Sun Peaks Independent News - VOL 19 Issue 4 - The Bike Issue

Photo: Reuben Krabbe Rider: Kyleigh Stewart Sun Peaks Bike Park

THE BIKE ISSUE

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New coordinator builds on Bike Park's roots.

10.

Mt. Morrisey to see pedal access trail development.

June 11 - July 8. 2021 Vol. 19, Issue 4

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Long laps deserve the most taps.

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For comments, questions and concerns contact us at: brandi@sunpeaksnews.com Visit us: sunpeaksnews.com 250 578 0276 editor@sunpeaksnews.com Sun Peaks. BC

BRANDI SCHIER

Let’s get the obligatory ‘2020 was a crazy ride’ pun out of the way early. If you still need reminding about the world changing events that have unfolded since March last year then congratulations on achieving a life free of shrieking social media comments and 24hour news channels. We’re jealous.

Countless words have been written outlining the pain and disruption caused by COVID-19, so we won’t add any more to that pile, however one small silver lining from the past 15 months has been the resulting bike boom. As sporting leagues shut down, gyms closed, and holidays were cancelled, people throughout the world turned to bikes for exercise, freedom, safe socializing and transport. In the process, they discovered the simple joy that spinning cranks can bring. Hopefully many of these new converts will stay with us through this honeymoon period and develop their own love affair with life on two wheels.

The rest of the world is finally catching up, but Sun Peaks and Kamloops have been in on this secret for years. While Whistler bills itself as the mecca, Marin County claims birthrights, and Europe lords over World Cups, Kamloops continues to carve out its own equally important role in shaping the sport of mountain biking. As the hometown of legends, a sprawling canvas for talented trail builders, the birthplace of innovative bike brands like We Are One, and the location of endless ribbons of singletrack stretching across the hills, there are few better places in the world to be a rider. Just a short drive up the road in Sun Peaks, the mountains shed their snow every summer to reveal yet another bounty of berms, jumps, roots and rocks ready to greet our eager tires, with the added bonus of a chairlift to take us effortlessly back to the top again, and again and again. There are definitely worse spots to spend our time in while we weather this pandemic storm.

Welcome to the second annual Sun Peaks Independent News Bike Issue, which marks the start of another glorious summer of riding. Within you’ll find stories of biking’s impact on the village and in our backyard, along with plenty of exciting news about the future for our local riding community.

Enjoy the read and we’ll see you on the trails!

Publisher & Managing Editor brandi@sunpeaksnews.com

JARRETT HOFMANN Community Journalist jarrett@sunpeaksnews.com

JOEL BARDE Community Journalist joel@sunpeaksnews.com

Sam Loxton President, Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association Rob McCloskey Director of Marketing & Communications, Sun Peaks Resort LLP

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IN THIS ISSUE

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BIKING BRIEFS

THE SUN PEAKS BIKE PARK CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON BUILDING PROGRESSION

A preview on what to expect in the Sun Peaks Bike Park this season in terms of programs, lessons and events.

8 INCREASED DEMAND IMPACTS BIKE PART MANUFACTURERS While fads like baking sourdough and stocking up on T.P. have come and gone since the first lockdown, one thing has been exacerbated—the demand for mountain bikes and parts.

10 NEW MOVES IN PEDAL ACCESS TRAIL DEVELOPMENT SPRTA is leading the charge with other community stakeholders in building out 14 km of new trails this summer.

Checking in with new Bike Park coodinator Shawn Melnechuk on new improvements while honouring the park's rowdy roots.

16 ADVENTURE STUDIES COURSE LINKS MOUNTAIN BIKING WITH RECONCILIATION Thompson Rivers University (TRU) field course aims to build relationships between students and Indigenous communities through facilitating discussions, educating students about traditional land use and trail building.

20 SHARPENING ACADEMIC FOCUS THROUGH BIKING An organization known as Outride is working with teachers in Kamloops to improve students' focus in the classroom.

on the cover “Shooting with Kyleigh is, well, quite remarkable. There's something to her riding that's rare to see. Maybe it comes from cutting her teeth on rowdy trails, growing up with the blinders on, thinking blazing fast speed through tech trails is normal. Everything in the dirt buffet called Sun Peaks is here for her choosing.” - Photographer: Reuben Krabbe To check out more of Reuben’s work visit ReubenKrabbe.com or @reubenkrabbe on Instagram Rider: Kyleigh Stewart

biking briefs

CAMPS, CLINICS RETURNING TO BIKE PARK THIS SUMMER

RED BULL DOWNTIME EVENT TENTATIVELY PLANNED

By Jarrett Hofmann

By Jarrett Hofmann

Any rider at any level will have an opportunity to sharpen their skills this summer with a camp, clinic, or lesson offering from Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR).

Sam Loxton, content marketing specialist for SPR, told SPIN he’s stoked to see a lot of the programs coming back this summer, especially for women and kids.

“We’re bringing back a lot of the cool programs for kids. We’ve got a ton of great programs for women mountain bikers [and] our Women’s Bike Nights are back for 2021 on Monday nights from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.,” Loxton said.

The ladies nights combine a social experience with professional coaching to help people improve their riding and get more confident on the trails, no matter their ability.

Women can also opt into weekend sessions which are similar to the bike nights but take place at a more convenient time for those coming up from Kamloops.

Mens and local teens and kids can also join in on their respective ride nights. New this year is a Mini Kids option for six to seven-years-olds.

