The high school mountain bike race series is back in full swing. Despite the low snow on the mountains, our local race teams have managed to get some pre-season training in, and it has paid off on the finish line. Grade 8 racers swept the top three spots in the boys' category at the first race on April 9 with Chatelech's Louis Dillon taking first and Forrest Riesco and Harrison Duxbury-Sleep from Elphinstone taking second and third respectively.
Chatelech's Jenna Phelps (Grade 10) and Katherine Short (Grade 12) also took first place in their categories and Sebastian Sleep (Grade 10) from Elphi took the top spot in his category. Elphi's Devon Newman won the heavy bike (plus 35 pounds) category and Chat's Jessica Marquis rounded off the other podium spot with a strong third place finish in Grade 9 girls.
Race two in the series was held Wednesday on the Sunshine Coast, hosted by Chat and Elphi at the Sprockids Park in Langdale.
Heading into the event, race director Dave Bates said, "We've got a lot of climbing on our course, but the kids love our trails. We have some of the best singletrack riding anywhere."
Schools from the North Shore zone take turns hosting races throughout the seven-race season. On April 23 the teams travel to Squamish. Results from Wednesday's event on the Coast were not available at press time.
