Cycling BC Holds Season Opening Camp

Source: Cycling BC

Riders could barely contain their excitement that The Whistler Bike Park was opening so Cycling BC decided to capitalize on the occasion and offered a kick-off camp for the upcoming 2010 Season.

Inviting back some Juniors from previous seasons, and adding some of the up and coming U17 riders, Coach Dave Hord had an opportunity to introduce the riders to recently signed on coaches, Chad Hendren and Mark Bunyan. Several junior riders were heavily involved in exams and graduation so not every rider was able to attend. More inside,As the riders were like horses in the starting gate, much of the coaching time was spent on the hill, but before anyone began they were treated to a session with Sports Psychology Coach, Greg McDonnell. Greg addressed mental toughness with the group who very much appreciated his comments on developing mental toughness and producing a psychological strategy for positive thought control and controlling anxiety around performance. Now fully prepared for the mountain, the group hit the lifts.

Saturday saw the coaches getting to know riders with whom they were not as familiar and riding in small groups watching technique and offering tips. Richard Wooles – Head Coach and High Performance Director of Cycling BC – joined the group for the weekend and, in the evening, described his hopes for the future in further developing the team to offer greater support to this exciting sport. “BC is so rich in talent,” he told them, “I really want to work with your coaches to put together a first class program designed to take you all the way to realizing your dreams.”

Sunday brought more riding with Chad Hendren leading a series of games and techniques for the whole group to improve balance and 'damage' control, while Dave Hord rode with individual riders giving on the move critiques.

The weather could not have been better and, if everyone arrived with a smile on their face, it was broader, and more sunburned when they departed.

Thanks are due to Whistler Blackcomb Bike Park and The Core for on site support.


Back row: Owen Scully (U17 Squamish), Justin Dale (Junior Vancouver), Cam Porteous (Junior Vancouver), Kip Shortreed (U17 Squamish), Max Horner & Nick Geddes (Junior Whistler), Kye Walstrom (Junior Vancouver), Skyler Gustin (Junior Vancouver Island), Chad Hendren (Coach), Tyler Allison (Junior Whistler)

Front Row: Holly Feniak (U17 Sunshine Coast), Dave Hord (Coach), Jordan Gosteli (U17 Squamish), Brennan Walstrom (U17 Vancouver), Riley Suhan (Junior Golden)


Back Row: Mark Bunyan & Dave Hord (Coaches), Kip Shortreed, Nick Geddes, Riley Suhan, Max Horner, Kye Walstrom, Owen Scully, Chad Hendren (Coach), Tyler Allison

Front Row: Holly Feniak, Jordan Gosteli, Brennan Walstrom


Richard Wooles, Head Coach and High Performance Director Cycling BC holds a short discussion with Chad Hendren Cycling BC DH Coach and Tyler Allison Junior DH Team member.