Loxton added anyone who is keen to improve their skills, whether they’ve never been on a bike before and want to progress onto green then blue runs, or those who are already at a high level and want a semiprofessional mountain biker or racer to instruct them, SPR has it all. “[They] can go out and get the basics of riding a bike, then move into the progression park, get the basic mountain biking skills down, then onto the greens and blues and even up to the blacks,” Loxton explained.

“We’ve got some pretty high level instructors, pro, semi-pro kind of racers and riders that can take people out. Basically, as good as you are, we’ve got someone who can make you an even better rider.”

The popular five day Shred Hard camps will also be returning this summer, hosted by professional mountain biker Dylan Sherrard.

“We really love those camps, we just weren't able to do them last year [because] COVID made it a little hard to figure out, but I believe they will come back this year,” said Loxton.

The camps give kids a chance to ride with and be coached by pro riders including Matt Hunter, Matty Miles and Brett Tippie.

In addition to traditional offerings, SPR will also have courses running for those who want to become mountain bike certified instructors.

“We’ve got a couple of those on the books, we’ve got a level one and a level two. If people are looking to get into that kind of instructor position or just want to work on some new stuff while gaining this accreditation, we’ve got those coming back this year again,” Loxton added.

The rental bikes, which include both Rocky Mountain Bikes or Devinici Cycles, will also be available for anyone looking to rent a downhill, enduro, or E-bike mountain bike.

For more camp and clinic information, visit www.sunpeaksresort.com.

A time trials event organized by Red Bull, dubbed ‘Downtime’, is scheduled to take place on the towering berms of Route 66, right underneath the Sunburst Express chairlift.

Rob McCloskey, Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) director of marketing and communications, said the event is tentatively scheduled near the Canada Day long weekend.

The event will time riders, who wear a tracking chip, as they race down Route 66 through a series of gates. The top male and female will each win two VIP Passes to Red Bull Joyride 2022.

“It’ll be a neat experience for guests who can check in with Red Bull to pick up their chip timer to keep on them, then as they ride through the gates they’ll be provided with [their] times,” he explained.

The event will be free to those who want to participate and is scheduled for June 30 to July 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“It’s an individualized event so it’s not like a gathering kind of thing.

Participants can, at their own speed, do individual time trials [and] track their progress each day if they wish,” McCloskey said.

During the event, Route 66 will be closed to the public and riders will be spaced out to ensure they can ride at their own pace.

“What’s great about it is you get to ride Route 66 completely on your own. You don’t have to worry about coming up on a slower rider or being passed by a faster rider. You get the track to yourself,” McCloskey added.

Participants must be at least 16 years of age and can pre-register online for free once Red Bull launches the website for the event, or registration can be done day of at the event tent where waivers and applications will be made available.

However, the Red Bull event and other potential summer events, are not yet confirmed and McCloskey said it all depends on provincial health orders and to keep an eye on the SPR website’s event page.

“It’s all waiting on this reopening plan progress and things like that.

We’re hopeful though that we could see late summer where we can actually have some cool things going on [if] we’re allowed to.”

ALPINE IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY Capture your Sun Peaks Memories with a professional photoshoot in a summer mountain paradise.

alpineimages.ca | info@alpineimages.ca | 250-851-1905 6

the bike issue

EARLY SEASON FITNESS MAKES FOR HEALTHY BIKE SEASON Make the most out of this bike season with these fitness tips

By Jarrett Hofmann

Navigating tech trails in the Sun Peaks Resort Bike Park.

Photo Sam Egan.

Mountain biking has become an exciting and fun new hobby for many people since provincial health orders began recommending people spend their time outside.

Mountain biking can also be a fast, high flying and high impact outdoor recreation that can leave some bent and bruised.

Not only are impact injuries like broken collarbones, sprained wrists, or concussions common, but preventable overuse injuries are also inherent to the sport.

Jase Petersen, owner and head coach at Sun Peaks Alpine Fitness as well as a former level one mountain bike instructor, spoke with SPIN to provide readers with recommendations on how to prepare themselves with simple fitness and prehab exercises for their first, fifth, or fiftieth season.

A full body strength and conditioning program during the offseason with a focus on your core, arms and legs, is the best way to be prepared for the season, according to Petersen.

Petersen advised for the early season, to take things slow and build up to bigger features, get used to the trails and bike park as they could have changed from last season and muscle memory may not have lasted over the winter.

“Maybe you’re on a new bike that you need to get a feel for, or that lip on your favourite jump might kick differently.

Having [a conservative] approach on these things can help ensure you start strong and have an awesome season,” Petersen said.

Another common issue which plagues many riders throughout the season is what’s known as “arm pump.”

Arm pump happens when a tight, prolonged grip on handlebars creates a lactic acid build up in the forearms causing tightness, pain, and/or fatigue anywhere from the elbow down to the fingers.

Petersen advised squeezing a stress ball on and off throughout the day can help your forearms and hands get conditioned for bike season.

“A lacrosse, tennis or golf ball can also be used to roll out your forearms. Place the ball on a flat surface and roll out your forearms with light pressure to release the muscle tension.”

Petersen also added a good stretching routine can not only reduce soreness and fatigue from long days on the trails, but also allows your body to move the way it was meant to.

“Stretching can alleviate some injuries and helps you make the bike do what you need it to so you can crush laps all day.”

