Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Whistler Valley Trail Run joins GO Fest

Sports briefs: Crankworx legend dies in accident; Pemberton BMX opens season in Chilliwack
sports_upcoming1-1-191daca41943180e
A BEARY GOOD TIME The Teddy Bear Trot will be held as part of the Whistler Valley Trail Run again this year. Photo by Jim Budge

The Whistler Valley Trail Run is again on the move — on the calendar.

The run, which took place in July last year, is moving up earlier for its 25th spin. This year, the run has teamed up with GO Fest and will take place on May 22 as part of the festival's Sunday events. The race will begin and end at Rebagliati Park.

Race director Christine Suter hopes moving the event to a high-traffic weekend helps to increase participation, especially with many people visiting from other parts of the province.

"Last year we had 60. I'd say if we could get to 100, that would be great. If we get more, really great," she said. "It would be nice to see more people come up."

Suter highlighted the family-friendly atmosphere of the race, noting there is a Teddy Bear Trot for kids under six, and with trails that aren't technical, it can be used as a starting point for younger speed demons with an interest in racing.

"It's a chance for parents to come out and bring their little kids and run with them if they want," she said. "It's a chance for everybody to participate and that's the real thing.

"The kids that can run, maybe they can do the 5K and the kids that can run longer, maybe they can do the 10K. The little, little kids can do the Teddy Bear Trot."

In addition to running, there will also be yoga held before and after the race.

Bib pickup begins at 8:15 a.m. while the race itself kicks off at 9 a.m.

Registration costs $25 per person or $45 per family (up to three people), while the Teddy Bear Trot for kids under six is free.

All proceeds from the run will benefit the Whistler Youth Foundation, which is guided by the Community Foundation of Whistler.

"Last year, the funds went towards suicide prevention and this year, that's probably where they'll head, too, which is invaluable," she said.

For more information or to register, visit www.greatoutdoorsfest.com.

Biker Smith dies in accident

This August, Crankworx Whistler will have a different feel.

Downhill rider Stevie Smith, known as the Canadian Chainsaw, died in an accident on May 10, his team Devinci Global Racing said in a statement. The Cassidy, B.C. native was 26.

Devinci's release said Smith suffered a massive brain injury after an enduro motocycle accident near Nanaimo.

"Stevie was a fierce competitor, an honest friend and a rider who made me proud on countless occasions. I am honoured to consider him my friend for so long," team manager Gabe Fox said in the release.

Smith won 10 Crankworx medals, including the Jim Beam Air DH when he was just 15 and the Fox Air DH last summer.

The mountain biking community was already reeling from the death of New Zealand rider Kelly McGarry, who died of cardiac arrest while riding in February.

Pemberton BMX opens season in Chilliwack

The Pemberton BMX squad was nowhere near out-of-whack in Chilliwack to start the 2016 season.

The club opened with the Fraser Valley Nationals over the weekend, bringing home its share of hardware at the three-day event, which drew over 700 riders.

In the 12 intermediate category, Graydon Petrie recorded a sweep, taking first in all three races, while Sami Teitzel did just the same in the 10 intermediate division.

Ian Tierney, meanwhile, took two wins and a runner-up in the 41 to 45 intermediate events while Turner Montgomery won the third event and was second twice. Alonso Perez scored a first and two thirds in the 16 intermediate division, Lucas Cruz won once in the 14 expert event and Erin Tierney was also a podium-topper in the 41 to 45 women's cruiser category, taking a first in addition to a third.

Other medallists included Tegan Cruz (second in 10 expert), Jody Hallett (second in 36 to 40 women's cruiser), Bendigo Noble (third in 16 expert) and Steve Petrie (third in 41 to 45 expert).

Christopher Beaton (12 expert), Tigerlily Noble (14 girls), Sam Tierney (8 intermediate), Robbie Tribe (10 expert) and Lochlun Warren (7 intermediate) all represented the club well over the course of the weekend as part of the 17-rider contingent as well.

As well, the club has launched learn-to-ride clinics on Wednesday nights. Four clinics cost $40 and participants must be BMX Canada members. The sessions run from 6 to 7:15 p.m. For more information, visit www.pembertonbmx.com.

WSS track athletes strong at zones

Three Whistler Secondary School students hit the podium at the first zone track and field championship of the year.

Brett Hennessey and Kobe Burton took the top two spots in the senior boys' hammer throw while Ben Brownlie placed third in the bantam boys' 3,000-metre race.

In other 3,000-metre competition, Michael Murdoch took fifth in the junior boys' event while in the junior girls' event, Molly Long was fifth and Lydia Jensen was seventh.

Gymnasts impress in Richmond

Whistler Gymnastics had an embarrassment of riches at the Best of the West gym meet at the Richmond Oval.

With over 1,800 competitors in attendance, the club more than held its own against gymnasts descending on the city.

Nicole Bolleman put up the club's top performance of the meet, using a winning performance on the floor to score a third all-around in the Level 6 junior event. In the same division, Katelyn Garcia was eighth, Anna Prohaska 12th and Kaiya Nixon 16th.

In the Level 6 youth event, Téa Cousineau was sixth all-around after taking third on the bars, Annie Sproule was eighth all-around, and Andrea Vazquez-Vela was 10th, including second on the floor. In the senior event, Tessa Juniper was fifth all-around.

As for the Level 7s, twins Addie and Grace Crawford ended up tied for ninth all-around in the child event. Addie was third on the vault while Grace was second on the floor. In the senior category, Ayva Spierings placed seventh all-around with a second on the beam and Katie Faerge was ninth all-around including a second on the vault.

In the Level 4 event, Sofia Wright was seventh all-around in the child division while in the junior category, Gabbi Collins was seventh all-around, including third on the floor, and Charlie Craig placed ninth. As for the seniors, Sophia Firth, Mardi Williamson and Sakura Lord were all stacked up, taking 12th, 13th and 14th, respectively.

Lastly, for Level 3 athletes, Molly Barton was ninth and Elly Mitchell 16th in the child division, while Kayleigh Sarkany and Neva Maynard were 12th and 15th, respectively, for the juniors. For the seniors, Shauna Murphy, Ella Rouleau and Luvina Franken were all in a row, taking 13th through 15th in order.