Another high school mountain bike season is in the books, and it was another successful one for Chatelech Secondary School riders.
Both the senior boys and senior girls teams finished second overall at the North Shore Championships on May 14. This success came as a result of a strong showing throughout the five league races on the North Shore, in Squamish, Whistler and on the Sunshine Coast.
Due to other commitments, the team will not be travelling to the provincials, which are in Burns Lake this weekend.
Head coach Bob Stanhope said the finish at the North Shore championships was a great way to end a very successful season.
“The kids all rode very well, and there is no harm in second place. The key is to have a winning attitude, and we certainly had that throughout the entire season,” Stanhope said. “We just had a great bunch of kids. The team rode all over the Coast exploring and training, and we started riding Wednesdays and Sundays in early January. That paid off in terms of endurance and improved skills. A big part of the team is camaraderie. They look out for and help each other out. That positive energy is contagious.”
After 10-plus years of coaching at the high school level, Stanhope said he is moving on to work in the new Gravity Park in Sechelt and welcomes some new blood for next year’s high school season.
“I have been working with some of these kids since elementary school and now on through high school,” he said. “They have developed into great riders and through various challenges have really grown into mature young adults and athletes. I feel very proud, and the community should be proud too. All of these kids are great upstanding, community-minded kids. It gives me faith for the future for sure.”
Stanhope wanted to pay special thanks to teacher sponsor Jennifer Marquis, loyal parents, coaches, drivers and Jack Bryson and Glenn Hafey.
“It’s been a very rewarding experience for me and I’ve received a ton of support from all these people,” he said. “Everyone is a winner in my book.”