If riders are interested in getting coached or wondering if it’s right for them, Sun Peaks Alpine Fitness is currently offering up to 40 per cent off on 90 minute initial consultations for those who sign up to the gym. This includes a program to get started with their professional kinesiologist, personal trainers and sports coaches who specialize in injury recovery, sport specific training, performance athletes, those with chronic conditions, strength and cardio conditioning, as well as athletic and agility training.

Visit www.sunpeaksfitness.com or call 250-578-7707 to learn more.

Jase Petersen riding the trails in seasons past. Photo Sam Egan.

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the bike issue

CUSTOMERS AND BIKE PART MANUFACTURERS IMPACTED

BY INCREASED DEMAND

(Top) Photo by Aeden Skinner.

(Above) Sun Peaks' rider Leilani Otner test riding her new wheels. Photo provided by Maria Davis.

Waking up on Christmas morning to find a shiny new bike beside the tree is a cherished childhood memory for many.

Unfortunately, for Maria Davis’s daughter, Leilani Otner, a picture of the bike had to do thanks to a delay in shipment.

Davis ordered the bike in October and hoped it would arrive in time for Easter so the family would be able to build it together, another strong candidate for a perfect holiday memory.

But after hearing a friend of hers who’d also ordered a bike from the same company was not able to get their order filled, she urged her husband to find out the status of their order.

Due to the high demand that has taken the mountain bike parts industry by storm, the bike was not on its way to her daughter, leaving her and many other people disappointed and in a mad scramble to find new or used bicycles for the upcoming season.

For Davis, Otner and many other Sun Peaks locals, mountain biking is a huge part of living in the community.

“We ride our bikes to school, the village, markets, we ride our bikes everywhere. We were kind of freaking out,” said Davis.

The flip side of the coin Dustin Adams, chief executive officer of local bike parts manufacturing company We Are One, who design, build, test and sell award-winning carbon mountain bike rims from Kamloops, said there’s no sign of the demand slowing down.

“We’ve seen a really large increase in demand [since the pandemic began] from all over the world, the [United States] especially,” Adams said.

“We’re up over one thousand per cent in revenue last year and before that we were up 900 per cent from 2019 to 2020.”

They have also hired over 30 employees since the pandemic began and continue to grow month over month.

Not to mention, We Are One is one of the only mountain bike part manufacturers completely

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vertically integrated in North America; in other words, they own their entire supply chain.

The company has helped bolster the local economy and has moved into three additional facilities since last year, all within Kamloops, to keep up with the increasing demand for mountain bike parts.

The growth in employee and manufacturing space has helped the company continue to meet their targets and keep up with the demand as best they can.

“We’re currently only eight weeks delayed on products,” explained Adams in April. “In the industry right now, it’s probably one of the better situations because we're not waiting in line with 17 other [companies] that are manufacturing at the same facility.”

“We’re lucky enough to be manufactured here in Kamloops so even with our increases in demand, we just hire more people and manufacture more parts. It’s actually really good [that] we own our entire supply chain.”

Adams added he thinks the industry will likely see at least three or four more years of growth before there’s slowdown in demand.

“But even then maybe it won’t slow, because these people are buying lower entry level bikes right now and they’re going to be wanting to step it up into the higher end side of things. There could be a continuum based on what I currently see.”

It’s not all pretty pennies While large increases in revenue, massive hiring campaigns and rumour of a new product all may sound like We Are One is thriving, Adams said not all parts of the supply chain are in the same boat.

“Many of the bike shops have staff on hand with no product to sell because they can’t get any parts.

The demand is great if you have the product on hand to take advantage of the situation,” Adams said.

Customers have gone into the store searching for aftermarket parts they can’t get their hands on or want maintenance done on their bikes with parts the shop doesn’t have.

While fads like baking sourdough and stocking up on T.P. have come and gone since the first lockdown, one thing has been exacerbated—the demand for mountain bikes and parts

By Jarrett Hofmann

“It’s a bigger issue because, you know, it affects everybody.

[Manufacturers] have to supply the wholesale market and the aftermarket customers. It’s kind of a sliding effect that just goes downhill from the top.”

A Canadian pioneer in bike manufacturing We Are One has released a teaser of a new product on social media.

“We’re working on a bicycle,” Adams said. “We’re going to be launching into the all-mountain trail segment of the market. It’s the largest portion of the market based on our research.”

The bike, which has been in the works for the last two years, is unfortunately behind schedule due to difficulties which have arised partially from the effect the pandemic has had on the supply chain.

In this case, We Are One is waiting for suspension and drivetrain components from an Asia-based manufacturer.

“They’re struggling to supply anything to us on time. In late August last year, I put in orders for a lot of the parts and we’re still two months delayed on a lot of it from the original delivery dates. It’s quite frustrating.”

Once the bike is released to the public though, it will be the first to be completely designed, tested and built in Canada.

“A lot of people are not aware of how difficult it is to manufacture a bicycle,” said Adams.

Typically, engineering work for a bike is done overseas, and can take up to a year just to complete computer design work. But, in as little as two years, We Are One has been able to bring all the steps of manufacturing, design, engineering, testing, mold and laminating work home to Kamloops.

“It’s hard to find skilled people that have had experience to build a bike because it’s never been done in Canada. There’s a lot of first time things that we’re doing here.”

The only thing not being done in house is the suspension and drivetrain, hence the set back from overseas manufacturers.

