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Deadline nearing for B.C. Bike Race The deadline to register for the 2009 B.C. Bike Race is fast approaching, as all registrations must be finalized by June 1. The B.C.

Deadline nearing for B.C. Bike Race

The deadline to register for the 2009 B.C. Bike Race is fast approaching, as all registrations must be finalized by June 1.

The B.C. Bike Race takes place over seven grueling days, from June 28 to July 4, and features singletrack in seven distinct areas - North Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast, Squamish and Whistler. The goal this year was to emphasize the best singletrack riding in every area, instead of riding from point to point on whatever trails were available.

That's not to say there won't be some long rides - Squamish is posted at 65 km, although exact distances and routes are still to be announced.

Participants race in teams of two, male, female and co-ed, and have to be within a minute of one another at every checkpoint.

For more information or registration, visit www.bcbikerace.com.

Sea to Sky Trail Challenge rolls July 11

Large sections of the Sea to Sky Trail from D'Arcy to Squamish are now established, thanks to the combined efforts of local governments, trail builders and advocates throughout the corridor. There are also some new sections, including two new areas to the south of Whistler that were completed over the past two years and two new sections of a trail that will one day link all of Squamish.

While that's a lot of trail, the 14th annual Sea to Sky Trail Challenge breaks the ride up over two days, and gives riders the option of missing the highway section from Pemberton to Whistler.

This year's event takes place on July 11 and 12. Organizers have limited the number of participants to 150 for logistical reasons, and are expecting to sell out. Early registration is recommended.

The first day goes from D'Arcy to Pemberton, following a selection of roads and trails to One Mile Lake where riders have the option of loading their bikes onto trucks or to keep pedaling. Day two is from Whistler to Squamish, and includes four recently added trails to the south of Whistler.

Overall the race has very little technical riding, and there are regular aid stations along the way.

For more information or registration visit http://greatexplorations.com/trips/canada/cyclingevents/seatosky.asp. Registration forms are also available at The Bike Co in Pemberton and both Corsa Cycles and Tantalus Bike Shop in Squamish.

Whistler Disc Golf Club starting up a new season

The Whistler Disc Golf Club (WDGC) is gearing up for its second official season, and is looking for members. The cost is $5 for a membership, $2 to enter the doubles tournament and $2 for the optional acepot - money that goes to the first player with a hole in one on the 27-hole Spruce Grove Course.

Even if you don't want to compete the organizers are looking for members to boost the profile of the club in Whistler.

The club meets on Wednesday nights at 6 p.m., meeting at the fourth hole where the trails meet. The municipality is asking players to start using the pedestrian bridge off the gravel parking lot behind the campground to avoid construction of the new spa.

The WDGC is also working with the municipality to complete some upgrades to the course, including new or improved tee boxes, pruning and possibly some new baskets. They will also host a few volunteer days in the coming weeks to make on-course improvements.

For more information about the club visit www.whistlerdiscgolf.com.

Pemberton track team in the medals

Seven kids from Signal Hill Elementary school made the trip to Richmond last week to take part in the B.C. Elementary School Track and Field Championship.

Despite a huge turnout, with between 60 and 100 kids in each category, the Signal Hill students brought back four medals.

Brook Phare won a bronze medal in shotput, while Elainah Andrew came away with gold medals in long jump and high jump, and a silver medal in the 60-metre hurdles.

Other kids participating were Todd and Simon Walsh, Lauren Phare, Dalton Pehota and Willy Benkritis.

WORCA trail days a success

A pair of trail sweep days hosted by the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association was a success, with a total of 45 volunteers taking part. Their job was to remove blowdown, prune back trees, move rocks, and generally get the trails cleared up for the season. Volunteers also removed garbage from River Runs Through It, and on May 23 pitched in to build 100 metres of new trail.

WORCA wants to know if there are any issues with trails - fallen trees, erosion, growth, or damaged stunts - and is encouraging riders to make reports online at www.worca.com.

Additional trail maintenance days will be announced soon. Among the projects in the works is a plan to reconnect Shit Happens to Alpine Meadows.

WOVA registration day nears

Spots are going fast in the Whistler Outdoor Volleyball Association's league roster this year, even with the addition of a second full recreational league.

Rec teams (C1 and C2) play on Wednesday and Friday nights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with four people on the court and a maximum of two substitutes. One female player must be on the court at all times.

There is an intermediate B category that plays on Thursdays, which is three-on-three with a maximum of four players on the roster.

They most competitive A division has gone to two-on-two with no subs, playing on Tuesday evenings.

The cost is $200 per team for 10 weeks of league play, starting on June 16. That includes insurance, facility fees, league administration costs. Each team also gets a high performance beach volleyball. There will be playoffs for the top teams in each league.

If you wish to register a team, or would like to be matched up with an existing team, contact Scott Rogers at www.wova.ca.

The league is also holding a registration night on June 2 at the Longhorn Saloon, starting at 6 p.m. Each team will be given a number based on when they arrive, and will be called up one at a time to register.

There will also be an area for teams to recruit individuals and individual to match up with teams, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Comfortably Numb next on S2S Run series

This week the Whistler Valley Trail Run kicked off the Sea 2 Sky Trail Running Series, but there are still events left for athletes chasing overall titles.

Next up is the sixth annual Comfortably Numb Trail Run, a 25 km race that takes place almost entirely on the Comfortably Numb mountain bike trail.

This year the race takes place on Saturday, June 27.

Compared to other long distance trail races in the province Comfortably Numb can be more technical in places, especially on the descent, but less vertical climbing is required - just 800 metres of climbing over the entire 25 km, with most of it in the first half of the course.

Once again the race starts at Wedgemont Parking Lot, about 12 km north of Whistler Village, and a complimentary bus is available to take runners to the start from Spruce Grove Park, where the race finishes.

There are a few minor changes this year in addition to the move from Sunday to Saturday. For recreational runners there will be an early start at 8 a.m., one hour before the main group leaves. As well, the route to the finish has been altered slightly due to construction.

The cost is $50 to enter, which includes your choice of a technical hat and water bottle or a long-sleeve cotton T-shirt. All proceeds from the event go towards trail maintenance.

Organizers have limited the number of entries to 200, and registration is available until midnight on June 25.

For more information visit www.comfortablynumb.ca.

Miller tops U.S. Open downhill

Squamish's Miranda Miller, 19, finished on top of one of the biggest pro downhill races in the U.S. this year, the U.S. Open of Mountain Biking races at Diablo Freeride in New Jersey.

Miller finished the course in three minutes, 5.47 seconds, edging out U.S. star Kathy Pruitt by just 0.09 seconds. Fionn Griffiths of the U.K. was third in 3:05.96.

Whistler's Katrina Strand placed sixth in 3:16.90, while Rebecca McQueen was 11 th and Katie Holden 12 th .

The course was rocky and muddy after several days of training in dry conditions. Strand was having a solid run after placing third in the qualifier, but lost important seconds when she got caught up in course tape in one slippery section.

Although disappointed, Miller's win was also a victory for her in a lot of ways. "I quickly got over it when I realized Miranda, a young girl I coached in Squamish when she was younger, won," wrote Strand in her post-race report.

Sam Hill of Australia won the men's event in 2:30.11, followed by Gee Atherton in 2:32.72, and Brendan Fairclough in 2:35.21. Whistler riders included Jamie Biluk in 20 th in 2:47.75 and Tristan Merrick in 56 th in 3:18.62.

Several other Sea to Sky residents also competed. Taylor Allison placed second in amateur junior women in 3:58.94, riding for Mad March Racing.

Max Horner was 25 th in amateur junior men in 3:49.23.