Kamloops - Osprey BC Enduro Series, Presented by Smith - Race Recap
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Dessert in the Desert!
Kamloops is that place that everyone has heard about, you've always wanted to rider here, and this weekend, we welcomed in a whole bunch of Kamloops first-timers, some old-timers and many that will be returning to seek out the sage and endless ribbons!
Round number four of the OSPREY BC Enduro Series, presented by SMITH is hosted by #ExploreKamloops and Bicycle Cafe Kamloops, with support from Spoke Bike and Ski, Kamloops Performance Cycling Centre and the Kamloops Bike Riders Association.
Now, that was a blatant plug for a bunch of people, but it's interesting to see the long list, why is that? These are the people and businesses that make riding areas possible
Ted (Organizer of the BC Enduro Series), lives in Kamloops. I actually had a bit of a get-off a week before the race, I fractured my Patella among other things and was left hobbling about. Not the thing you want to happen one week before you showcase your trails and community to 200 people!
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 This weekend riders were lucky enough to ride a BRAND NEW FLOW TRAIL, finished just days before the race, not to mention the new Ket 'r' Done climbing trail, that was completed just last fall. In typical BCES fashion, we cut a cheque to the local trail club for over $2500 for their hard work and for letting us be the guinea pigs on the new flow trail! |
The amount of support I received from those in my hometown was insane! I always get to write a little bit about how amazing each community that the BCES visits are, but when you really get to be a part of it, you realize that riding is a true leveller of any playing field; age, riding style, income, beer preference, political views, none of it matters when it comes to getting down on bikes! Needless to say, I was absolutely flabbergasted with the selfless acts of support people came forward with. A quick hit-list of thanks goes to Frank Helly, Paul Berry, Larry Hindle, <---Those three guys did over 8hrs of trail marking. Big thanks to Kipp Fennell, Jayne Rossworn, Wayne Parsons, Keith Wilson, Mike Reid, Lachlan Sillitoe, Fraser Gibson, Florian Nebel (NZL), Kyle P. (Thanks for the side-by-side), Dylan Sherrard, Keri Lewis, Jeff Pont and Cadence the dog!
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| Beautiful, Harper Mountain, onsite camping and use of the lodge! This was surely a majestic weekend! |
Welcome to Kamloops first, ever, Enduro! Over 200 people competed this past weekend, the heat was cranked to thirty-seven and the descents were turned up to fifteen minutes! I was so stoked to show off my hometown, I even called in support from the local winery, Monte Creek Ranch Winery and the local brewery, Red Collar Brewing, to keep the hydration levels high throughout the event.
This event had onsite camping access to the log cabin for lounging and trails straight from your tent!
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| For those not wanting to dirtbag it camping. This is the view from inside the Double Tree by Hilton, they let you keep your bike in your room, you could say that they are #EnduroFriendly. |
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| Saturday night, things got a little loose, we had practice on Stage 4 - the grass slalom, and we also drank a few bottles of wine and a keg... |
Let's Get to RACING
This race was the longest course of the BCES to date, the most vertical gain (pedalling only) and the most amount of KMS, with stage one being around a 15-minute average. The course was a mix of Kamloops, fast flow, steep rock chutes, loose soil, berms a brand new flow trail and an old school grass slalom just for the hell of it!
