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Cheakamus Challenge registration going strong

Course changes expected to make for more enjoyable race

With just over a week to go before the 20 th annual Cheakamus Challenge fall classic gets into gear, registration is going strong for B.C.’s oldest epic ride.

According to organizer Grant Lamont, he’s already signed up more than 300 people, four times as many as at this time last year. Part of that has to do with the fact that the Web site was up earlier this year. He’s also been advertising the event on other mountain bike Web sites, and made an announcement at the 24 Hours of Adrenalin race.

Somehow a cycling team from South Africa heard about it and signed up for the race. A large number of mountain bikers from south of the border, mainly Washington, have signed up as well.

"We’re way ahead of where we were at this time last year, which is good for us, but we expect a lot more from the last minute club as we get closer to the day," said Lamont.

Parts of the course are getting a facelift in advance of the race, including the Cheakamus Canyon section of the Sea to Sky Trail that was covered in debris from blasting and roadwork on Highway 99. Workers are also improving the trail, bringing it up to Sea to Sky Trail standards.

"(That section) is going to be better this year. We’re working on it with the Sea2Summit race guys, which is great because we’re both committed to fixing that trail up over the next couple of years," said Lamont.

Another section that’s getting a once-over this year is the trail from the Calcheak suspension bridge onto the Ross’s Rip Trail.

"Everything else is good to go," said Lamont.

"We’ve been getting a lot of great feedback about the course this year. A lot of people were naturally saying ‘oh no, they’re making it harder this year’, but I don’t think that’s the case. We’re keeping people from getting exposed on the top of the Microwave Tower road, if it’s hot, if it’s wet, and we’re doing everything at a much lower elevation.

"It’s a little less than a kilometre longer than last year but as far as enjoyment is concerned the changes will make a big difference for people."

Last year Lamont added Trash, a singletrack trail on the east side of the Cheakamus River near the Whistler landfill, to the already long course.

This year Lamont is sending riders down the Farside Trail after the Don MacLaurin suspension bridge, instead of continuing to head up the mountain. After the descent, riders will climb the Microwave Tower road from the bottom to Tunnel Vision, which they will descend to the Kadenwood Road. From there the riders will climb again to the Northwest Passage trail, which will take participants to the final descent through the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. The course is 72.5 km long with 2,200 metres of vertical. The top riders have finished in just under three hours in the past.

"The top of the Microwave climb is pretty miserable, so I think people are going to like Tunnel Vision and the Kadenwood road, and will be finishing in better shape," said Lamont.

The race will also go through the village this year, finishing at the BrewHouse in the North Village.

"Rather than sitting in the dirt at the finish, they’re going to pull up to a barbecue and something cold to drink, which is a little nicer I think," Lamont said.

With Whistler Marketplace IGA signing on as a sponsor this year, the race will now have three aid stations. Corsa Cycles is going to run the aid station at Brandywine Falls, and IGA will be fuelling riders at the entrance to Trash. Supporters are also encouraged to help riders out on the Kadenwood climb, where there will be a more basic aid station.

Andreas Hestler and Alison Sydor, last year’s winners, are expected to defend their titles this year, with riders like Squamish Test of Metal winner Andrew Kyle and 24 Hours of Adrenalin solo champion Lesley Tomlinson challenging them the whole way. Members of the national mountain bike team are also expected to join the hunt.

Lamont plans to increase the prize purse this year, depending on the number of people who register. For example, if 600 people register this year, and Lamont is hoping to have between 550 and 600 riders, the top male and female will receive $600 each.

"We’re still the only race to give equal money to the top male and female," said Lamont.

The top finishers in all of the categories will also be able to win prizes.

The entry fee is $60 for the race, although people who bring donations for the Food Bank to the Wild Willies location in Nesters or the village will get a $5 discount.

There are 22 competitor categories in the race. Competitors can drop off forms at Wild Willies and the Whistler Bike Co. in Whistler, Corsa Cycles and Tantalus Bike Shop in Squamish and Dizzy Cycles in Vancouver. You can also register online at www.cheakamuschallenge.ca.

Day of race registration is also available for a $10 late fee. The event gets underway at 10 a.m. at the Squamish Airport.