August 6/04 12:54 pm - North Shore Credit Union World Mountain Bike Festival

Posted by Editoress on 08/6/04
 

North Shore Credit Union World Mountain Bike Festival

The North Shore Credit Union World Mountain Bike Festival takes place over two weekends, August 14 - 15 and August 21 - 22, 2004, on the North Shore. The Festival, an initiative of the Northshore Mountainbike Events Society, is being organized to showcase mountain biking for all ages, with a focus on responsible and sustainable biking. Events range from competitive to instructional, making sure there's plenty of room for participants and spectators alike. Early bird registration is available until August 6.

The Festival kicks off with one of the most exciting events in the sport of mountain biking - downhill freeriding. The North Shore Credit Union Downhill Challenge, Saturday, August 14 will take place on the famed CBC Trail on Mount Seymour and is open to men and women aged 15 and up. There are 5 age categories and all will run in staggered times from 10am to 4:15pm. Early registration runs until August 6, but riders can get in on the competition right up until 9am the morning of the event.

Sunday, August 15 sees the North Shore Credit Union BC Junior Mountain Bike Festival take to Ambleside Park in West Vancouver. This full day of clinics, demos, activities and prizes is geared for kids from kindergarten to grade 7 and their parents. Workshops include learning to ride basic ramps and teeter- totters with popular stunt rider "Dangerous Dan", an introduction to trials riding with the Baia Brothers, as well as bike maintenance and riding safety. Sign in and registration begins at 8am with activities running every 20 minutes until 3pm when prizes will be awarded and kids will be led through a series of games, employing their newly learned skills.

The Festival picks up again on Saturday, August 21 from 10am - 4pm with the North Shore Credit Union Enduro and Corporate Sustainability Challenge, presented by Keystone Environmental Ltd. This 6-hour event sees single riders and teams ride the 4km track in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve (formerly the Seymour Demonstration Forest) in relay style, logging as many laps as possible in that time. It's not unlike a short 24 Hour Relay...on bikes. The Corporate Sustainability Challenge is the Enduro - with a cause. Participants ride the same course in teams of 2 or 4, but also collect pledges for their efforts. Proceeds will all go directly to North Shore Rescue. Early registration for this event closes August 6, but teams can still register until 9am, August 21. Registration fees range from $30 to $180 depending on size of team and date registered.

Sunday, August 22, the last day of the Festival, is full with the North Shore Credit Union Kids' Races and Family Fun Day. Organizers will be closing a full block of Lonsdale Avenue to set up a safe, closed street race course for kids. The event will also include a bike parade for the youngest of riders as well as jump demos and lots of prizes. The day gets started at 10am with activities running every 15 minutes until 3pm.

Sunday, August 22 is also the day for the North Shore Credit Union Trials Competition which goes at 11am and 12:15pm. At this event, Canada's top riders will be showing off some intense balancing techniques and bike control using a specially constructed obstacle course. This is an open competition and definite crowd pleaser.

The North Shore Credit Union World Mountain Bike Festival & Conference is an initiative of the North Shore Mountain Bike Events Society, a not-for-profit organization established to guide dialogue and solutions for responsible and sustainable mountain biking on the North Shore. The Society also works to develop and implement guidelines and procedures with municipalities outside the North Shore for sustainable management of this important resource in the world. For more information on the Festival or Conference, or to register for events, visit www.nsmbfc.com.