The first event of the nine race Phat Wednesday Downhill Series took place Wednesday, June 24 on B-Line.
Future races are set for July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29, Aug. 19, Aug. 26 ad Sept. 2 - three more races than last year.
Registration gets underway just before 5 p.m. at the Garbanzo Bike and Bean, and organizers are planning to get underway by 6 p.m. With more than 200 racers turning out to the first race last season organizers could also be racing daylight.
To take part you need a valid WORCA membership, which is available at sign-in, and chip $2 into the pot for the winners. You also need a valid lift pass, but discounted passes are available to racers. All participants are also eligible to win draw prizes from race sponsors.
WORCA trail day on Saturday
WORCA is hosting another trail maintenance day Saturday, June 27, meeting at 3 p.m. at the pullout opposite Trudy's Landing (south of Emerald Estates). Dress for the weather, bring tools and water, and expect the work to take around three hours. Nine volunteers turned out for the last trail day on June 13.
Volunteers needed for Whistler leg of B.C. Bike Race
The seventh and final stage of the third annual B.C. Bike Race takes place in and around Whistler, and stage director Grant Lamont is looking for some volunteers to help out on July 4.
The final stage will be shorter than past years, and is being designed to take riders between two and four hours. The selection of trails includes Babylon Connector, See Colours and Puke, Far Side Trail to the Don McLaurin suspension bridge, Riverside Trail, the Ridge Trail, back up the Cheakamus Lake Road to Upper Far Side Trail, Highline Trail, Tunnelvision to Kadenwood Road, Big Timber and Dusty's.
To volunteer, contact Grant Lamont at grant@bcbikerace.com.
Spud Run ready to go July 1
The annual Canada Day Pemberton Spud Run on July 1 is ready to go, with a new course along the Pemberton Valley Trail. Sign-on is at the new community centre at 8 a.m., and the race gets underway at 8:30 a.m. on a route that's between seven and eight kilometres.
This is a low-key community event, with a great post-race feast. As always, participants will receive a small bag of spuds for taking part.
The cost is $15 to race with all proceeds going to the Pemberton Valley Trails Association.
Suter solid in Coeur d'Alene Ironman
Whistler's Christine Suter raced in the Idaho Coeur d'Alene Ironman on June 21, placing eighth in the women's 40 to 44 age category with a time of 11 hours, 23 minutes and 43 seconds.
She started strong in the 3.86 km swim leg with a time of 1:05:32, placing ninth in her category. She followed up with a 10 th place result on the 180.2 km bike leg, then was 18 th in the 42.2 km run in 4:12:53.
Only the top-four women in her category earned spots at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
Soccer club camp this weekend
The Whistler Youth Soccer Club is holding its first camp of the summer this weekend, June 27 to 28, with skills and drills, a workshop on physical and mental training, nutritional information, and a chance to play 11-a-side scrimmages. The camp is for players born from 1994 to 1999, and costs $60. The camps run from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Myrtle Philip Lower fields.
Steve September, who was hired as the club's technical director for the season, will be conducting the camps with the assistance of other coaches. Registration is at www.whistlersoccer.com.
The next camp is Saibo's European Football School, which is returning to Whistler to provide players a chance to learn from international player and coach Saibo Talic. That camp runs from July 13 to 17, with kids aged 5 to 11 practicing from 9:30 a.m. until noon, and kids aged 12 to 17 practicing from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. The fee is $135, which includes a camp T-shirt.
Pemberton Youth Soccer is hosting its own camp from July 6 to 10, with former national youth coach Alan Churchard. For more information visit www.hometeamsonline.com/pembertonsoccer.
WMSC hires new director
The Whistler Mountain Ski Club has a new captain, with the recent hiring of Nigel Loring as its new executive director.
Most recently Loring ran the race program at Kimberley Mountain Resort, and prior to that he has held the top job at Mt. Hood Meadows in Oregon and Sun Peaks. He has worked as a professional in the sport of alpine skiing for 20 years.
In addition to his coaching certifications Loring holds a degree in Kinesiology.
Prior to hiring Loring, the executive director position was held by Currie Chapman for the past two years. Chapman did not renew his contract after he was unable to move his family from their home in Victoria.
Chapman will stay onboard until the end of July, and will have two weeks to orient Loring on the club and community.
The club has a busy season ahead, providing support for Alpine Canada, the Olympics and the Paralympics, but also a lot to gain in term of legacies. Among other things, the WMSC will get to keep some of the gates, nets, timing and safety gear, and possibly the use of a run for race training.