Fewer wheels on the ground As for Davis, after finding out her daughter's bike would not show up, she got straight onto the computer and telephone to try to find a suitable replacement.

“I was talking to friends in Revelstoke and other friends in Squamish who were going to start kind of putting feelers out there.”

She made posts on social media asking if anyone had a bike they would be willing to sell and called bike shops in Kamloops to no avail until a well timed call to District Bicycle Company.

“Forty five minutes before my phone call, a bike became available only because this other family had ordered it [and] decided not to buy it.

It was a total fluke that this happened and so I put the money down on it and claimed it.”

Although Davis wasn’t exactly shocked by the whole situation, and knew bikes were in high demand, she found it surprising that higherend bikes are now flying off the shelves.

“It was a bit of a panic because [Leilani] isn't an entry level rider, and I had understood that entry level bikes were in shortage last year. I didn’t expect the mid-range to higher-end bikes to be out, it was a bit of a shocker.”

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get out there

PEDAL IT OUT New trail development elevates pedal access network Jarrett Hofmann

Many years of dreaming, planning and fundraising regarding the potential of Sun Peaks’ biking trail network are coming to fruition as a result of several stakeholders coming together to secure COVID-19 related grant funding—all spearheaded by the Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association.

The relatively new community based not-for-profit has helped to secure $450,000 towards building out the pedalaccessed biking and hiking trail network, focusing on new terrain on Mt. Morrisey.

“In the winter, we have the 360 degrees of skiing,” said Sam Lotxon, president of SPRTA. “We’re slowly getting similar to that in the summer too with these new trails on Morrisey. I think it’s going to make a big leap in cross country pedal access biking in Sun Peaks.”

The funding will go towards three new, intermediate trails designed to work in conjunction with the SPRTA Master Trail Plan, which was recently revised due to the Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) construction of the Orient Express chairlift, making it a less attractive area for mountain bike trails.

“Originally Orient was identified as a good spot for trails because it gets a lot of sun and melts out early, but that was before some big developments on the resort side, including the Orient chairlift,” explained Loxton.

He said although Morrisey is north facing, meaning it takes more time to dry out and melt off each year, the trail builders will focus on drainage systems to shed water effectively, and Morrisey will provide riders with great terrain and good views unique to the area.

“We’re aiming for really fun features where you can jump, find flow and speed,” said Loxton. “But it’s going to be more like a trail ride, not like something you’d find in the bike park. We wanted to add variety, which is also why we chose a new contractor. Every contractor brings something with a different style of trail, so having Morrisey as its own kind of style to give everyone a variety of trails to try out will be great.”

Developing Pedal Access Trails Cross country mountain biking and pedal-accessed trails are becoming more popular in destinations across the province, driven by tourism marketing dollars and advancements in biking technology.

Tourism Sun Peaks (TSP) committed to some base funding toward the Mt. Morrisey Destination Trail Project project, which helped SPRTA to secure the provincial government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP). The grant provided $297,875 and helped different communities fund projects around the province.

“The grant we received was specifically designed to help communities, especially small and tourism-based

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ski resort mountain town communities, rebound from COVID by funding projects to help with year round tourism opportunities,” said Loxton. “Luckily we had this project in the works that ticked all of the boxes and we put together a pretty solid grant proposal and were lucky enough to get it.”

The project also aligns with long-term objectives of TSP, SPR, and the municipality.

“The current offering of non-lift access [cross-country] biking and hiking is limited and both activities are experiencing strong growth,” said Arlene Schieven, president and chief executive officer of TSP. “In order for Sun Peaks to be well positioned to take advantage of the growing interest in biking and hiking and being outdoors in general, we need to improve our product offerings in this area.”

SPR, who has a usage agreement with SPRTA to maintain and develop cross country biking and hiking trails within the controlled recreation area (CRA), applied

(Top) The proposed new Mt. Morrisey trails are shown in white, and include a climbing trail which will be multi-use to accommodate hikers, a mountain top technical loop and a machine built downhill trail.

Original map supplied by SPRTA. (Bottom) SPRTA trail building efforts are paying off in a big way.

Photo by Sam Loxton.

to the province’s Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development’s Mountain Resorts Branch (MRB) for an extension of their current licenses of occupation on Mt. Morrisey within the CRA, to accommodate the proposed SPRTA trails.

The application was supported by Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality council members in a council meeting on April 20, 2021.

The trail construction will begin this summer pending extensions of multiple SPR existing licenses of occupation, a consultation with the First Nations and other stakeholders, timber permits and environmental consultation.

“One of the goals for Sun Peaks is to extend the summer season all the way through to Thanksgiving,” said Schieven.

“The new hiking and biking network will provide visitors with activities to do beyond when the mountain is open.”

SPRTA’s Growth Founded in 2014, the new trails and funding is the latest in a series of new developments by the organization. It is now comprised of 11 board members, alongside over 300 active members who hold weekly trail building nights and occasional training to assist in completing trails for the Sun Peaks biking community.

The new grant funded trails will be in addition to two new trails that were completed by SPRTA volunteers last season and three other trails, separate from the new Morrisey trails, which will be completed this year.

SunBurf, one of the new trails completed last year, is a blue multidirectional trail located above the fire hall. The other blue trail is called About Time and can be accessed near the covered bridge.

