2008 Test of Metal Weekend exceeds all expectations
The 2008 version of the Squamish Test of Metal weekend exceeded all expectations according to organizers.
“From our refreshed Friday evening program to the running of the Rock Star, we couldn't have hoped for anything more,” said Test of Metal race director Cliff Miller. “Each year we seem to tweak things and make them a little better. The organizers, volunteers and sponsors all work to make the weekend more special.”The weekend started on Friday evening with a family and bike-friendly event on Cleveland Ave. in downtown Squamish.
“Pre-Test Festival” organizer Sheila Cassells declared the evening a success.
“We had more than 50 riders on the Pump Track, and the same number signed up for either the Funny Races or Bike Poker,” she said.
While participating in the Friday night “Pre-Party” with Arthur Funkarelli at the Brew Pub, Rob Leigh of Squamish had his name drawn for a free entry into the 2008 Gearjammer, while Tim Clarkson of Victoria came out of the evening having won the grand prize of the Squamish hat-trick of pain: 2009 entries into the OreCrusher, the Gearjammer and the Test of Metal.
Saturday featured the main event, the 67 kilometer epic North Shore Credit Union Test of Metal, which many racers claimed was the best ever. The conditions were ideal and the course was fast leading to record setting times in both the men and women's category. On the men's side, Max Plaxton won with a time of 2:31:46, and for the women, Wendy Simms came through the finish line at 2:56:35.
“We've had hundreds of hours of volunteer and paid work done the course this year,” Miller said. “I think that the results speak for themselves. It was worth the effort.”
More than 800 racers attacked the course with enthusiasm and determination, and were impressed with the community involvement.
“There were 300 volunteers out doing everything from feeding to directing traffic to registering riders. They’re really the people who make this event unique,” Miller said.
The pace kept up on Sunday with Corsa Cycle sponsored Mini-Metal for 4 to 8 year olds. This year more than 200 tykes participated in the popular event. Sunday afternoon saw the downhillers hit center-stage with the Tantalus Bike Shop sponsoring the annual Rock Star Invitational Downhill.
The downhill race lived up to its hype as 50 local riders challenged the perfectly groomed trail and the granite slabs in Valleycliffe. World Masters Champ Shaums March edged Kyle “Hercules” Ritchie for the title. Miller said that scope of the weekend has grown to a size he never imagined 13 years ago, but it works so well because of the community involvement.
And the Results are....
It was a day for records to be broken at this year's North Shore Credit Union Test of Metal.
Max Plaxton of Victoria, riding for Rocky Mountain Bicycles, won the men's side in a time of 2:31:46 taking more than 5 minutes off the record time of 2:37 set by Chad Miles in 2000.
On the women's side, Kona Factory Team member Wendy Simms of Nanaimo finished with a time of 2:56:35. Her time beat the previous record 3:10 set by Alison Sydor in 2005.
Race director Cliff Miller credited to the trail crews for the fast course this year.
“We've had hundreds of hours of volunteer and paid work done the course this year,” Miller said. “I think that the results speak for themselves. It was worth the effort.”
Riders were almost unanimous in their praise for the course.
“The course was probably in the best condition I've ever seen it on race day,” said Squamish resident Ken McDowell who has ridden in every Test of Metal since the race moved to Squamish 15 years ago.
Unlike last year's mud-fest, the weather for this year's race was an ideal 20° C with partly cloudy skies.
More than 900 riders lined up at the start-line—another record—for Saturday's race.
Plaxton and Simms both earned $250 for their wins. Plaxton also added $700 in primes winnings while Simms earned $900 in primes
[L=https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pGYtJzj0UQLBvmeFibtDaCQ]
Click here[/L] for a complete list of racers, finish times, and plate numbers.
Next year’s Test of Metal is set for June 13, 2008. Information about the race is available at www.testofmetal.com.
“From our refreshed Friday evening program to the running of the Rock Star, we couldn't have hoped for anything more,” said Test of Metal race director Cliff Miller. “Each year we seem to tweak things and make them a little better. The organizers, volunteers and sponsors all work to make the weekend more special.”The weekend started on Friday evening with a family and bike-friendly event on Cleveland Ave. in downtown Squamish.
“Pre-Test Festival” organizer Sheila Cassells declared the evening a success.
“We had more than 50 riders on the Pump Track, and the same number signed up for either the Funny Races or Bike Poker,” she said.
While participating in the Friday night “Pre-Party” with Arthur Funkarelli at the Brew Pub, Rob Leigh of Squamish had his name drawn for a free entry into the 2008 Gearjammer, while Tim Clarkson of Victoria came out of the evening having won the grand prize of the Squamish hat-trick of pain: 2009 entries into the OreCrusher, the Gearjammer and the Test of Metal.
Saturday featured the main event, the 67 kilometer epic North Shore Credit Union Test of Metal, which many racers claimed was the best ever. The conditions were ideal and the course was fast leading to record setting times in both the men and women's category. On the men's side, Max Plaxton won with a time of 2:31:46, and for the women, Wendy Simms came through the finish line at 2:56:35.
“We've had hundreds of hours of volunteer and paid work done the course this year,” Miller said. “I think that the results speak for themselves. It was worth the effort.”
More than 800 racers attacked the course with enthusiasm and determination, and were impressed with the community involvement.
“There were 300 volunteers out doing everything from feeding to directing traffic to registering riders. They’re really the people who make this event unique,” Miller said.
The pace kept up on Sunday with Corsa Cycle sponsored Mini-Metal for 4 to 8 year olds. This year more than 200 tykes participated in the popular event. Sunday afternoon saw the downhillers hit center-stage with the Tantalus Bike Shop sponsoring the annual Rock Star Invitational Downhill.
The downhill race lived up to its hype as 50 local riders challenged the perfectly groomed trail and the granite slabs in Valleycliffe. World Masters Champ Shaums March edged Kyle “Hercules” Ritchie for the title. Miller said that scope of the weekend has grown to a size he never imagined 13 years ago, but it works so well because of the community involvement.
It was a day for records to be broken at this year's North Shore Credit Union Test of Metal.
Max Plaxton of Victoria, riding for Rocky Mountain Bicycles, won the men's side in a time of 2:31:46 taking more than 5 minutes off the record time of 2:37 set by Chad Miles in 2000.
On the women's side, Kona Factory Team member Wendy Simms of Nanaimo finished with a time of 2:56:35. Her time beat the previous record 3:10 set by Alison Sydor in 2005.
Race director Cliff Miller credited to the trail crews for the fast course this year.
“We've had hundreds of hours of volunteer and paid work done the course this year,” Miller said. “I think that the results speak for themselves. It was worth the effort.”
Riders were almost unanimous in their praise for the course.
“The course was probably in the best condition I've ever seen it on race day,” said Squamish resident Ken McDowell who has ridden in every Test of Metal since the race moved to Squamish 15 years ago.
Unlike last year's mud-fest, the weather for this year's race was an ideal 20° C with partly cloudy skies.
More than 900 riders lined up at the start-line—another record—for Saturday's race.
Plaxton and Simms both earned $250 for their wins. Plaxton also added $700 in primes winnings while Simms earned $900 in primes
[L=https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pGYtJzj0UQLBvmeFibtDaCQ]
Click here[/L] for a complete list of racers, finish times, and plate numbers.
Next year’s Test of Metal is set for June 13, 2008. Information about the race is available at www.testofmetal.com.
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Next year's Test of Metal is set for June 13, 2007. Information about the race is available at www.testofmetal.com.
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