SUNDRE – Snake Hill’s profile as a location boasting ideal terrain variety to host adrenaline-packed bike races at the provincial level is potentially poised to expand.
The Sundre Bike n’ Ski Club held on Saturday, June 3 the inaugural Snake Hill Slither, which included the return of the third annual Trailblazers Youth Racing Series and also introduced a mountain bike racing event sanctioned by the Alberta Bicycle Association, said Felix Lee, club member and race organizer.
“The past two years, we’ve been doing Trailblazers, which is youth racing,” said Lee, who is also a member of the Red Deer-based Central Alberta Bicycle Club, describing that event as “a little bit more informal.”
“This is the third year we’ve done that in Sundre,” he said about the youth races, adding this year’s format was a little different with the inclusion of the sanctioned mountain bike race that was open to everybody and represent part of a provincial circuit that offers competitors a chance to rack up points for their season.
“There’s four Alberta series mountain bike races; this is the first one of the year,” he said.
Broken down by age and sex, there were 16 categories and an accumulated total of more than 90 participants altogether, he said, adding when asked they largely hailed from places including Edmonton, Calgary as well as Canmore, but that there were of course also a few local riders.
About half of the racers were under 17 and the event offered them an opportunity to gain some invaluable competitive experience, especially for those setting their sights on competing at higher levels, he said.
“It’s one of a few (races) this year that are preparing them for the Alberta Summer Games, which is August in Diamond Valley,” he said.
Overall, he said the races went really well.
“There was lots of positive comments,” he said, adding one of the fastest racers was impressed by the terrain’s variety.
“Compared to Canmore – where most of the events are held – (Snake Hill is) physically very challenging and lots of fun and very technically challenging, well laid-out course,” he said. “(It’s) a great change from some of the other events he’s been seeing.”
Looking to next year, Lee anticipates proceeding with the fourth annual Trailblazers but also hopes to bring back the sanctioned all-ages cross country mountain bike race.
“The Trailblazers was just an easier event to start out with,” he said, adding that race helped test the waters and get better prepared to handle the logistics of organization a larger event.
“It was meant to grow into a provincial series event.”
Additionally, the Slither's Trailblazer component offered multiple categories to provide young cyclists an opportunity to participate and get a feel for riding their bikes along a course.
“Trailblazers featured races in the categories Little Rippers, Gnarly, Geared and Dialed," said Bryan McBain, an active club member and volunteer.
"The courses for the Trailblazers varied in length and difficulty according to age," said McBain, adding, "all of the cross-country events took place on the same course, but the number of laps varied by age and experience.”
The Sundre Bike n’ Ski Club also recently wrapped up its Kids of Mud program, which member Katie Jo Munro described as a cycling version of the group’s Jack Rabbits cross-country ski program to introduce youth to the sport. Another session might be organized in the fall, and Munro encourages interested residents to keep an eye out for updates on the Greenwood Neighbourhood Place Society’s monthly newsletter.
Val Hansen, a member of the club who is also a mountain bike coach for the Kids of Mud as well as the Jack Rabbits cross-country skiing programs, said the day offered an ideal opportunity to introduce the little ones to the realm of racing and hopes to see the program continue to grow.
But in terms of provincial-level events, the next scheduled race is the return of the cyclocross later this October, said Lee, adding the third annual event is set for Saturday, Oct. 21.