Race Photos
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| Diana (Blue Shirt), is our Athlete Manager and Volunteer Coordinator, she keeps the ship a float, so make sure you toss her a High-Five at the reg table as she's likely answered more emails than anyone about whether or not there will be banana's at the aid station. |
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| Stage 1 was a real dog's breakfast, you had to duck under this tree, while in this rock garden, then hang a U-turn and sprint uphill until the next rock roll. You know it's legit when Pro-Riders send you emails mentioning it as a safety concern! Don Sutton, one of the more stylish through this section |
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| Many people were surprised with the amount of rock in stage one, Kamloops isn't just fast flowy, flat corners, we've got it all, you just need to know where to look and who to call. |
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| James Seywell, somewhere along stage one, did we mention it was 15 minutes!? |
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| Ryan Hughes, keeping his composure in the heat as he schralps down Stage 2 (Nate's Woody) |
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| Laura Battista, she's always so happy, you would be too if you were as fast as her on Stage 2 |
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| Jose mentioned to me that the new flow trail (just finished two weeks ago), is likely one of the best trails he's ever ridden. He was so stoked with the trails at Harper and the fact that he can now cross riding in Kamloops of his bucket list, that he helped take the garbage to the dump! |
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| You can either suffer on the climbs or have a good time! Ladies always have way more fun, they don't take themselves as serious as the Endurbros. |
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| Beast Mode...I foresee a #TuToTuesday. How to annihilate grass corners. Mr. Barrelli, showing why he's one of the fastest in the world. He also helped course mark this weekend. Can't thank him enough for his help and stoke! |
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| The gratuitous Helly shot, Johnny Helly, on his hometown trails! |
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| Stage 4 was nothing but good times. Spencer, Spandex, Shirtless, Chest Hair - One of those doesn't fit... |
Max Leyen and the 50 Footer on Stage 3
The After Party
We always like to down a few beers, throw some high-fives, and B&*-S^%T about why we didn't come first, and part of the Osprey BC Enduro Series experience is doing this with two-hundred of your best friends!
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| These guys kept the Taco Salad's and Perogies coming all weekend long! Cookshack Cravings is the real deal. |
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| Marcus, this guy is such a gem, always in a good mood and always keen to chat over a beer. |
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| Typical Kamloops... |
OSPREY FASTEST AMATEUR TIME
Osprey Packs is handing out a hydration pack to the fastest amateur time at every race. This Viper 9 Hydration Pack, going home to a ridiculously fast amateur.
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| Kasper Koolley, his time was almost double his age, he would've podium in almost every category...we can't wait to see him in a few years! |
OSPREY PRE-SEASON PRIZE PACK
Back in the spring, we had a prize pack, including a Tracy Moseley signed pack, the lucky winner was Sierra! She was stoked on the prizes!
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| Sierra showing off her brand new swag, Osprey Raven 14 Hydration Pack, signed by Tracy Moseley, Transporter 40 Duffle Bag and other goodies!! |
RESULTS
Full Results: Click Here
To view series results check them out on Roots and Rain
U15 MEN
Pos No. Name Team Time
1st 181 Neve Abraham | Commencal/Fox Head, 100%, Chromag, Pemberton Bike | 00:26:17
