We are very lucky to have some genuine "stand up and get it done" people on the Sunshine Coast who have made many positive impacts on our outdoor recreation community.
One of those people is Bob Stanhope of Halfmoon Bay.
Stanhope has been a community ambassador for the sport of cycling for more than 20 years. As an advocate for various bike related issues on the Coast from bike lanes, to ride to work week, to youth cycling and racing, he has put hundreds of hours into merging cycling into the community as a sport and a way of life.
He comes by it honestly.
Stanhope was more than 300 pounds before he took up the sport and was facing health related issues. He claims that riding not only changed his life, but saved it too and now he lives to share his passion with the rest of us.
His volunteering resume includes building trails all over the Sunshine Coast, participating in a variety of capacities at numerous events such as BC Bike Race and the Sunshine Coaster, and giving his time as a coach and mentor for the Chatelech Secondary School racing team. He is also a strong advocate for women's and children's riding speaking out at numerous community events.
And he can rip it up on a trail. He is a long time cross country racer, and has competed in countless races including a 24-hour solo mountain bike race. In his spare time, he is also a volunteer for the Halfmoon Bay fire department and has been there for 25 years.
Those of us who know Stanhope well have watched him give of his time to anyone who has an interest in biking. He is the guy who will lend you gear, fix your bike, cheer you on, and support you whether you are young or old, pro or newbie - he just wants to be a part of making your experience positive on two wheels.
I am nominating him for the BC Bike Race Kazlaw Mountain Biking Community Award this year. If he is successful, he would be given a free entry to this amazing race, which is now sold out, hailed as the ultimate single track experience (and running two days over the Sunshine Coast).
The voting begins March 4 at http://www.bcbikerace.com/registration/contests. Let's get him to ride BC Bike Race this year and cheer him on all the way to finish line!
Until next time, see you out there!
Editor's note: Lydia Watson handles marketing and community education for Off the Edge Adventure Sports. Her column appears regularly in Coast Reporter.
