2015 BC Cup Calendar: The Rebirth of Racing
Cycling BC has released their 2015 Mountain Bike Calendar. Next to representing an important bridge between grassroots events and UCI Sanctioned races like the World Cup circuit, these events represent over 20 years of passion and commitment by race organizers and the mountain bike community.
Between the XC and DH Races scheduled for this year there are six hardworking and committed race organizers. While their events, focuses, tracks, and locations are widely varied, the one thing they agree on is the importance of BC Cup level of racing. It is a stepping-stone for BC athletes, for some it is their first taste of formal competition and it sets them up for success at the national and international level. This series offers racers the tools, experience, and support to make it to that next level and exposes them to the opportunities available to them.
Henry Pejril and his team, a fully volunteer organization, have been dedicated to organizing races for two decades. They host a BC Cup and Canada Cup most years, and have organized two Mountain Bike World Masters, as well as, three XC and one Cyclocross Nationals. Henry simply views his work as his contribution to the cycling community, “we’ll keep doing races as long as it’s fun and rewarding!” This year they are hosting Race the Race and the Sun Peaks BC Cup DH races.
Race the Ranch will kick off the BC Cup season on April 12. Henry describes it as a safe course with a low-key, grass roots feel that is reminiscent of the old time BC Cup races he grew up with. “The course is located entirely within the Kamloops Bike Ranch freeride park. It is a purpose built course that is challenging, fun, wide open and relatively short at two minute winning times. The shuttle road is very short which makes for quick turn-arounds. This is currently the longest running BC Cup DH and is a great way to start off the season of racing.”
Richard Wooles, who took over as the Executive Director of Cycling BC two years ago, says of his current reign “we had to dig ourselves out of a hole.” But now there is focus on building the XC and DH mountain bike programs with personnel and funds are being allocated to it. Feedback from event organizers and racers is finally being acted upon – even incremental change is a move in the right direction. This year, along with the ability to insure even those racers without a UCI membership, DH races will offer separate practice times Junior Expert and Pro, an optional separate practice time for women, and seeded race runs for the Pro category.
Race organizers, like Stephen Exley who runs the Dunbar Summer Series - Silver Star, Panorama, Kicking Horse, and Fernie, have started to put their own touch on BC Cups, making them 'events'. At the Dunbar Summer Series racers can expect details like tubes, pumps, and tools at the start gate and onsite mechanical support in the pits. Plenty of prizes and equal payouts for the men and women’s categories, plus details like champagne, custom race plates, and oversized checks. Each event raffles off a brand new frame from Intense; this year a M9, 951, and the new M16. The KORE award will also be given out at each event for the person who best demonstrates the core traits of a downhill racer. The fastest man and woman for each race will win a dive watch from Momentum Watches. The proceeds from the series benefit Stephen's daughter Lola who was left with a brain injury after battling viral encephalitis in 2008.
A new stop this year for both XC and DH is Whistler on June 28. Seb Fremont and his team will be hosting both BC Champs together that weekend, allowing them to "showcase all that whistler has to offer. Being located in Whistler, our first year event will offer riders the ability to ride a vast network of trails either in the valley or on the mountain."
The BC Cup XC season will kick off in Surrey with the Junkyard Dog on April 18. "The Junkyard Dog race had been on the race calendar for many years and after a short break it’s time to bring it back! We’ve been running toonie races on the course which have been excellent and the current SORCE Bike Club executives have partnered with Cycling BC to raise the bar and bring this premier series event to Surrey," explains race organizer, Mike Dolling. He is committed to returning XC racing to the level that it once was in BC, "many of us have great memories of the BC Cup series which got many local racers started in their careers. We wanted to support Cycling BC who have invested time and money in supporting the return of the series."
Sue Duxbury of the Sunshine Coaster is perhaps the best example of how deep these event run in our communities. She started assisting her friend, and then racer organizer, Rod Camposano with his grassroots event, then name The Rat Race, nine years ago. Three years later when Rod stepped back, she took over because her kids still wanted to race. Now the Sunshine Coaster raises money for Sunshine Coast Cycling youth development, Sunshine Coast United Mountain bikers; who build and maintain the local trails, and Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue who provide first aid for the race weekend. Her event is for the community, and with that the community is there for her. As she puts it "I am very luck to have inherited about fifty volunteers with the race."
