riders, Sovereign boys, and MTBcoers. Twenty four riders turned out and it’s only upwards from here.

For that that made it out, here are your times from Toone Ride #1.   Remember, it’s not a race, we just keep track of the times for safety purposes…

Next Toonie ride Wednesday June 8th.  Hope you can make it!

3rd annual Postill Pig Roast
Sunday, April 17^th- 12 noon

Spend the afternoon rippin’ the Postill trail system then reward yourself by filling your belly with some pit roasted pork.  We look forward to seeing you there.

$10 meal ticket

For more information, visit www.unioncycle.ca

*This is not a Trail Day this year.

Dates: May 7th & 8th, 2011
Location: Kelowna, BC

• 2 Days -  $250 (*$225 for MTBco or IMBA Canada affiliated club members)
• 1 Day (Sat or Sun) – $175   (*$150 for members)

This May 7th and 8th, on the spectacular trails of the Central Okanagan around Kelowna, we’re proud to present the return of our wildly successful women’s specific clinic.  In association with the local bike club, MTBco, this clinic is a 2 day course  designed to improve the confidence and abilities of women riders of all levels, abilities, and disciplines.  By focusing on a solid foundation of balance, progression is fast and easy.  The coaches are highly experienced world class athletes with lots of experience not only riding bikes off road, but also in teaching these skills.

This early season course is ideal for women of all ages and abilities looking to widen their riding horizons.  Maybe you’re hungry for a little payback when you go riding with the guys, or you’re wanting to be able to keep up with your kids, or just sharpen some skills that lost their edge over the winter.   This camp will give you those opportunities and more, and all within an atmosphere specifically tailored to the specific needs of women.

With a brand new skills park in Kelowna, we will also be able to incorporate some dirt jumping and more advanced skills for those that wish to progress in that direction.

The camp includes top notch instruction, lunches, and membership in the local Bike club, MTBco.  Your participation in this camp will help the preserve the awesome trails of the Central Okanagan.

Our schedule looks like:

Day One – Fundamentals

• Neutral Positioning
• Ready State
• Bike/Body Separation
• Shifting Basics
• Braking Basics
• Descending (Intro to Steeps)
• Roll Down Lunge (Flat to Steep Transitions)
• Basic Wheel Lifts
• Level Lift (Bunny Hop)

Day Two – Specialized Skills

• Terrain Evaluation
• 1/4 punch & 3/4 Punch
• Straight Line Riding (leading to elevated stunts)
• Climbing Basics
• Slow Tight Turns and Switchbacks
• High Speed Cornering
• Manual Front Wheel Lift (leading to drops)
• Dynamic Riding (“The Wisdom of the Spastic Monkey”)

Coaches

Lorraine Blancher

A highly experienced coach, Lorraine is a former Canadian National DH Team member and National Champion.  Her resume includes multiple regional and national titles, and she has been coaching skills camps for several years.  A Kelowna local from birth, Lorraine is also a veteran of the World Cup circuit, and is still pushing the boundaries of the sport.

Barb Haley

Barb might be new to coaching, but she has many years of racing experience, and has been featured in several freeride bike movies.    Barb really wants to make you a the raddest you can be, and it’s pretty tough to not believe in someone who brings this much fun to the trails.

Candace Webb

CAW! CAW!

You’ll know what that means once you meet her.  Mad energy, and one of the best and brightest coaches ever.  If you’re not having fun learning with Candace, let us know and we’ll call a doctor.

Recommended Accommodations

The Hotel Eldorado is a beautiful hotel set right on the lake, and they’re offering a discount to camp participants.

Also, the Days Inn is very central and is also offering a special rate.  Just mention that you’re taking the clinic with Bush Pilot Biking and MTBco, and you will get the special rate.

Sign Up

Signup is open now over at Registration.

Contact us at girlsskills@bushpilotbiking.com for more information.