“We’ve actually got three more trails that are about to open near SunBurf too,” said Loxton. “One’s already open, called Family Man Lower, which you can find on Trailforks.

We built that just next to the gravel Valley Trail, and on either end of that trail will be two new multidirectional climb and descend trails.”

Loxton said the three proposed grant funded trails, including a climbing trail which will be multi-use to accommodate hikers, mountain top technical loop and machine built downhill trail, will add 14 kilometres to the Morrisey network. They are designed for all riders and construction is scheduled to begin this summer if all processes go accordingly.

“We decided on blue trails for these initial trails because it’s kind of the sweet spot [where] new riders can ride and work up to them and experienced riders can still ride them and have fun on them. It’s the best fit for the whole community,” said Loxton.

The climb trail will lead to the top of the Morrissey Express chairlift where the loop trail will take riders to the summit of Morrisey, ‘The Fingers’, and back. The proposed loop is outside of SPR’s current licenses of occupation; hence the extensions of said licenses of occupation application.

A machine built, downhill-only trail will return riders to the base of Morrisey and cross the uphill trail in various spots, which will allow lower sections of the trail to open as snow melts in early season.

Once the consultation processes, permits applications and extension of the licences of occupation are complete the trail construction can begin. If all goes according to plan, the trails are expected to be finished later this summer.

Once they’re done, SPRTA will look to add on new trails with black rated trail options for more advanced riders.

“Hitting that green and blue level for now means the trails can be used by everyone but we’ve definitely got some plans for advanced trails.”

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get out there

SUN PEAKS BIKE PARK IDEAL FOR NEW STANDARD OF ADAPTIVE MOUNTAIN BIKING ASSP is aiming to bring mountain bike programming to Sun Peaks with the help of neighbouring Kootenay association

By Jarrett Hofmann

One stop of a special, invite-only downhill series was hosted at the Sun Peaks Bike Park last season by Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association (KASA), highlighting just how special the area could be for adaptive mountain biking.

One goal of the series was to test out different resorts to see how feasible adaptive mountain biking programming could be. “[We] invited a few riders out and basically tested the mountains,” explained Mike Riediger, executive director of KASA. “We worked with the resort staff for loading, unloading procedures by trying to make it as quick as possible, but we also were seeing what it’s like to guide a group of people at the resort, especially beginner adaptive mountain bikers.”

Riediger said Sun Peaks has great potential.

“From our experience [at Sun Peaks] last year, I think they’re set up really well to have something that’s more equitable than the standard that’s been out there for years.”

He said the strategic function of the village and the valley trail network added to its potential, and allowed first timers to come and start a logical progression toward mountain biking.

Landon McGauley, a Kamloops mountain biker who suffered a spinal cord injury while racing in Sun Peaks in 2010, agreed. He said he’s interested in coaching fellow athletes and the diversity of the Sun Peaks Bike Park is great for adaptive mountain biking.

“It’s nice for an adaptive bike because most of the trails are a bit wider, the berms are stacked high and it's a lot of fun because there’s lots of tech stuff,” said McGauley.

“Having this program will be huge, it’ll open up doors for a lot of people to try it out and get people on the mountain who wouldn't have had a chance otherwise.”

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KASA, who is a provincial leader in the sport, is spearheading the instructor training after acknowledging a gap in Western Canada.

Riediger and his team are working toward a standard of mountain bike programming that will have coaching, clinics focusing on specific skills, instructor training and guides.

“There’s nothing like it right now,” said Riediger.

KASA also currently rents out bikes, hosts free events and demo days.

“Our standard will be having instructors who can actually ride an adaptive mountain bike at least at a blue level on multiple different kinds [of bikes]. That way they have a better understanding and can teach it in a more productive way. We’re testing that out this year and are hoping to have it dialed for next year,” added Riediger.

Nicolas Riopel, general manager of Adaptive Sports Sun Peaks (ASSP), explained the local program was given the green light for next year by Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) earlier this spring.

“It’s a logical step for us because mountain biking is getting bigger and bigger, not just in Sun Peaks but around B.C., so it just makes a lot of sense to follow that path and having the support of the resort; that’s encouraging.”

While programs like this are a good step forward, McGauley explained a significant barrier to adaptive mountain biking is the cost of the equipment..

“I was fortunate to get a bike and try it early on. I’d love to pay it forward to get other people stoked on biking.”

ASSP said they are hoping to raise money to cover the $20,000 cost of the bike before the program begins.

“The next thing we need to make this happen is the bike, which has to be figured out, whether we do an equipment grant or a fundraiser or a mix of both,” said Riopel.

(Top) Josh Dueck rushing past alpine flowers in Sun Peaks.

Photo by Niall Pinde.

(Middle) Josh Dueck (front) and Cole Bernier (rear) catching the last of the days light on Sun Peaks Resort during a gravity event hosted by KASA. Photo by Niall Pinde.

(Bottom) Josh Dueck and Cole Bernier take in the Sun Peaks scenery before dropping.

Photo by Niall Pinder

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the bike issue

RIDING ROOTS: BIKE PARK DEVELOPS PROGRESSION WHILE PRESERVING REPUTATION Shawn Melnechuk's history with the Sun Peaks Bike Park spans decades. The new Sun Peaks Resort LLP’s (SPR) Bike Park coordinator has links to the old school Kamloops freeriding days, is friends with household name Brett Tippie (who helped revolutionize mountain biking into what it is today) and has a bottomless passion for the Bike Park, which he said will be “by the people, for the people.”

