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Toonie ride tonight

One week late, WORCA season gets underway
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Although it feels like it's taking forever, snow is gradually starting to disappear from trails and forests, clearing the way for another busy mountain bike season.

The Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association, which broke the 1,500 member mark the previous two years, has been working behind the scenes to prepare for 2011, organizing the upcoming bike swap, the Toonie Race calendar, Dirt Camp registration and more.

There have been delays due to the snow and other administrative matters, but as of this week everything is back on track.

 

Toonie Ride season starts May 12

There is a very good chance that there will be snow on the trails for the first Toonie Ride of the season tonight, but the show must go on.

The May 12 race is sponsored by Slope Side Supply, with registration at the House Rock parking area in the Riverside Trails - cross the old bridge and look for a road on your left that takes you back towards the river. Registration is from 5:30 p.m. and the race gets underway at 6:30 p.m.

The after-party is at the Slope Side Supply warehouse in Function Junction, opposite Rona on Alpha Lake Road, with some help from Happy Planet and Clif Bar.

The event is also a fundraiser for Whistler-based Bicycles for Humanity, an organization that collects used bikes and bike gear and ships it to Africa where they are used as transportation and machinery for industry.

In total there are 19 races on the Toonie calendar this year, sponsored by 45 local businesses and organizations. A complete list of the rides and sponsors, including course maps when available, will be posted on the WORCA homepage at www.worca.com.

The format will be the same as previous years - everybody pays $2 to enter, and the top male and female rider get $50 each. The top juniors win prizes. The remainder of the money will go to WORCA to cover trail maintenance.

You need to be a member to enter, and online registration is encouraged to prevent long lines for the first few weeks.

WORCA has made a few changes this year to pricing. An adult membership (19 and over) is increasing to $45 from $40, representing the first increase in seven seasons. There are no longer family memberships available but the price has been kept low for younger riders - $25 for youth 13 to 18 and $15 for kids 12 and under.

Membership allows participants to take part in Toonie Rides, Monday Night Rides, Phat/PhaSt Wednesday downhill races, clinics, camps and associated events like the West Side Wheel Up and an all new women's only event (Betty vs. Veronica) that will be announced in the future.

This year, with a new insurer and safety plan, there will be a dedicated first aid provider for every race, and a dedicated first aid number if a rider requires assistance. WORCA riders are being asked to add the phone number - 604-902-2104 -to their cell phone in case they need assistance on the course.

 

Bike Swap

Getting into biking can be expensive, but for years the WORCA Bike Swap has been providing people with a way to purchase used gear for a reasonable price, and for people to sell their gear and trade up while also supporting a good cause.

The 2010 swap sold over 300 bikes and pieces of gear, raising roughly $14,000 for WORCA's youth programs, including support for the high school team, youth Toonie Rides, eight weeks of WORCA Youth Dirt Camps and other programs.

The swap will return to the Whistler Olympic Plaza on Saturday, May 21. Bike and gear drop-off is from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., and the swap will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can pick up your unsold gear until 4 p.m. Volunteers will provide security and provide advice to buyers.

The cost of selling an item is $2 per tag, plus a commission of 15 per cent of the first $1,000 and 10 per cent for everything over $1,000. The swap accepts cash and credit cards.

Once again, WORCA is also opening the swap up to local retailers to sell items, making it possible for riders to get everything they need for the season, from gloves to helmets, in one location.

Volunteers are also welcome. If you can help out that weekend, email info@worca.com.

 

Monday Night Rides

The closure of the Wild Willies store spelled the end of the long-running Wild Willies "Willies Rides" on Monday nights, but the spirit will live on with WORCA Monday Night Rides. The rides, which are non-competitive and break up participants into groups based on ability, start on May 30 and run through the season (18 in total), sponsored by Whistler Bike Co., Back in Action, Nesters, Wild Wood and WORCA.

If you'd like to be a volunteer guide, contact larryfalcon@hotmail.com.

 

Dirt Camp Registration

 

WORCA has finalized plans for its 2011 Youth Dirt Camp season including prices and schedule. Registration will get underway on May 16.

Camps are divided into three age groups, six to nine, nine to 12 and 12 to 15, and take place over five days.

Dates and prices are still being finalized, but each camp will be capped at 31 riders with a five-to-one ratio of coaches to riders. The camps will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through the summer.

Visit the WORCA website for more information as it comes available.

 

Trail Maintenance

The annual trail sweep day has not been scheduled and likely won't take place until most local trails are clear of snow. There will be one or two trail sweep days, followed by Saturday trail maintenance mornings through the summer that tackle specific projects around the valley. More information will be posted online as it's comes available.