Let's call it as it is: Pemberton Secondary School (PSS) officially boasts a mountain biking dynasty.
How else would one describe a fourth-consecutive provincial banner? That's exactly what these young locals accomplished on a late-May weekend in Powell River, facing stiff competition from 72 other schools across British Columbia.
Finley Wood was crowned King of the Mountain after winning the bantam boys' cross-country race and clinching bronze in enduro. His junior girls teammate, Arleigh Kemp, became Queen of the Mountain by way of an enduro silver medal and a fourth in cross-country.
Hayden Pegram did his part by finishing third in the senior boys' enduro. Many competitive results in all divisions vaulted both the PSS junior and senior teams to overall titles.
"I am extremely proud of the PSS students who come out to ride with the team on Mondays after school starting after spring break," said coach Nicole Benes. "These kids are skilled riders who’ve, for the most part, grown up here having access to the mecca of trails in the Sea to Sky corridor as well as the [Whistler Blackcomb] bike park. Our trails are world-class, thank you [Pemberton Off-Road Cycling Association], and being able to ride well here sets the kids up for success elsewhere.
"Many come from families of avid mountain bikers and have been on a bike since they could walk and most have trained with certified coaches in some of the numerous programs available in our area. Every year, we also welcome the addition of a few international students who have developed their skills elsewhere and are drawn to ride in Pemberton through the SBBA program offered at PSS."
Benes expressed respect for Wood and Kemp in particular, whom she describes as hardworking, talented, mature and humble despite their relative youth. She hopes both will find a way to continue representing their school in future years.
The feeling is mutual.
"It is great having coaches, both Nicole and Kevin [Glavas], that care and put so much effort into making it a fun and supportive environment," Kemp said. "It's such a great feeling to win as a team with your friends. I've only been a part of the team for two years but it's easy to see how much work and effort everyone puts in."
A supportive environment
Benes serves as teacher-librarian at both PSS and Signal Hill Elementary. She discovered mountain biking 25 years ago, right as the Sea to Sky was becoming a hotbed for the sport with weekly toonie rides, Tony Horn's beloved events and a novel bike park. While she doesn't claim to be an overly decorated coach, Benes has helped facilitate after-school programs at the Whistler Children's Centre, the municipality and Signal Hill.
The Ontario native got involved with the PSS unit in spring 2022, filling a need after her predecessor Nicole Jean was injured. Benes' role has grown ever since: this year she co-coached alongside Glavas while athletic director Krista Walden dealt with necessary paperwork.
"I did a lot of behind-the-scenes organizing and Kevin is great at supporting the kids with any technical issues. We both rode with the kids and went with the team to the races," said Benes. "My coaching philosophy is primarily for the kids to have fun biking with their friends and teammates in a supportive environment and to challenge themselves. Respect and integrity are emphasized, and over the years that the students participate on the team, I see a lot of personal development and increased self-awareness."
Upperclassmen like Sam Tierney, who joined the team in Grade 9, and Isla Inglis who signed up in Grade 10, exemplify those values. Their consistent presence sets a tone for other athletes in terms of behaviour and race know-how in the North Shore League. Benes credits Tierney for being keen in leadership, while Inglis is "so friendly and welcoming that she can put most new or younger students at ease."
"I've been trying to do as much as possible to help the coaches with whatever they need," affirmed Tierney. "[Our team] means a lot to me. Every year that I've been in high school, we won provincials, and over that time I've … seen us become a really good force for community. It's remained relatively small for my first two years, and then grown pretty rapidly in the last couple. The thing that most stands out is all the times I've spent being able to race with friends."
Tierney placed 14th in enduro and 28th in cross-country, while Inglis rode to eighth in enduro and 13th in the cross-country discipline.
'It can't hurt to dream big'
PSS is not the largest, wealthiest or most famous high school in British Columbia. That's no secret, but it's also why four consecutive banners represent a point of pride for athletes and their coaches. The wider student body has been supportive of its bike team, as have members of the community at large.
Obstacles do arise nonetheless. The 2025 roster featured no tenth-graders, with only three Grade 8 boys and no girls in that cohort. Roughly half the team was composed of senior boys like Tierney. Going into next year, Benes hopes more girls and kids from different age brackets will show up to even out this lopsided demographic split.
The good news is: Powell River yielded a memorable experience current team members are sure to try and sell their friends on.
"I was definitely having a good time and I just tried to do my best in each race. The trails in Powell River were fun and it was cool to get to ride there for the first time," said Kemp. "Because I mostly race downhill, I learned that cross-country racing is hard and I have a lot of respect for anyone who does it. I am lucky to have so many friends on the team and that makes it 10 times more fun … we always stay to cheer each other on and get sushi after the race together."
Tierney feels PSS has a bright future ahead, especially with riders like Wood and Kemp in the mix. He himself is about to graduate, but knows mountain biking has taught him how to work hard and be a team player: lessons that are going to keep him motivated in other aspects of life.
For those who remain, a fifth provincial title is not out of the question… if students and their families step up when called upon.
"It can’t hurt to dream big, and I am hoping that next year we will be able to bring a full team to provincials with all divisions represented," Benes said. "While we are losing a number of teammates to graduation, we are also losing several of their parents who are dedicated volunteer drivers. In addition to looking forward to getting more younger students and more girls coming out next year, we really need some keen parents as well. We can’t do it without our amazing parent volunteers supporting the team."
More results from Powell River are viewable at zone4.ca/event/2025/Xm3R9m.
