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5 Peaks runs this Saturday

Upwards of 450 runners are expected to turn out Saturday, Aug. 21 for the annual Whistler 5 Peak trail run - the fourth race in the B.C. 5 Peaks series, as well as one of the most popular. As of press time over 425 riders were on the start list.

Upwards of 450 runners are expected to turn out Saturday, Aug. 21 for the annual Whistler 5 Peak trail run - the fourth race in the B.C. 5 Peaks series, as well as one of the most popular. As of press time over 425 riders were on the start list.

The Whistler race takes place entirely in the high alpine of Whistler Mountain. There are two courses available, a 4.9 km Sport course with 297 metres of elevation gain and a 10.6 km Enduro course with 760 metres of climbing.

Because of construction at the Roundhouse, the race start has been moved up to the top of the Red Chair, but otherwise the course is the same as last year. Enduro racers will do a prelude run around Whistler Bowl and then back out to Harmony Lake and up the Burnt Stew Trail to Little Whistler Peak before descending back towards the Roundhouse. Sport racers will follow the same route as far as Harmony Lake before turning back towards the finish line.

Online registration will be available until end of day Thursday, but registration is available on Friday at the Salomon store from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday morning from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Day of race registration is $50 for both courses, and there is a short, one-kilometre Children's challenge course that's available for $5. The races get underway at 11 a.m. with the Enduro racers leaving first, followed by the Sport racers a minute later.

There will be one water station for Sport racers and two on the Enduro course,

For more information visit www.5peaks.com.

 

Just Another Bike Race rolls on Saturday

The newest edition to the Squamish bike race calendar is Just Another Bike Race, a singletrack epic in the spirit of the Test of Medal and GearJammer that takes place Saturday, Aug. 21.

You can register on Friday at Nesters Market in Squamish, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., or on the day of the race from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. outside the Quest University gymnasium. The cost is $55.

The race gets underway at 11 a.m. and is about 40 km in length, with a difficulty level "Between the Test and GearJammer," according to race director Dwayne Kress. "It will have a bit of something for every racer."

The course heads up Garibaldi Park Road to the Ring Creek Forest Service Road, up to George's Crossing to the entrance of Half Nelson - Squamish's new machine-built downhill trail. After Half Nelson the course doubles back on the Ring Creek FSR to a selection of roads before Rob's Corners and Cliff's Corners, Mike's Loop, Credit Line, Jack's Trail, Mashiter Trail, Roller Coaster, back again onto the Ring Creek FSR and down Psuedo-tsuga, up to Lower Powersmart and Word of Mouth, then a selection of roads and trails back to Quest. A map is available at www.testofmetal.com.

The JABR is also the fifth and final event in the Hell of a Series. Visit www.hellofaseries.ca for more information.

 

WORCA Toonie Ride takes on the wild west

Tonight's (Aug. 19) WORCA Toonie Ride starts at the top of Alpine Way and finishes at Rainbow Park, following a creative selection of west side trails. The course includes a climb up Rick's Roost to Cat Scratch Fever, before diverting onto Mandatory Suicide. After that riders head over Get Over It and Bob's Rebob before going back to the Rainbow Trail parking lot.

The event is sponsored by RBC and Gone Bakery, and the after party will take place at Gone Bakery in Whistler Village.

The next ride, on Aug. 26, is sponsored by Whistler Community Services Society, Fineline bike shop and Scandinave Spa, and includes North Secret and Green Lake Loop. The sign-on is at Wedge Parking Lot at 5:30 p.m., the race rolls at 6:30 p.m. and the event wraps up at Spruce Grove.

More information is available at www.worca.com.

Strut Your Stuff scheduled for Sept. 11

Whistler community registration fair will return on Saturday, Sept. 11 at Myrtle Philip Community School, offering parents a one-stop shop to register their children for community sports, arts and activity groups, as well as to apply for Kidsport Whistler grants.

Community groups can apply for a table by contacting the RMOW Community Life Department at 604-935-8350. The cost is $20 for non-profit groups and $30 for commercial service groups and suppliers.

Strut Your Stuff runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., giving parents a chance to meet with groups, watch displays and even buy and sell equipment for various activities.

Bobsledder heads to rugby World Cup

Heather Moyse, who joined Helen Upperton to win the gold medal at the 2010 Olympic Games, will join Team Canada for the women's World Cup of Rugby taking place this week in England.

Moyse was the star of the Canadian team in the 2006 Rugby World Cup, scoring seven tries for the team as they went on to finish fourth in the world standings. This year the team is heading into the World Cup ranked fourth, and is in a pool with France, Scotland and Sweden. Their first game is on Aug. 20.

Moyse changed positions recently, moving up to the wing from fullback. She is nervous heading into the competition. She essentially gave up rugby in 2007 to focus on bobsleigh - a sport where her strength and sprinting ability were key, but lacked the aerobic demands of a sport like rugby where games last 80 minutes.

You can follow her journey online at www.rugbycanada.ca.

 

Canadian skiers top Coronet Peak races

A group of Canadian skiers down under for training took part in the Australia New Zealand Cup FIS slalom races at Coronet Peak, New Zealand this week, with the Canadian men - Patrick Biggs, David Donaldson and Trevor White - sweeping the podium. The field included skiers from the U.S., Sweden and Japan, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

Canada's Marie-Michel Gagnon won the women's event, while teammate Madison Irwin placed third.

The previous day, Canada's Marie-Pier Prefontaine won a Continental Cup giant slalom race, with teammate Marie-Michele Gagnon one spot back in second. Whistler's Madison McLeish placed 14 th .

Julien Cousineau was the top male Canadian, in 15 th place, facing a World Cup calibre international field.