There is an evident resurgence in racing at the BC Cup level - the passion of the organizers, the renewed commitment from Cycling BC and the communities' involvement. The need for this level of racing has been identified as a necessary step for our local racers looking to progress to a national and international level. There is no time like the present for them to take advantage of this rebirth of racing.
Cross Country
April 18 - Surrey - Junkyard Dog
May 2 - Roberts Creek - Sunshine Coaster
June 7 - North Vancouver
June 28 - Whistler (BC XC Championships)
Downhill
April 12 - Kamloops - Race the Ranch
June 28 - Whistler (BC DH Championships)
July 5 - Vernon - Silver Star
July 12 - Kamloops - Sun Peaks
July 19 - Panorama
July 26 - Golden - Kicking Horse
August 30 - Fernie
 | As an organizer, a BC Cup hits that sweet spot in sanctioning in that there is good oversight by the provincial body, good support as far as promotion and advertising goes and a strong following of racers. You have the advantages of a prestigious sanctioned event without the complexity of higher level events that require UCI involvement. BC Cup is where it's at! -Henry Pejril, BC Cup Organizer |
 |
 The 2014 race course at Panorama Bike Park. |
Between the XC and DH Races scheduled for this year there are six hardworking and committed race organizers. While their events, focuses, tracks, and locations are widely varied, the one thing they agree on is the importance of BC Cup level of racing. It is a stepping-stone for BC athletes, for some it is their first taste of formal competition and it sets them up for success at the national and international level. This series offers racers the tools, experience, and support to make it to that next level and exposes them to the opportunities available to them.
Henry Pejril and his team, a fully volunteer organization, have been dedicated to organizing races for two decades. They host a BC Cup and Canada Cup most years, and have organized two Mountain Bike World Masters, as well as, three XC and one Cyclocross Nationals. Henry simply views his work as his contribution to the cycling community, “we’ll keep doing races as long as it’s fun and rewarding!” This year they are hosting Race the Race and the Sun Peaks BC Cup DH races.
| I've personally been very invested in the whole BC Cup scene. As I said, we've been putting on BC Cups for twenty years. It's an extremely important stepping stone for our athletes giving them their first taste of formal competition and setting them up for success at the national and international level. -Henry Pejril, BC Cup Organizer |
 |
| The purpose built Race the Ranch course is a great way to start off the season. |
Race the Ranch will kick off the BC Cup season on April 12. Henry describes it as a safe course with a low-key, grass roots feel that is reminiscent of the old time BC Cup races he grew up with. “The course is located entirely within the Kamloops Bike Ranch freeride park. It is a purpose built course that is challenging, fun, wide open and relatively short at two minute winning times. The shuttle road is very short which makes for quick turn-arounds. This is currently the longest running BC Cup DH and is a great way to start off the season of racing.”
 |
| The Dunbar Summer Series at Silverstar Bike Park. |
| Cycling BC has been through a lot of changes in the last few years. I have been in my current position now for just over two years, and we had to dig ourselves out of a hole. Now we have a great group of people here at CBC and we're looking to build the XC and DH programs to bring more people back to races in BC. This year will be the first year that we can insure anyone to race, even without UCI membership. We are injecting funds to all BC series events and are looking to build them up over the next four years. -Richard Wooles, Executive Director, Cycling BC |
Richard Wooles, who took over as the Executive Director of Cycling BC two years ago, says of his current reign “we had to dig ourselves out of a hole.” But now there is focus on building the XC and DH mountain bike programs with personnel and funds are being allocated to it. Feedback from event organizers and racers is finally being acted upon – even incremental change is a move in the right direction. This year, along with the ability to insure even those racers without a UCI membership, DH races will offer separate practice times Junior Expert and Pro, an optional separate practice time for women, and seeded race runs for the Pro category.
