Yoann Barelli rounded out the BC Enduro season with a victory.
The Whistler resident by way of France dominated the Retallack Lodge Enduro, winning all six stages and crossing the finish line in a time of 35 minutes and 19 seconds (35:19). Runner-up Evan Guthrie was almost a minute back at 36:17 while Brodie Evans rounded out the pro men's podium at 36:23.
Barelli accumulated the third-most points on the tour, but riders must have completed five of six races to be eligible for the season podium, bumping him to fourth overall. Barelli had 1,790 points, while winner James Rennie posted 2,330 on the strength of a win and three total podiums.
On the women's side, Leonie Picton posted a fifth-place finish en route to claiming the overall title. Picton finished in 46:14, while winner Rosara Joseph blew away the field with a time of 43:22. Laura Battista (44:41) and Pemberton's Emily Slaco (45:02) completed the podium.
In the open men's category, Craig Wilson shared top spot with Mitch Forbes after a tied time of 38:30. With four wins, Wilson already had the overall title well in hand. Whistler resident Quentin Emeriau placed third in the overall points chase after a seventh-place showing at Retallack.
As for the youngsters, Neve Abraham won the 15-and-under men's race, while Felix Abraham placed third.
Romanin completes 100-miler
Local runner Vicki Romanin ran plenty to wrap up August.
Romanin completed her first 100-mile race by taking part in the Cascade Crest 100-Miler near Easton, Wash. on Aug. 29 and 30.
Romanin wrapped up the race in a time of 28 hours and 52 minutes through conditions that began as "perfect" but deteriorated into rain at around the 12-hour mark.
"What an incredible high. What a way to finish my 54th year," Romanin wrote in her race report.
Barbie and Ken Race on this weekend
The July smoke has blown out, but organizers of the Barbie and Ken Race hope the fire remains.
The classic WORCA couples race will take place this weekend on Sept. 11 and 12.
The event will kick off on Friday night with a Toonie-style cross-country race on a 12-kilometre course followed by an après and night session at the Scandinave Spa.
Saturday will see a quick downhill race and challenging enduro race before wrapping up at the GLC in the evening.
Single riders can opt into the "Dating Game" to be paired up with a single pro rider — Brandi Heisterman, Fanny Paquette, Dylan Wolsky or Jesse Melamed. Should a rider still be flying solo, his or her profile will be submitted to WORCA matchmaking service "DirtyLife" in hopes of finding compatibility.
Entry is $65 for WORCA members.
Valley to Peak Race debuts
It may have been the first running of the Saloman Valley to Peak Race, but you'd never know it from the field.
Shaun Stephens-Whale (2:07:28) and Anne Marie Madden (2:26:41) captured the men's and women's overall titles in a field that saw over 120 people enter. Eric Carter and Adam Campbell rounded out the overall men's podium while Paige Pattillo and Ellie Greenwood were also among the top three women.
Category champions were Pattillo (solo women 29 and under), Madden (solo women 30 to 49), Lee Edwards (solo women 50 and up), Stephens-Whale (solo men 29 and under), Campbell (solo men 30 to 49) and Tim Wiens (solo men 50 and up).
Third Pembertonian dragon boater wins medals
In addition to Wes Finck and Bailey Thomson starring at the IDBF World Championships in Welland, Ont. last month as mentioned in last week's Pique, Isabel Peters of Pemberton also shone.
Peters took gold in the junior 'A' mixed and junior 'A' women's 200-metre and 500-metre races and silver in the junior 'A' women's 2000-metre race as part of a strong showing for the paddlers.