For the past 20 years, the Bike Park’s fast, steep, rough and rowdy unique hand built mountain biking trails, which have the ability to host fast-flying pros in world class events, such as last season's Crankworx Summer Series, are responsible for the resort's summer alter-ego.

The year 2019 saw significant investment in building new beginner and intermediate areas, to ensure all rides can find their progression.

And on the tail end of the pandemic, SPR is once again focusing on improvements in the park.

Melnechuk was a natural choice to implement these changes, as he has a diverse and impressive mountain biking background, including BC Cup downhill racing and a recent Master’s BC Cup downhill championship title.

Melnechuk claims over four million vertical feet in the Sun Peaks Bike Park and is likely the all time vertical leader in the park’s history. He rides on average over 50 days a season.

It doesn’t stop there. Melnechuk has 10 years of coaching experience and has instructed the majority of coaches who are guiding today’s wave of novice to advanced mountain bike riders at Sun Peaks.

“I have a very extensive knowledge of the Bike Park and what I think I bring to the position is a unique outlook from a coach’s standpoint and a public perspective from being in the lift line and hearing about what people desire out of the Bike Park,” Melnechuk explained.

His vision preserves its reputation while accommodating riders who also enjoy modern machine built trails.

“The job I'm stepping in has huge shoes to fill,” said Melnechuk. “Over the last decade the progression and improvements that we’ve seen are unmatched in any bike park.”

This year, the continuing diversification of trails includes an extension to the popular Bermalade trail, and two new forest trails near Gummy Bear, Mach and Barn Burner. “[We’re] focusing on momentum in the Bike Park from the last couple of years of building successful trails that are super fun for any level of rider,” said Sam Loxton, content marketing specialist for SPR. The addition on Bermalade will make it a top-to-bottom run. It was originally built on a 14

New Bike Park co-ordinator looks to build on rowdy trail reputation while advancing master plan to help all levels of riders find flow

“That one plugs a gap that we’ve had for the progression [in steep technical trails], so it keeps us moving forward in making sure there’s a trail that people can work up to at all times depending on their level,” Loxton explained.

The other new trail to help riders progress is called Sweater Vest; this blue, machinebuilt trail will give riders the option of getting around that same area of the mountain on a flow trail, as opposed to the techier options of Barnburner, Mach, Gummy Bear or Sour Patch Skids.

All above mentioned new trails can be seen on the new Bike Park Map, which is pictured below.

By Jarrett Hofmann

pre-existing trail called Home Run, which was steeper and rougher, and will be renovated this summer to be made similar to the rest of Bermalade.

“Bermalade, one of the blue flow trails we put out last year which has been super popular since its opening, we’re building a brand new top section for,” said Loxton. “Contractor Lifetime Outdoors, who built Bermalade, Canada Line and Level Up, are coming back to build it up to pretty much the top of the lift.

The top section will be a similar kind of style with big berms, high-speed jumps, pretty fun stuff and it will be double the length [of the original].”

The new trail means riders have even more options for accessing the popular trail.

Melnechuk argued the Sun Peaks Bike Park could one day be the best on the planet, and is excited to implement his vision to bring that dream to life alongside his hard working, talented trail crew and SPR management who are stepping up from all departments to collectively make that dream a reality.

“The trail builders are the ones that are making this place into something special.

They are putting shovels in the dirt and hiking kilometre after kilometre 10 hours a day.”

SPR staff have been hard at work in the weeks before opening, adding two additional new trails near the top of the Sunburst Express.

“Two other trails: Sour Patch Skids and Sweater Vest, are also in the plans for this season and should be completed some time this summer, pending snow melt,” Loxton said.

Sour Patch Skids will be located next to the Gummy Bear and Mach trails and will be a good stepping stone for novice riders looking to practice their technical skills.

Moving forward, Melnechuk said he is passionate about his new position.

“I do this for the same reason I coach, and that’s to bring as much joy and freedom that mountain biking provides to people. As [the Bike Park coordinator] this allows me to affect more people in a positive way than I ever could with coaching."

He added he won’t stray too far from the Bike Park’s roots, both in the vegetative sense or the historical sense, and wants to ensure the spirit of freeriding lives on in mountain biking.

“What I do still have in the back of my mind, is that gnarly, old school charm that separates this place from other resorts,” he explained. “A lot of the things we’re doing seem to be headed in that machine made flow kind of style. But people also mountain bike for a variety of reasons and the focus it takes to ensure you nail the next corner or drop, not thinking about bills or work, can be mentally freeing.”

Loxton said future Bike Park plans will

include trails to help riders bridge the gap in difficulty between Bermalade and Steam Shovel.

“I think there’s definitely plans for another jump trail at some point to come in between the Bermalade and Steam Shovel [difficulty] levels to continue building progression,” said Loxton. “It’s not something that is going to be coming around this summer but it’s something as we keep working on plans every year to keep [building progressive trails], is definitely part of the progression puzzle we’ve got our eye on.”

Loxton said the Bike Park has a five-year plan started by the previous coordinator, James Jeffries, which is now in it’s last year.

Another new long term plan, with Melnechuk, will begin to come together to guide builders for the next five years to come.

“I’m excited to see the changes that we’ve made,” Melnechuk said. “We’re really going to focus on doing each trail correctly and prioritize maintaining them, not having five half completed trails. The smiles that they’re going to make on people's faces and that pure joy and happiness when people get back on their bikes again is something that everyone can look forward to.”