| Proceeds from the Dunbar Summer Series will go to the Love for Lola Fund, which will assist with my daughter's rehabilitation. Lola is recovering from life-threatening viral encephalitis, which she was infected with in 2008. Proceeds from the Dunbar Summer Series will assist with her care and recovery, and any opportunity that we have to facilitate her engagement her in everyday life, be it swimming, biking, or enjoying life with her family. We have big goals for Lola's communication this year, and seek any chance to help her to grow in this area. -Stephen Exley, BC Cup Organizer |
 |
| Fast and loose at the top of the Fernie Mountain BC Cup course. |
Race organizers, like Stephen Exley who runs the Dunbar Summer Series - Silver Star, Panorama, Kicking Horse, and Fernie, have started to put their own touch on BC Cups, making them 'events'. At the Dunbar Summer Series racers can expect details like tubes, pumps, and tools at the start gate and onsite mechanical support in the pits. Plenty of prizes and equal payouts for the men and women’s categories, plus details like champagne, custom race plates, and oversized checks. Each event raffles off a brand new frame from Intense; this year a M9, 951, and the new M16. The KORE award will also be given out at each event for the person who best demonstrates the core traits of a downhill racer. The fastest man and woman for each race will win a dive watch from Momentum Watches. The proceeds from the series benefit Stephen's daughter Lola who was left with a brain injury after battling viral encephalitis in 2008.
 |
| Details like champaign on the podiums and equal payouts for pro men and women are just a few perks of the Dunbar Summer Series. |
| We have an experienced team here at Whistler/Blackcomb that have been running the Phat Wednesdays for years and that have been involved in the execution of many other events so this opportunity of hosting the BC Provincial Champs felt like a progression in our racing events here in Whistler. -Sebastien Fremont, BC Cup Organizer |
 |
| The new stop for the BC Championships this year is Whistler and is brought to you by the team who brings you Phat Wednesdays. |
A new stop this year for both XC and DH is Whistler on June 28. Seb Fremont and his team will be hosting both BC Champs together that weekend, allowing them to "showcase all that whistler has to offer. Being located in Whistler, our first year event will offer riders the ability to ride a vast network of trails either in the valley or on the mountain."
| Many of us have great memories of the BC Cup series which has got many local racers started on their racing careers. We wanted to support Cycling BC who have invested time and money in supporting the return of the series. There are a number of great marathon races these days, but we still feel there is a good place for shorter races with series points. -Mike Dolling, BC Cup Organizer |
 |
| The SORCE Toonie course will kick off the XC BC Cup season as the Junkyard Dog race. |
The BC Cup XC season will kick off in Surrey with the Junkyard Dog on April 18. "The Junkyard Dog race had been on the race calendar for many years and after a short break it’s time to bring it back! We’ve been running toonie races on the course which have been excellent and the current SORCE Bike Club executives have partnered with Cycling BC to raise the bar and bring this premier series event to Surrey," explains race organizer, Mike Dolling. He is committed to returning XC racing to the level that it once was in BC, "many of us have great memories of the BC Cup series which got many local racers started in their careers. We wanted to support Cycling BC who have invested time and money in supporting the return of the series."
| I took on an existing race, the Rat Race, from friend Rod Camposano. I helped him for nine years and he was getting burned out. So six years ago when I still had kids racing, and wanted it to continue, I took it on. It's good for the Coast and raises money for Sunshine Coast Cycling youth development, Sunshine Coast United Mountain Bikers, who build and maintain our local trails, and Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue, who provide first aid for the race weekend and put in countless hours year round on the Coast. I am very lucky to have inherited about fifty volunteers with the race; members of SCC, SCUMB, and SCSAR. -Sue Duxbury, BC Cup Organizer |
 |
| Local pros giving it their all at last year's Sunshine Coaster. |
Sue Duxbury of the Sunshine Coaster is perhaps the best example of how deep these event run in our communities. She started assisting her friend, and then racer organizer, Rod Camposano with his grassroots event, then name The Rat Race, nine years ago. Three years later when Rod stepped back, she took over because her kids still wanted to race. Now the Sunshine Coaster raises money for Sunshine Coast Cycling youth development, Sunshine Coast United Mountain bikers; who build and maintain the local trails, and Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue who provide first aid for the race weekend. Her event is for the community, and with that the community is there for her. As she puts it "I am very luck to have inherited about fifty volunteers with the race."
