On Saturday, Aug. 16, Gibsons’ Persephone Brewing Company held its inaugural Tough Kegger. The first of its kind, the seven-kilometre team adventure race combined the challenges of a wilderness adventure race with the love of beer.
Teams of four navigated through rugged trails, demanding obstacles and entertaining checkpoints in Sprockids Park and the surrounding area. Checkpoints included Selfie Summit, where a photographer took each team’s photo, and Can Crush, where teams stopped to shotgun beer cans of water. Each team also had to answer a skill-testing question from the Gatekeeper to retrieve a 60-pound beer keg, then carry it five kilometre to the finish line.
Fifteen teams participated from the Coast and Lower Mainland.
Team Shell Shock from Wilson Creek finished in first place, receiving a Persephone keg party with 100 litres of farm fresh beer.
Second place went to Peter Weiler’s team from Space Construction, and the fastest brewery award went to Four Winds Brewing from Delta, who won brewing industry bragging rights and the coveted Tough Kegger Golden Tap Handle trophy.
“It was a great success, and a truly unique Coast and brewing industry experience,” said race director David Hallstead. “Everyone who participated had an amazing time and are excited to come back in 2015. We at Persephone are already making plans for next year’s race.”
As the last team crossed the finish line, a victory party commenced, with live music by Matt Watson and Discount Limousine. DJ Yum Yum spun tunes as participants and their supporters enjoyed catering by Farm to Feast: a delicious barbecue spread and fresh, wood-fired pizza, the latter from Persephone’s new outdoor pizza oven.
Race visionary and Persephone general manager Dion Whyte thanks all the participants, volunteers and staff involved in bringing the Tough Kegger to life. Find photos from the race on the Tough Kegger Facebook page: www.facebook.com/persephonetoughkegger.