Shawn Melnechuk and his kids, Kye, and Kiera Melnechuk sharing a moment together at the Sun Peaks Bike Park.

Photo credit Reuben Krabbe.

Long laps deserve the most taps.

The largest beer list in Sun Peaks awaits.

SunPeaksResort.com/masas-bar-grill 15

the bike issue

A Thompson Rivers University field course aims to build relationships between students and Indigenous communities through facilitating discussions, educating students about traditional land use and trail building

By Jarrett Hofmann

ADVENTURE STUDIES COURSE LINKS MOUNTAIN BIKING WITH RECONCILIATION Fostering the complex topic of reconciliation while sculpting mountain bike trails seems like a far fetched idea, but Thomas Eustache of the Simpcw First Nation, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) instructor Craig Campbell and chief executive officer of First Journey Trails Thomas Schoen, are working to seamlessly weave the two.

Trails to Reconciliation is a 12-day field course where students travel throughout the Interior to different Indigenous communities to help build biking trails while aiming to understand the impacts of community-based tourism development and learn about traditional land use.

While the structure of the course requires pre-reading, written summaries, letters of intention and a post-trip personal reflection on the student’s personal journey towards reconciliation, Eustache said a lot of the important learning is during casual conversations while building trails or riding them.

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“I begin the [field course] with a meeting. We sit and I let them know who [the Simpcw] are and our history and how we got to where we are today,” explained Eustache.

“They ask questions and I fill them in a lot and I tell them stories of my life or other people’s lives who I know that have been affected by residential schools.”

Unfortunately the course, which has been running since 2016, has been on hold the last two years due to the pandemic.

Back to the land, differently Not only does the course stir up meaningful conversations, but Campbell added the trails are a conduit to get students out on the traditional land of various Indigenous communities who have invited them there, including Eustache’s home of the Simpcw people whose territory borders Sun Peaks.

“Our people get out there and go for a walk daily. It’s something that we’ve sort of lost,” he said.

For Eustache, getting back on the land is a means of connecting to a tradition that his father showed him, even if it’s on a bike instead of on foot.

“If you met my dad, that was one of the things he would love to do, is go out and hunt and get out on the land. He just loved covering miles and miles and that was one of the things he loved to do because that’s what he did with his parents. My grandparents were some of the last people that still roamed up and down the valley, fished, hunted and lived off the land.”

Eustache makes sure he continues to pass on tradition to his own children, which has been how he and his son have scoped new trails for mountain biking.

“I think that [getting on the land] is in our genetics from my dad, because my dad, because of residential school and stuff, we were never really fully connected. He had alcohol problems and all kinds of different things so he never got to show me all of [those traditions],” Eustache explained.

“I never got the full picture until I started getting out there because it’s a place [my dad] loved to be in.”

The connection of the land to the identity of the Simpcw people is something Eustache makes sure to teach the TRU students; his people have an identity in the valley and continue to care for it. In fact, the Simpcw First Nation is doing so as a major economic force as one of the biggest employers in the region.

“We’re still taking care of this valley, we want to keep our hand in doing that.”

Not only is the Simpcw First Nation providing high levels of employment, trail building is also creating its own economic and social impact in communities.

“Trail tourism in B.C. in the last 15 years has just taken off. We’re seeing communities getting more and more organized working closely with Rec Sites and Trails BC who administer trails on Crown land, and [trail organizations] have been structuring themselves to become stewards of the landbase and working with First Nations because part of the consultation process is to get approval from First Nations,” explained Campbell.

Campbell includes teaching his students about sustainable trail building, international mountain biking trail standards, master planning and community consultation processes.

“We look at trail building as economic development and community development,” he added.

On the social impacts side of things, Eustache has witnessed many members from his community engaging in outdoor recreation, boosting their physical and mental health since the expansion of the Simpcw trail network with the help of the TRU course and its students.

“It’s made me feel really good that there’s been such a positive spin off.

When my son and I started building trails it was just so we could get out there ourselves,” said Eustache.

(Left) Exploring the beautiful trails of Chu Chua.

(Right) Simpcw Trail Crew.

Photo by Craig Campbell.

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the bike issue

“Before the trails there wasn’t a lot for [people] to do other than an indoor exercise group. Now there is something free that people can do. There’s run clubs and snowshoers who use the trails in the winter; it’s changed their lives.”

Of course there’s also the economic impacts from mountain bikers who travel to the Simpcw Nation from all over. Eustache has noticed an influx of regional travellers from Barriere and Kamloops.

“We’ve got 18 kilometres of trail now. And, they’re mostly intermediate trails so people can ride them all day with their family, and of course, it’s also much more quiet than other popular riding areas around,” Eustache added.

But, what is reconciliation?

Exploring the beautiful trails of Chu Chua.

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While reconciliation can mean different things to different people or groups, the TRU course was born on the heels of the 2015 report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and was influenced by various other factors including the Tsilhqot'in decision, a gap in the TRU adventure guide program curriculum and a moral responsibility that Campbell felt.

“Basically, [the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report] outlines government and public sector institutions have to do better,” said Campbell.

“The Tsilhqot'in decision was a big court case that led to rights and title for the Tsilhqot'in, a nation north of Williams Lake. That meant it’s not just about consultation with the First Nations as a stakeholder anymore. It’s really looking at them as a partner and someone who is managing the landbase and has been since time immemorial.”

