On The Edge Race Club (OTE) and Sunshine Coast United Mountain Bikers (SCUMB) were at it again on the Labour Day long weekend with two teams, two soloists and two riders on Coast teams at the 24 Hours of Adrenaline in Whistler.
This event was two races in one. The team event had a local flavour with teams from Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest participating. The World Solo Championships was an international affair with world-class endurance athletes who had qualified at events around the globe. Austria, Australia, Britain, U.S. and Canada were among the many countries represented.
The idea behind this competition is for a team or individual to ride non-stop, completing as many laps as possible of the 15 km course in 24 hours.
There were a number of changes from last year's course, including very technical single track and descents.
Seasoned veterans have experienced nasty weather over the years; this year was no exception.
Racers arrived to sunny skies Friday afternoon. The deluge started at 3 a.m. Saturday and continued throughout the race with rain ranging from hard to harder to hardest and mud thick, thicker and thickest. Combine that with cold temperatures and the stage was set for an epic battle between racers and the elements.
The five-person ladies' team, B Rides, included Tanya Camposano, Marilyn Downey, Dep Weeks, Sue Brown and Jessica Huntington. These ladies rock. They ride with passion and a sense of competition that they sometimes downplay. They alternated between first and second through the night. There was no letting up lap after lap, and after 24 hours they placed first with 20 laps and only a 10-minute margin on second place. Camposano took home an award for fastest female night lap.
The five-person veteran men's team, Heavy Pedals, consisted of local elder statesman of the sport, Rod Camposano, plus Glen Illingsworth, Keith Reynolds, Jim Brown and Ruedi Schnyder filling in for a sick Brian Fournier. Armed with vitamin I (Ibuprofen) they seesawed back and forth between first and second, finishing a solid second with 24 laps.
Matt Cottrell rode with the Rocky Mtn. corporate team who dominated the race with 29 laps. Matt had the second fastest lap of the race at 42 minutes.
Local downhiller Riley Percheson teamed up with friends from the Lower Mainland with rave reviews about his effort riding the only cross-country bike with eight-inch rotors and a second place finish for his team.
Although they swore never to race solo again after last year's effort, the lure of qualifying for the Solo World Championships and the passage of time erasing the pain prevailed. Bruce Gordon and Bob Stanhope represented the Coast and Canada valiantly. Racing in the 40 to 44 age category against riders from around the planet, it all came back to them as the hours passed. The pace slowed and exhaustion set in. Seems it doesn't matter how much time you put in the saddle training, this event takes your ego and hands it to you on a platter. Although they tried to maintain a positive attitude, the witching hour came at about 4 a.m. Having ridden 16 hours in the rain, shivering and soaked, the fatigue and pain came to a head.
Sunken, faraway eyes told the tale Ñ they had nothing left to give. Neither wanted to carry on. It was no summer holiday out there. Their support crew could be heard trying to coax them out for another lap with words of encouragement. When that didn't work, they were told in no uncertain terms, "You've got to get up."
Gordon persevered, completing 12 laps of the course (180 km and 19,000 feet of climbing) for a third place finish. It took a little more effort to get Stanhope motivated. All those kilometres of training were not to be in vain. He completed 11 laps, placing fifth. They swore never to compete solo again but rumour has it both are already thinking about how they can improve for next year. Support crews have told them to find new blood if they want another stab at it.
Speaking of support, we cannot forget those unsung heroes who stay up all night supporting the riders. Food, encouragement, a shoulder to lean on and constant bike maintenance are the base of success. Jackie Stanhope and Jessica Wells put up with more than should be expected of significant others. Although cold, wet and tired they maintained a positive spin on the situation. Fournier, too sick to race, took one for the team as he gave up his spot and wrenched bikes for almost 24 hours non stop.
Twenty-four hour marathon racing is a test of the human spirit. These locals are a testament to that spirit. Winning is nice, but this event is about the journey. To quote T.S. Elliot: "Only those willing to go too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
We all face challenges every 24 hours, and it's how we approach those challenges that define us.While we locals were in Whistler, OTE's Micayla Gatto and Kona's Kris Sneddon were in Italy at the World Championships as members of Canada's National Team.
Gatto's third place junior downhill finish is a testament to her hard work and dedication. She's on cloud nine.
Sneddon, racing elite, represented his country with class. He held his own against the world's best. He is coming into his own as a world-class athlete Ñ not bad for a local Chat grad chasing a dream.