There is an evident resurgence in racing at the BC Cup level - the passion of the organizers, the renewed commitment from Cycling BC and the communities' involvement. The need for this level of racing has been identified as a necessary step for our local racers looking to progress to a national and international level. There is no time like the present for them to take advantage of this rebirth of racing.
Cross Country
April 18 - Surrey - Junkyard Dog
May 2 - Roberts Creek - Sunshine Coaster
June 7 - North Vancouver
June 28 - Whistler (BC XC Championships)
Downhill
April 12 - Kamloops - Race the Ranch
June 28 - Whistler (BC DH Championships)
July 5 - Vernon - Silver Star
July 12 - Kamloops - Sun Peaks
July 19 - Panorama
July 26 - Golden - Kicking Horse
August 30 - Fernie
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33 Comments
- 18 3
jax888
(Mar 25, 2015 at 16:53)
First off, big props to all the volunteers who put in countless hours to make these events possible for us! I raced my first BC Cup race in 2013 (my first DH race ever) at the Ranch in Kamloops. I was super nervous about the difficulty of the race run and the fact that as a first time racer I had to ride the same lines as the pro's. I felt like I was just in the way during practice times when seeded with the guys and that the female riders were just an afterthought in general. This was the same experience I had with subsequent BC Cup races. Last year, I entered the Port Angeles race in WA and was overwhelmed by the number of girls participating and the very different atmosphere. Listen, I get the fact that this is elite level racing but I personally think that it would not detract from the event by offering more race lines with a lesser degree of difficulty to entice more people to race. The more people that get involved in the sport the better for all involved. It is great that the top end female riders are getting equal recognition on the podium but it is a bit short sighted. Promoting the sport to young girls and getting them on the circuit still seems illusive. Just check out all the pictures of Kylie Stewart (a super rad rider) often standing alone on the podium race after race....
- 6 0
Parabellum
(Mar 25, 2015 at 14:32)
BC Cups are awesome. Great tracks, great support, great atmosphere. Competitive fields but still laid back enough that everyone is having fun. HUGE props to the organizers, sponsors, and promoters of these events - for some of us they are a big part of the season and the efforts are hugely appreciated. Cheers!
- 5 1
romolan
(Mar 31, 2015 at 20:32)
I like the BC Cups, but I don't understand why they have separate categories for day license (citizen) and full license. This is particularly an issue in the categories that have fewer competitors like for example Master 30 - 40. In this category if you have a full license you get forced to race against sometimes only 1-3 racers (not much of a race), where as the citizen category you could have 10-20 racers (a lot more fun). It would make for much better racing if there was just one category (citizen + full license) for the smaller categories. I think more people would race if the racing was more competitive/fun and thus more likely to buy a full license from cycling BC.
- 4 0
transition-racer
(Mar 25, 2015 at 9:38)
bc cup looks like a way better atmosphere. In the quebec cups, can't wear hats or sunglasses on the podium.. method of timing the runs are horrible, no cheering from the crowd on race runs but good tracks except they don't do races at mont saint anne or camp fortune anymore which are great locations
- 3 0
nofear259
(Mar 31, 2015 at 17:25)
You BC Guys should be damn grateful as here in Ontario the DH racing scene of the OCUP series just collapsed so we have no racing......Be proud that the mtb community has been embraced as much as it is there.
- 1 0
murdoch50
(Apr 1, 2015 at 14:46)
Likely in the Lost Lake trails just north of the village with the race start and finish at Spruce Grove Park. The past few Canada Cup events ( including last summer's event )/ and BC high school races held in town over the last number of years use the same network on the north end of the park. Easy to manage and good variety in trail types, classic XC trails. They have been a few other loops used including one year when they had laps going through the Long Horn Bar ( bar at the bottom of the Whistler Bike Park ) but that was still when Alison Sydor was racing.... yeah just dated myself.
