Over 130 mountain bikes were crowded into the staging area at Village Park in Cumberland, in various stages of preparation for the inaugural Comox Valley Schools Enduro Mountain Bike Race.
The race was open to student athletes from grades 8 through 12, representing five school districts. Students travelled from as far afield as the Gulf Islands to compete on the trails in the Cumberland Forest. Enduro races have timed stages, with transfers between each stage that are not timed. Participants competed in a true Enduro-style format, tackling multiple timed stages separated by un-timed transfer sections.
The course started at the park, and riders headed into the trail network, hitting the New Vanilla, Field of Dreams, Old Vanilla, Middle Vanilla and Vanilla Bottom trails.
"The energy on the trails was electric, with students demonstrating incredible skill, resilience, and camaraderie," a release from the school district says.
The course was well marked and had safety stations with first-aid volunteers along the way. Volunteers Mike Tunnah, Lisa Ludwig, Brett Whitehead and Jana Buckle, teacher sponsor whose efforts were instrumental in making the event happen, the school district said in the release.
Top Three Finishers by Category:
Boys Junior (Grades 8-10)
1. Ben Jamieson – Cumberland Community School
2. Taylor Grieve – Aspengrove School
3. Tiernan Vasseur – Brooks Secondary School
Girls Junior (Grades 8-10)
1. Echo Slobodzian – Mark R. Isfeld Secondary
2. Meirah Honeysett – Lake Trail Community School
3. Joanna Mussalem – Brooks Secondary School
Boys Senior (Grades 11-12)
1. Nolan Weiss – G.P. Vanier Secondary
2. Rylan Purden – Mark R. Isfeld Secondary
3. Finn Amar – G.P. Vanier Secondary
Girls Senior (Grades 11-12)
1. Mya Wing – Lake Trail Community School
2. Rhyley Durand – Carihi Secondary
3. Sunny Hillier – Brooks Secondary School
Boys U15 (Under 15)
1. Ethan Jamieson – G.P. Vanier Secondary
2. Davi Schettino – G.P. Vanier Secondary
3. Sam Schum – Mark R. Isfeld Secondary
Girls U15 (Under 15)
1. Talia MacPhail-McGrady – Mark R. Isfeld Secondary
2. Annabelle Whitehead – Mark R. Isfeld Secondary
3. Laila Gutzwiller – Mark R. Isfeld Secondary
