By Andrew Mitchell
While the B.C. mountain bike community keeps a close eye on
access issues that might arise on Crown land as a result of a provincial planning
process, the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association is stronger than ever
heading into its annual general meeting this Tuesday, Oct. 3.
From a numbers perspective, WORCA sponsored 24 Loonie Race
events this year, two more than the previous season, as well as provided
support and insurance for six Phat Wednesday Downhill Series races, the Ken
Quon Memorial “Ride On”, the West Side Wheel Up, the Samurai of Singletrack,
weekly Wild Willies rides, and several guided tours during the IMBA
Summit/World Mountain Bike Conference in June.
As well, WORCA hosted bi-monthly clinics for adults throughout
the summer, and ran three one-week mountain bike camps for youths in different
age groups.
On the youth side, WORCA helped to organize the B.C. High
School Mountain Bike Championships in May, and provided the first annual WORCA
scholarship to former national cross-country and downhill champion Brook Baker.
The Lumpy Leidal award, presented every year to a young rider
based on enthusiasm, ability, and sportsmanship, went to provincial Under 15
downhill and cross-country champion Tyler Allison.
At the start of the season WORCA received a $34,000
grant-in-aid from the municipality to help support youth programs, as well as
the association’s trail maintenance activities in the valley — $10,000
more than the previous year. Some of that budget helped to subsidize a four-day
IMBA trail building clinic, which was attended by seven locals with an interest
in trail construction and maintenance.
With trail builder Chris Markle leaving Whistler the goal of
the clinic was to ensure that his skills were passed on and that trails always
meet the highest standards. Markle has built several trails over the years,
including Kill Me Thrill Me and Comfortably Numb, and has held the WORCA trail
maintenance contract three out of the last four years.
This year a substantial amount of volunteer and paid trail work
was completed on Cut Yer Bars, but dozens of trails around Whistler have been
upgraded and maintained with WORCA support.
On the advocacy front, WORCA has been involved in dozens of
development and land use discussions, maintaining the organizations “no net
loss” policy. Discussions include a possible reroute on Shit Happens around the
Rainbow development, and replacing sections of Train Wreck that will be
impacted by highway development next year.
As well, the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts is in the
process of identifying bike trails on Crown land, and looking at ways to ensure
they are properly maintained by local interests and meet minimum standards for
safety, environmental impact, and rideability. There is some concern that this
will increase the financial obligations of clubs like WORCA.
WORCA also helped to host the International Mountain Bicycling
Association Summit/World Mountain Bike Conference in June, hosting over 500
delegates from around the world. In addition to organizing a Loonie Race, WORCA
directors and volunteers guided rides for the delegates during the conference.
WORCA president Grant Lamont announced that he will be stepping
down this year, but will remain involved as past president. Looking back, he
says WORCA has accomplished a lot in his tenure.
“One of the main reasons I stepped up into the presidency was
to make sure that with the Olympics and all the development and projects coming
to town that (WORCA) was properly set up to defend ourselves,” he said. “One of
the things I’m most proud of over the last couple of years is the communication
we have with landowners, with different levels of government. Now when they’re
thinking of doing anything that could impact one of our trails they’re calling
us first to talk about it.”
Lamont is also proud of the way WORCA helped to host the IMBA
Summit and World Mountain Bike Conference, which he says really showed the
spirit of the local bike community.
Another point of pride is the fact that WORCA hosted three
youth camps this year. “In the past we’ve stepped back and let the private
(sector) take care of it, but once we saw that it was falling through the
cracks and that things were directed to take kids up the mountain bike park it
set off an alarm,” he said. “Shouldn’t we just be getting kids to ride bikes,
to ride the trail network in the valley so they can find ways to get to school
and home on roads and trails? Bikes are also a great mode of transportation as
well as recreation and give kids the freedom to make their own schedules.”
Directors will give full reports of WORCA’s activities at the
annual general meeting at Millennium Place on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Some refreshments
will be provided.
Following an address from Lamont and presentations from directors, including the financial report, the floor will be opened to members. The meeting will wrap up with an election for the next board of directors. Several positions will be vacant as directors step down, but all positions are open during the voting. You must be a WORCA member to vote.
