Some people in this community just don't get it.
We've been lucky to welcome some of the top athletes to the Coast recently, but instead of welcoming them to the community with open arms, some have chosen to ruin the experience, showcasing the Coast in a less than ideal light.
In May, vandals tried to destroy the Rat Race course, tearing down signs, moving markers and leaving their mark with signs accusing organizers of destroying the trails and leaving the area in disarray. Volunteers worked diligently to ensure the course was in proper shape for the race, and thankfully, there were no incidents of lost or injured bikers.
Then on July 1, Sechelt welcomed more than 400 mountain bikers for stages four and five of the BC Bike Race. Again, the so-called "green" public tore down marking ribbons for the racers. There were other areas that were also tampered with. I know it was more than a little frustrating for Rod Camposano, the co-ordinator of the Sechelt stages, and all of his volunteers who spent the better part of four very long days marking the course and then had to spend another two days checking to see if some idiot had gone and taken everything down or directed the riders in a different direction.
Rod sent me an email recently describing his frustration. He wanted to point out that a sweep on the course takes down all the ribbons after the race, and then volunteers ride the course again to make sure nothing was missed. Can you imagine what kind of message it would have sent about the people on the Coast if an international rider had gotten lost or seriously hurt because someone removed the route markers and the only guide on the course? That's a media frenzy and news about the Coast that we certainly don't want to encourage. Both of these events brought thousands of dollars to this community. When I spoke with the media co-ordinator while out covering the race on Canada Day, he told me that every motel room in Sechelt was booked, as were several bed and breakfast operations - all with riders, support teams or race organizers. Fuel and provisions were bought on the Coast, and organizers did everything in their power to ensure that the race course was left in better condition when they left than when they arrived.
The Sunshine Coast is trying to market itself as a tourism destination full of arts, culture and recreational opportunities. Recently the New York Times published an article with the top 31 places to go this summer. The Sunshine Coast was ranked 28th. That's a huge accomplishment and publicity you can't buy.
It reinforces how much these events do for the community. Volunteers work hard to make sure they are positively received. They try to showcase the Coast in a positive light, but some see fit to try and destroy that reputation. It's truly sad.
