Marie-Helene Premont flying Canadian colors and repping the Rocky!

In the pits...zero privacy while he's warming up...

Geoff Kabush at the top of the nastiest climb of the day.

Don’t have time to say much but I thought I’d at least share some pictures.
So far i’ve gotten my Freeride Entertainment shirt signed by Brendan Fairclough, Sam Hill, Willow Koerber, Kyle Strait, Brett Tippie, Greg Minaar, Steve Smith, Heather Irmiger and Emily Batty!

EDIT: Now also signed by Geoff Kabush, Steve Peat, Gee Atherton and Rachel Atherton.

This pic was borrowed from Canadian Cyclist – photo credit goes to them. I just wish they would show the next 2 or 3 frames as well. Ouch!

Now, Grand Beach has a bit of a reputation of being not very technically challenging, not very much elevation and also too much double track. So to try to improve the course, several committee members and a few non members spent several days at Grand Beach cutting some new single track to break up the long double track sections, including adding a nice set of downhill switchbacks. The course was also run clockwise.

Well Organized Event

Race Day – there was apparently a huge downpour around 9 am, so the start needed to be delayed 30 minutes, but that was well communicated. The kids races happened around 11:30 and the adults race about an hour later. Most everything I heard from other racers after the race was VERY positive about the course, people really liked the added single track and how it felt a lot different from the normal counter clockwise direction. I think it was the best Grand Beach course I have ever done.

The race course was well marked, there were even marshals on the course, food was good (great homemade cookies too), many volunteers were on hand to help and there was a large turn out for the race at 90 people. It was great to see a large turn out and the post race positive vibe. Good times!

Huge thanks to Hal for doing the vast majority of organization work but also to the other racers who sacrificed their own riding time during the weeks leading up to the race, to spend several days cutting new trails, also to the MANY volunteers who helped set up the day before, morning of, and tear down after. It is greatly appreciated & good job!

Tinker Creek Results

Tinker had a handful of members racing, and as Ramona pointed out to me after the race, they did not disappoint. In fact, it was basically all or nothing for Tinker racers. They were all on the podium (except for yours truly who busted his chain half way through the race, while in the lead Expert group of 4 riders… Yes, that is my excuse & no, I didn’t have a chain tool with me!)

Here are the results of the Tinker riders who actually finished and a few pics courtesy of Ramona, make sure to give them props next time you see em.

Under 9 Boys
Tristan Wiebe – 2nd Place

Under 11 Girls
Jaydi Wiebe – 1st Place

Women’s 40+ Sport
Jane Braun – 1st Place -  Nice elbow job their Jane!

Men’s 30+ Sport
Lincoln Wiebe – 1st Place

Men’s Senior Expert
Gerald Klassen – 1st Place

Nice job guys. Here are a few more pics courtesy of Ramona.

(Last pic is stolen from Ger’s profile on Facebook).

Kabush winning the World Cup race last year in Bromont.

Whats up guys!

I’ve now made the transition from living in Lethbridge (aka: close enough to the mountains to ride there every weekend) to living in Guelph, Ontario (aka. close to Toronto, meaning there is waayyy to much pavement and not enough bike trails).  There is a great group called GORBA (Guelph Off Road Bicycling Association) that does have quite a few trails in the area but they are mostly flat with less that 100 ft. of elevation change.  Fast and fun with little climbing…Not bad, but I’ve been spoiled by the mountains!

Anyways…back on topic.  This coming week/weekend the UCI Mountain biking World Championships are being held in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec.  For me, its about a 10 hour drive out there.  I figured that since this is probably the closest I will ever be to the world’s best mountain bikers (and one of the best event venues as well) I should go check it out on the weekend.  The only problem is that I’ll have to enjoy this experience by myself…which might suck….

The reason I’m posting this is that I’m inviting anyone and everyone to come and join me there!  If you get yourself here, I’ll take care of the rest. I’ll pick you up from the airport, drive you to the event, take care of the food, and we’ll watch the best guys and gals of the sport lay it down for the rainbow jersey!

Hope you can make it!

Jefferson

If you haven’t raced Grand Beach in a few years, there is some pretty nice new stuff and one newish section that will also be included – on what Hal calls “Blueberry Hill”. (Insert your own “Fonzi found his thrill” joke here.) Check out the course map image below for all the newest sections that have been added – I blame Hal for the names.

But the highlight just might be the homemade cookies that will part of the post race “Made in Manitoba” food.

All the details are at the MCA site here – You gotta have an MCA race license to race. Pre-register for $25, cause walk up is $40.

No word on where Fonzie will be jumping the shark at the East or West beach after the race – TBD.