Those who dare to seek maximum air are preparing to put on quite a show this weekend at the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa.
More than 20 local and national freeriders will compete for $6,000 in prize money during the newly renamed BearTrax B次元官网网址� formerly JumpShip B次元官网网址� an invitation-only event running today (July 31) through Sunday.
Jordie Lunn, a renowned freerider on the competitive circuit, designed the course for this yearB次元官网网址檚 event. Known for his challenging and awe-inspiring courses, the Parksville native began pursuing his passion on a BMX when he was 10. He took up mountain biking when he was 15 before falling for free riding about a dozen years ago. Lunn has come up with what he describes as a course that B次元官网网址渦ps the gameB次元官网网址� for the sport and showcases Bear MountainB次元官网网址檚 natural topography.
Competitors can achieve 25 feet of air over a golf cart path, with gaps of up to 40 feet before crossing the finish line behind the hotel. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the perfect place to build a world-class course,B次元官网网址� said Lunn, a near-scratch golfer who relishes the opportunity to combine two of his passions. B次元官网网址淏ikes in the sky while golfers play through below is kind of surreal.B次元官网网址�
HeB次元官网网址檚 excited about designing a course that enables experienced riders to demonstrate the skills required to participate in the sport, which is growing in popularity. Lunn also designed the recently completed Bear Mountain Bike Park, consisting of 25,000 square feet of dirt, jumps, tracks, ramps and an airbag.
BearTrax originated in 2011 as JumpShip, an event that was held on a barge in VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Inner Harbour. When organizers couldnB次元官网网址檛 float a deal in 2013, the switch was made to Bear Mountain, said Rob Fawcett, director of cycling at Bear Mountain.
B次元官网网址淣ow we have a permanent venue that provides a level of intimacy you donB次元官网网址檛 find in other courses. ItB次元官网网址檚 great news for the sport and for the good young competitors we have right here on the West Shore,B次元官网网址� Fawcett said, adding that Bear Mountain owner/developer Ecoasis B次元官网网址渉as been very supportive throughout the process.B次元官网网址�
Victoria resident Ben Byers, who helped build the course, said heB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渟uper excitedB次元官网网址� about the opportunity to compete in this yearB次元官网网址檚 event.
Bear Mountain has truly embraced mountain biking, as evidenced by the new multi-use trail and the Hub Bike Centre, said Ecoasis CEO Dan Matthews. B次元官网网址淏earTrax provides us with another signature event to showcase our resort amenities; the 36-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and the rapidly growing competitive sport of freeriding,B次元官网网址� he said in a media release.
Ecoasis recently signed an agreement with the Canadian National Mountain Bike Team, designating Bear Mountain as the official high-performance training centre.
BearTrax is a free family event that will include an area for spectators, a food vendor exposition, beer garden, kidB次元官网网址檚 zone and public air bag jump, so bring your bikes.
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