Duncan/Maple Mount XC Race- by Jake
Yells
I was so ready for this race! Several of the top
riders were at other events so I had a really good
chance to podium. This race had a tribute at the start
to Steve Smith the Canadian Chainsaw… We had a moment of silence
and then they actually started the race to the sounds of a roaring
chainsaw!!! How cool is that!!
The race started similar to the last few with a steep climb up logging road, you had race through this so that you weren’t stuck trying
to pass everyone on the single track climbing sections.
I did ok, and started to pass folks on the trail.
I had never ridden the Arbutis Ridge trail at Maple Mountain so I
didn’t know what to expect.. when we got off the “climbing
trail”.. it just kept going up … right
at the top there was an incredibly steep section that very few managed to ride…
I jumped off my bike and ran up it and finally started to go down the
mountain!!! There were a few good rock drops at
the start of the descent, and then
there was a crazy steep chicane like area with large sharp rock on it with a
tight turn up top. I rolled down this section and am pretty sure I
was leading my division when I heard the dreaded hiss of my tire leaking air.
NOOOOOO!!!!
I jumped off my bike and started changing my tire as
everyone raced past me, I couldn’t get my tire pressure
up and it took forever. Finally my dad came
along and gave me a hand. By the time I got going I was way
behind. I raced down as fast as I could and
starting ripping up the mountain for lap #2.. Suddenly just
as I got going down that crazy chicane my tire started hissing
again… a 2nd flat tire…
race over for me.. I was really upset and just started walking my bike to the
finish. My dad caught up to me again and
tried to help as another racer went by and threw a tube and pump to me, but I
was fed up! But hey, how awesome is it another racer
gave me his spare tire and pump though! That’s what is so great about
mountain biking.. everyone wants to help each other.
Eventually I crossed the finish line where a lot of the team
was waiting and looking concerned because by then a rider had finished and
reported that Evan Luksay had crashed and badly hurt his arm.. more bad luck
for our team! We debated going to find him but we knew
his dad was still out there racing and would be with him to help.
Final results…
On the women’s side Brynn Johnston won the Female Beginner
Category with Eva Leikermoser finishing 2nd.
Emilly Johnston won Intermediate Female.
On the Men’s side, Hudson Webster was 2nd
in Beginner Male, I finished 19th in Intermediate Male (with
my dad beating me in 14th place),
It was an awesome day of racing, and next time we race on
rocky terrain I will make sure my tires are pumped up high!
Thanks so much to our awesome sponsors Airport
Auto Service, Trail Bicycles, Western one, Royal Lepage- Rob Nygren, Eatmore
Sprouts and Greens Ltd., Riverway Dental, Welder Engineering and Sew What I
Sew!!!!
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