tusk.
The event is limited to 85 participants to ease wear and tear
on provincial park trails, and you must register before midnight on Sept. 19 to
take part. The cost is $35.
For more information, visit
www.rubblecreekclassic.com
.
This race is also part of the Sea 2 Sky Trail Running Series at www.s2srun.com .