- 3 0
eveono
(Mar 31, 2015 at 15:16)
Great to see the return of a series that brought a lot of cyclists through the system. Another great step Cycling BC is taking.
- 3 0
game
(Mar 31, 2015 at 14:38)
love bc cup, stoked to see one in whistler finally! miss having races near the city my broke ass can make it out to.
- 3 0
ali-chapple
FL (Mar 31, 2015 at 15:48)
Is there a place I can register for the Whistler one before all the seasonaires enter?
- 3 0
lanereno1
(Mar 31, 2015 at 14:42)
Go away haha mmmmm
- 1 2
mmmmm
(Mar 31, 2015 at 15:59)
#maxwelldairy
- 2 0
ridegiantbikes31
(Mar 31, 2015 at 15:08)
how old do you have to be to race?
- 4 1
brownstone
(Mar 31, 2015 at 15:32)
old enough to ride a bike
- 3 1
sexley
FL (Mar 31, 2015 at 17:35)
You must turn 13 in 2015 to race BC Cups @ridegiantbikes31
- 2 0
ridegiantbikes31
(Apr 1, 2015 at 10:30)
crap I'm only 12
- 2 0
sexley
FL (Apr 1, 2015 at 10:53)
@ridegiantbikes31 do you turn 13 in 2015 or did you just turn 12 in the last three months?
- 2 0
ridegiantbikes31
(Apr 1, 2015 at 11:03)
i wont be turning 13 soon enough to race
- 2 0
abagar
(Apr 2, 2015 at 8:54)
You can race the NW Cup across the border in WA. Unfortunately no U13 category at home. Yet...
- 1 0
kurt-heering
(Mar 31, 2015 at 14:07)
So stoked for Whistler BC cup!! Anyone know what the course is going to be??
- 2 0
lanereno1
(Mar 31, 2015 at 14:19)
Yeah I'm wondering the same thing?
- 1 4
mmmmm
(Mar 31, 2015 at 14:38)
Stop wondering jamisX1
- 1 0
Lite-Spring
(Mar 31, 2015 at 16:40)
BC is sooo lucky to have the great, hard work of so many people to create a amazing culture
- 2 0
Protour
(Mar 31, 2015 at 17:11)
Great DH schedule, some great tracks.
- 1 0
nukeproof88
(Mar 31, 2015 at 18:29)
For downhill are those the dates that the real race starts or practise runs start?
- 2 0
sexley
FL (Mar 31, 2015 at 19:14)
@nukeproof88 the dates are the Sunday of the event weekend. Race day
- 2 2
mrtbag
(Mar 31, 2015 at 20:24)
Wow, such a great race calendar. 1 race a 11 week break then 5 race weekends in a row a 6 week break then the finals ??? Hummmmm
- 1 0
game
(Apr 1, 2015 at 12:00)
They're all in the interior, i think they're trying to save travel costs for the people hitting all the races. Still kinda wacky but i think thats the reasoning.
- 1 0
Trevorm91
(May 31, 2015 at 11:34)
I got a feeling it may be Whistler dh to lower Canadian open or lower whistler dh
- 1 0
Aidancutting
(Mar 31, 2015 at 21:02)
What track is the whistler race on?
- 1 0
nukeproof88
(Mar 31, 2015 at 22:48)
Thank you @sexley but what day to we show up for practise
- 2 0
sexley
FL (Apr 1, 2015 at 7:25)
@nukeproof88 that would depend on the event and how much practice you want to get in. You must get two laps in before your race run as a minimum. Most racers show up in the afternoon on Friday. Walk the course and pick up plates and lift tickets to get in a full day on Saturday. A few racers will show up in the AM on Friday and ride the course Friday for more laps on the track. You will need to review the schedule for each event then decide. Those on a budget or that work Friday will arrive Sat and pound laps for a half day.
- 1 0
Trevorm91
(Jun 8, 2015 at 11:55)
So does anybody know when registration starts for whistler?
- 1 1
viwarrior
(Mar 31, 2015 at 17:50)
A line
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