National champions will be crowned, beers will be guzzled and some of the gnarliest trails in Canada will test riders from across the country at the BC Enduro Series Finale.
Sun Peaks Resort is playing host to the event — which doubles as the inaugural Canadian National Enduro Championships Finale — on Sept. 17 and 18.
“This is the biggest one of the year,” said Ted Morton, event director and operations manager. “We booked the whole resort and we have private use of the (bike) park.”
The provincial circuit is split into two groups — BC Enduro East and West — which have been racing across B.C. all season, some riders chasing overall points titles and others just riding for fun.
“The BC Enduro Series is more about drinking beer and hanging out,” Morton said. “That will happen, too, with a party on Saturday and beer and burger at finish line on Sunday.
“But we thought it was good for junior riders to get a more technical playing field. They’re longer days, the stages are more technical and we’re kind of asking more of them.”
Kamloops brothers Johnathan and Jeremy Helly, 12 and 15 years old, respectively, are among the younger riders who will test their mettle, with both having raced at each of the seven BC Enduro West stops this season.
“It is challenging, but when you get up to the top and see all your friends and you’re have a good time, it’s all worth it,” Johnathan said.
“The terrain there is awesome. It’s an all-around good time. It’s classic Kamloops, rough and gnarly.”
The national series was started this year in part to give junior riders a stepping stone to the Enduro World Series circuit. There were stops in Rossland, Mont-Saint-Anne, Que. and Revelstoke.
Morton is expecting about 250 participants at Sun Peaks, including a few from Quebec and Ontario.
Riders will be timed on five downhill stages, but must pedal uphill to get to most of them (two lift rides will be incorporated) and the whole race can take anywhere between three and seven hours to complete.
“It’s going to start in the village and pedal all the way to the Top of the World,” said Morton, noting alpine hiking trails will be part of the course.
“You have to be fit, not as fit as a cross-country rider, but be able to go for three or four hours a day, and the downhills we ride are quite technical. Sun Peaks has a reputation for being one of the gnarlier bike parks.”
Morton is expecting World Series riders such as Leonie Picton, Stu Dickson and Yoan Barelli to rip it up at Sun Peaks and the course will be challenging.
The exact route will not be made available to competitors until Sept. 16, but Morton provided a rough idea of the layout.
“We’ll head up toward Sundance chair, in behind on the Big Rock alpine XC climb, then to Top of the World, essentially as far you can bike, and drop in somewhere near Headwalls,” Morton said, noting the course will be about 21 kilometres long, with challenging, steep descents.
“From there, we get some lifts. We’re going to go easy on them to make sure they get the most amount of downs.”
The average Joe can register to ride. Entry fees range from $105 to $120.
“Unless you’re going for gold, you can totally hang back,” Morton said. “We have junior riders who hang back and stay out there together for six or seven hours.”
Sign up online at ccnbikes.com and learn more about the event at sunpeaksresort.com.
Riders can practice between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sept. 17. There will be a mandatory briefing at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 18 and races will begin at 8 a.m.
The event can be a family affair, as parents can traverse the course with their children.
“My dad raced a lot and I went to the Rossland race last year and just caught on from there,” Johnathan said. “It was a pretty awesome experience because I met some awesome other kids.
“I’m in it for the placings, but it’s all about fun.”
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