This is a  totally informal gathering of frothing mountain bike enthusiasts, dedicated to their sport and their community.  Please join us for some refreshments and a viewing of Digger’s last movie “The Last Digg”, as we celebrate the year that was in the Kelowna bike scene.

Admission is a non-perishable food item for the local food bank, althouth we’d appreciate a little donation to the club too (How does $5 grab ya?). Any proceeds go back to the trails.

Oh, and we’re giving away the movie and a crumpled poster too, both of  ’em autographed by Digger.   Serious collectors items here, kids.

Get there when you get there, we’ll have the show on around 8:30 or so.

The usual format.  Bring any hand tools you might have (shovels, rakes, gloves, buckets, etc.).  We’re meeting at the lower parking area up the Gillard FSR, which you access from Chute Lake Rd.

See you there!

Record turnout...40 riders!

The final Toonie of the season, and a lot of firsts went down.  Another attendance record, with 40 riders coming out.  Our first real women’s field with 6 ladies out, so we’re actually listing their results separately.  And also the first DNF with Stephen Ushy finding the limits of his 29’r on the loose dirt of Smith Creek.

Once again, with shorter days we ran the shorter course. Except for four guys from Kelowna who rode the long course anyway, just cause they could.  Meanwhile, Aeron and Anthony blew off the usual ride to go and hit some sweet jumps, and Pip Akins ran the course with daughter Eloise in the stroller.  Decent time, too.

HUGE thanks to Mike Smolak for making this happen, and also to all the bike shops that came out and cooked up some tasty treats for all the riders.  We’ll definitely be doing this again next year, and we’ll be making a few adjustments too, so if you have any suggestions, just send them to jsmoke@mtbco.ca.

Race #9

Women

You know it's a real race when you gotta jump start a truck at the end. That's what happens when your bike is worth more than your car...

Not only lots of riders, but most of the local shops came out to support as well.

OVERALL

The overall rankings were determined by giving the first 5 places points, where 1st place got 5 points and 5th place got 1.  Got it?

So here ya go…

Men’s Overall

Women’s Overall

Jr. Men’s Overall

You can check out the full season here:

A few folks were caught out by the course change and early start, but hey…it’s not like it’s a race.  Thanks to Kelowna Cycle for the post ride refreshments.

Best sock collection inthe valley.  He may not have won tonight, but Evan still gets style points.

Another record turnout tonight, with 24 riders and 5 ladies contesting for glory.

Last race of the season goes on the 29th.  Sign up is at 5:30, ride goes at 6:00 sharp.  The best entertainment that $2 can get you, don’t miss this one!

It’s getting dark earlier now, so the last couple of races will be starting at 6:00 PM sharp, and a shorter course will be in effect.

Evan and Aart continue their domination of the series, and have a solid lock on the final standings, but it’s not like there’s anything on the line here but bragging rights.  All of the regulars have seen their times improve over the season, and there’s some great rivalries heating up in the pack.

Only 2 more to go!

Chainline Cycle came out to cook us up some grub.

Jensen, sporting a retro style of some kind.

In addition to a woman rider, we also had Nathan out representing the junior segment of the community.

Your bi-weekly results…

Another first was the Le Mans start.  Thank Mike for that brainwave.

Although the route wasn’t all that clear.  “Do we go over here?”

Nope, it’s this way…

Hey, wait for me!

The evil genius that is our leader…

OK, how about some action photos of racers?

That would be Brian, the new Rocky Mtn. Bikes rep that showed up to represent.

Here’s a few more….

Check out the swag you’re missing out on.  That’s a ti railed saddle there.

The first place woman get’s her prize from our podium girl.  Even better than the Tour de France ones in my book.

Yeah, that’s the prize you want. There’s cold beer in those bags.

Big thanks to Union Cycle for providing the GIANT burgers.  They look like 29’rs from this angle.

The Le Mans start seems to have worked.  A new course record again (the clock started when the leaders crossed the start on the bikes), and everyone seems to have clocked a quicker time today.