2nd 174 Carter Woods | Dodge City Racing, DCC | 00:26:32
3rd 182 Johnathan Helly | Bicycle Cafe Kamloops | 00:26:39
U21
1st 191 Kasper Koolley | 00:25:18
2nd 253 Max Scharf | Skookum Cycle Salmon Arm | 00:25:20
3rd 194 Evan Mant | Royal Racing/ S4 Suspension/ @teamraisinbran | 00:25:32
21-29 MEN
1st 256 Harrison Smith | Free Radicals, NOBL Wheels, Chromag | 00:26:06
2nd 170 Curtis Bennett | 00:26:14
3rd 242 Jonathan Ladyman | 00:26:28
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| Harrison, going full NOBL Wheels - I don't know how it started, but if you ride NOBL Wheels and you make the podium, you're supposed to do the 'Truffle Shuffle', who even knows what that is!? |
30-39 MEN
1st 132 Eric Nykoluk | 00:25:44
2nd 133 Cesar Gairin | Orbea, 9Point8, adidas Sport eyewear | 00:25:48
3rd 102 Dave Sutton | cycology bikes/ nrg/ lions head pub | 00:26:01
40+ MEN
1st 89 Andy Moore | Endless Biking | 00:26:45
2nd 94 Trevor Syrowy | 00:26:48
3rd 81 Wayne Parsons | Nobl Wheels | 00:27:08
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| This is Wayne, he's one of the trail builders in Kamloops, father of four, and absolute crusher of Pints and Pedals! Thanks for your help Wayne! |
SHORT COURSE U21 MEN
1st 207 Adam Lucas | Knolly, O'Neal, Spank | 00:11:40
2nd 178 Oliver Capobianco | 00:12:03
3rd 223 Jake Swallow | 00:12:17
SHORT COURSE MEN 21+
1st 224 Qwynn Dalmer | 00:12:28
2nd 248 Rich Embury | 00:13:05
3rd 225 Dennis Luk | 00:14:42
SHORT COURSE U21 WOMEN
1st 219 Jaya Guibert | 00:14:41
2nd 241 Sophie Von Dehn | 00:17:10
SHORT COURSE WOMEN 21+
1st 38 Angela LeFebvre | 00:14:40
2nd 47 Emilia Cronin | Muddbunnies Riding Club | 00:15:17
3rd 222 Marie-noelle Legere | 00:19:08
U21 WOMEN
1st 188 Jennifer McTavish | Ryders Eyewear, Chromag | 00:31:36
2nd 186 Kei Gray | 00:36:16
3rd 185 Xiola Aldrich | 00:43:34
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| Xiola, rode the whole course on a hard-tail, did I mention she's 14! |
OPEN WOMEN
1st 54 Leonie Picton | LIV Giant, Arbutus Routes | 00:27:54
2nd 53 Christina Chappetta | Evolution whistler, sombrio, Transition Bikes | 00:28:24
3rd 63 Laura Battista | 00:28:47
PRO MEN
1st 16 Yoann Barelli | Giant Factory Off Road Team | 00:23:39
2nd 255 Dustin Adams | nobl wheels, Scott Bikes | 00:24:13
3rd 2 Stu Dickson | Devinci Cycles/NRG | 00:24:14
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| Yoann, keeping it real in between Kamloops native, Dustin Adams and Revelstokes, Stu Dickson. |
Canmore
Next race we will be starting the BC Enduro East Series in Canmore, Alberta.
A massive thank-you to this year's series sponsors and supporters
• Osprey Packs
• Smith Optics / @SmithOptics
• Nobl Wheels / @NOBLwheels
• Kazoom
• Tourism Kamloops
• Wandering Wheels
• Knolly / @KNOLLYBIKES
• Pinkbike
• Race Face Performance Products / @raceface
• Fouriers
• Commencal / @COMMENCALbicycles
• Tourism Rossland
• Red Racer Beer
• Smith Optics / @SmithOptics
• Nobl Wheels / @NOBLwheels
• Kazoom
• Tourism Kamloops
• Wandering Wheels
• Knolly / @KNOLLYBIKES
• Pinkbike
• Race Face Performance Products / @raceface
• Fouriers
• Commencal / @COMMENCALbicycles
• Tourism Rossland
• Red Racer Beer
WE NEED HELP!
We're always looking for parents, girlfriends/boyfriends or injured riders to help out!
What you'll get:
• Jersey
• Lunch
• Post-race meal and drink
• Discount entry on any other race, for you or for a friend/kid/dog
Contact Diana: admin@bcenduro.com
Need Something?! More Information?
• Website
• Athlete Inquires | athletes@bcenduro.com
• Volunteer Information | admin@bcenduro.com (Diana)
• All other inquiries | ted@bcenduro.com (Event Director)
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Photographers
Mucho respect to the men behind the lens.
James Cattanach photos are here and here
Race Video Courtesy of Connor Mcleod and #ExploreKamloops / @connormacleodvideo
#SMITHisMTB #TheExperienceIsEverything #OspreyPacks #BCEnduro #BCES #BCEnduroSeries / @bcenduroseries / www.facebook.com/bcenduroseries
Author Info:
Member since Mar 9, 2013
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