The Test of Metal, the main event of the Squamish Mountain Bike Festival, made history this year by selling out all 800 spots in under a week. The 67 km course includes over 1,200 metres of climbing and 35 km of singletrack, and brings out some of the top riders in the province.
But while the Test of Metal is the foundation for the festival, it’s only one of several events making Squamish the place to be this weekend.
Friday, June 17
Flash: Cruiser Show and Shine – The first annual Flash, this event is a cruiser bike festival on Second Ave. in Squamish. Anyone and everyone is welcome to dust of their chrome plating and show off their low-riders, mods, cruisers and classic bikes. This is an informal event, running from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There will be stilt walkers, booths, hula-hoopers, and music.
Saturday, June 18
Test of Metal – The North Shore Credit Union Test of Metal starts at 11 a.m. with a massive mass start at the Brennan Park Recreation Centre. The race finishes next door in the Logger’s Sport Area, with a Marketplace, KidZone and other attractions for spectators, including…
North American Trials Competition – Some of the top trials riders in North America will be at the Loggers Sports Grounds competing on a man-made obstacle course. Riders are judged by the number of dabs they get on a route through the obstacles, and can earn bonuses by cleaning more advanced sections. The winner is the rider with the fewest number of dabs during the competition. The beginner and sport categories get underway at 9 a.m. and the pro-expert category gets going at noon.
Sunday, June 19
Mini Metal – This is a winding obstacle course for little rippers aged 4 to 8 at Squamish Station. Presented by Corsa Cycles, this fun event gets underway with a 9 a.m. start.
Rockstar Invitational Downhill Dash for Cash – The key word is invitational, but if you’re a strong rider you probably already have your invite. This event, presented by Tantalus Bike Shop, gets underway at 2 p.m., at the end of Westway Ave. in Valleycliffe.
Day with Dad at the Beach – Squamish has a new beach at the Nexxan Lands near the Squamish Yacht Club at the end of Cleveland Ave. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be Father’s Day activities ranging from a Sand Castle contest to beach volleyball to a bike decorating competition for Mini Metal participants. There will also be food, entertainment and prizes, including getaway weekends in Whistler, a round of golf for four people, a whitewater rafting trip, Brennan Park passes and more.
For more information on events, and the lastest news updates, visit www.testofmetal.com.
