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Corridor Cup goes south

Ken Quon Memorial raises $4,500 for Whistler Fire Services

The Re/Max Corridor Cup is heading south after Sunday's Ken Quon Memorial Team Mountain Bike Race, after riders Dwayne Kress and Kelly Servinski completed three laps each of the course in a combined three hours, 24 minutes and 39 seconds, almost two minutes faster than the Whistler team of Dave Burch and Kevin Calhoun (3:26:19) in the Open Men's category.

It was a slightly different course than past years, weaving through Lost Lake on a mix of gravel, singletrack and doubletrack trails. As always, it was also deceptively tough, with a single lap weighing in at just under 12 kilometres and a combined 925 metres of climbing on each lap broken up into a series of smaller uphill charges.

"It's not a sustained climb, but riders were feeling it," said Francis Chiasson, who pre-rode the course three times with a GPS and helps organize the event in memory of his friend Ken Quon. Quon was guiding a Wild Willies ride in 2005 when he succumbed to a congenital heart condition that runs through his family. His last words to Tom Thomson, Chiasson's partner organizing the event, were "Ride On."

"We're still out there riding in his honour," said Thomson, who was especially impressed with the turnout of families and young riders this year.

The team challenge was just one part of the Ken Quon Memorial. There was also an individual race where riders made one lap of the course, and a family ride out to a memorial plaque for Quon and back to the staging area at the Riverside RV Park and Campground.

In total the event attracted more than 80 individual riders, 24 teams of three and dozens of families with all proceeds going to local emergency services. Proceeds from the first three races went to purchase portable diagnostic machines for three ambulances in Whistler and two in Pemberton, while proceeds from this year's car wash and race will go towards Whistler Fire Rescue Service to purchase equipment for their needs.

"Basically this is a chance for mountain bikers to give back," explained Thomson, who said the equipment is being used to help people that are injured or fall ill in the backcountry. While it's doubtful that any intervention could have saved Ken Quon, Thomson hopes the gear can save other lives and improve outcomes for others.

"It's a good cause and a nice community event," said Thomson. "It's a hardcore race for the people who do the three laps, but it's also a fun event for everybody else."

The 2009 race raised roughly $4,500 for fire rescue services, while an earlier car wash raised roughly $2,500. Chiasson and Thomson will be discussing possibilities for the money with Whistler Fire Rescue Services and will be making a gear purchase on their behalf.

Team Results:

Open Men

1. Team Combine (Dwayne Kress and Kelly Servinski) - 3:24:39

2. The Mustangs (Dave Burch and Kevin Calhoun) - 3:26:19

3. Matteo and Mac (Greg McDonnell and Matteo Abel) - 3:43:02

Masters 1

1. Together Again (Bob Allison and Keith Reid) - 3:35:29

2. Excentrifugal (Keith Ray and Eric Crowe) - 3:36:54

3. Team Whistler 1 (Josh Stott and Tony Routley) - 3:42:45

Open Mixed

1. Yew-Vine (Mike Vine and Ann Yew) - 3:40:21

2. Go Kiwi (Jeff Collins and Karen Collins) - 4:25:31

3. Team Whistler Rocks (Joe Maika and Megan Rose) - 5:18:32

Master 1 Mixed

1. Northlands Medical Clinic (Mike Charuk and Cathy Zeglinski) - 4:09:41

Master 1 Women

1. Team Dessert (Andrea Moore and Jacqueline Brusset) - 5:35:33

Master 2 Men

1. Ernie and Steve's Excellent Adventure (Steven Wallouch and Ernie Bodie) - 4:35:43.

2. Team Johns (John Hetherington and John Muzzillo) - 5:44:48

Individual Results

Men's Winner - Marc Niffeler - 43:08

Women's Winner - Linda Cowen - 49:58

Junior Men - Jack Iles - 53:28

Junior Women - Makenna Bailey - 1:33:39