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Whistler riders dominate inaugural GO Enduro Race

Curtis Keene posts top men's time, while Sarah Leishman and fellow Whistlerites own women's podium
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HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE Whistler women owned the podium at the inaugural GO Enduro race at the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Sarah Leishman, centre, posted the top time with Katrina Strand, left, finishing second, and Carrie Metzler third. Photo by Clint Trahan

The resort's mountain bike season officially kicked off in style Friday, May 16 with the inaugural GO Enduro race marking the Whistler Mountain Bike Park's opening day.

Featuring three timed stages, 54 competitors took part, with Whistler riders enjoying a strong showing on their home course.

Whistler owned the podium on the women's side, with Sarah Leishman taking the win and $250 top prize, while fellow locals Katrina Strand and Carrie Metzler finished second and third, respectively.

"It was a fun event and the race was super pedaly (sic), and I was surprised because Katrina (Strand) is really fit this year, so I was surprised it worked out," Leishman said the morning after the race, calling the race's final stage "really challenging.

"(The design team) worked really hard to be creative and to make the course interesting and the result was a pretty challenging, pretty physical three stages, but it was still fun," she added.

On the men's side, American Curtis Keene, a regular at the Whistler bike park, took first place and $750 for his performance. Nick Geddes, who will pull double duty this weekend, competing in the Pemberton Enduro on Saturday, May 17, came second, while fellow Whistler local Jesse Melamed placed third.

In the Masters division, open to men 30 or older, Whistler's Chris Dewar posted the fastest time, with Josh Lyons coming second, and Richard Armstrong third.

The resort's Bowen Irvine, 16, was the fastest racer in the Junior division, open to teens aged 13 to 18.

Race times were not available as of press time.

The Great Outdoors Festival concludes Monday, May 19.