Campbell then applied the momentum to the adventure studies curriculum at TRU which included some Indigenous knowledge and awareness pieces woven throughout the program, but he felt it needed to be taken further.

“We didn’t really tackle some of the bigger topics like the impacts of colonization, residential schools and the Indian Act,” explained Campbell.

Many of the students who take part in the course are international, and have not been educated on Canada’s history of colonialism, residential schools and complicated relationships with Indigenous people.

Campbell said for many of the domestic and international students, it’s an eye opener to try and begin to understand the complex relationship between Canada and Indigenous peoples.

For Campbell, being of Canadian settler descent, he said his view on reconciliation is about learning more about First Nation cultures to build a future that is inclusive and meaningful for everybody.

“It’s taken 200 years to get into this mess...Through the Indian Act [colonialism] has imposed a whole system of governance whereas First Nation peoples have their own system of governance before we were here that had worked really well, so how do we move the needle towards becoming equal partners and forge a future that is inclusive?”

As for Eustache, he emphasized the importance of telling people about the history of the traditional land use, and that Indigenous peoples have always been here.

“We’ve been in this valley forever. This valley was once a place where we roamed freely, hunted freely and [gathered] subsistence here. We live in harmony with nature and that doesn’t happen as easily now because of all the landowners.

I want people to know we weren’t these people you see in movies that were poor starving Indians. [We] thrived and lived with nature, it wasn’t someplace where we suffered.”

RESORT KEEPS RIDER EXPERIENCE TOP OF MIND

MEASURING UP ON THE JOB

by Barbara Olson © ClassiCanadian Crosswords

Sun Peaks Bike Park season passes sold out in under three hours

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By Jarrett Hofmann

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Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) staff are aiming to balance guest experience with increasing mountain biking popularity and provincial health officer orders for this year’s bike park season.

Although a return to normal plan has been outlined by Dr. Bonnie Henry, premier John Horgan, and other provincial health officials, reduced capacity is still the reality for SPR this summer.

“We are constantly kind of adjusting and pivoting to make sure we’re following the guidelines [and] creating a safe environment,” said Rob McCloskey, SPR’s director of marketing and communications.

He explained a limited number of SPR bike park season passes, which sold out in less than three hours, were made available for this season.

Fifty bonus passes were then sold through a ballot only weeks later after it was evident not enough people were given a chance to purchase their 2021 bike park seasons pass.

“We heard from a lot of people who missed out...we were equally as surprised as everybody else that it sold out as quickly as it did. So we [offered] 50 additional spots,” McCloskey explained.

After adding the new season passes, a trickle down effect took place on the number of day ticket availability to ensure those passholders received great value for their money, added McCloskey.

SPR would not disclose just how many season passes were sold or how many day passes are available.

However, the limited number of season passes wasn’t a simple decision given year-over-year SPR has seen a significant popularity increase in mountain biking at the resort.

“It’s tough on one hand to constrain capacity numbers because you want to give as many people as possible the opportunity [to ride] but also, for [SPR], it’s a kind of way to ensure that the guest experience is really great when people are here because everyone is [bottlenecked] by one chairlift,” McCloskey said.

For those who don’t have a season pass, the same operational procedure will be in place as the last calendar year, where guests need to pre-book their days to access the Bike Park, which is now available online.

Less people and increasing guest experience won’t be SPR’s only tactic for spreading out riders this season, as the length of the season has also been extended.

SPR’s bike park operations begin June 18 and will have the second longest bike park season in the province (behind Whistler) with summer hours from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., seven days per week until Sept. 6.

Thereafter, the bike park hours will shorten from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. but will remain open seven days a week, compared to last season where the park was only open weekends in the fall. The trails will close for the season on Sept. 26.

“We’re pretty excited. It allows a lot of flexibility and people from Kamloops can come up and ride after and work,” McCloskey explained.

While some things have changed, McCloskey added COVID-19 policies will remain static unless they’re advised differently from the province.

“As of right now, we’re planning to open with similar procedures and policies that we are already comfortable with. Contact tracing, masks when you’re walking around not at your table [in a restaurant] in lift lines and on chairlifts for example. Physical distancing should be easy in liftlines too since everyone has a bike in their hands.”

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the bike issue

BIKING BEHAVIOUR: HOW ONE NONPROFIT IS AIMING TO IMPROVE ATTENTION IN THE CLASSROOM Riding a bike can be used as a tool to improve attention spans, mood and positively alter brain activity

By Jarrett Hofmann

(Left) Catharine Pendrel leads a pack of elementary school kids on a morning Kamloops ride during PE. Photo provided

by Outride.

(Right) Catharine Pendrel speaks with an R.L. Clemitson Elementary school class.

Photo provided by Outride.

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Mike Singer, a biker with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), noticed something wonderful when he cycled; his symptoms always seemed to improve.

“He found that his ADHD was much better after a bike ride,” said Skye DeLano, executive director of Outride.

The behavioural pattern prompted Singer, chief executive officer of Specialized Bike Company, to found the nonprofit organization Outride in 2012 (originally named The Specialized Foundation) and commission a study to see if neuroscientists could find out what was happening in the brain during cycling.

“What they found was yes, there is something special about cycling that benefits the brain, even after a single ride,” Delano said. “The combination of balance with blood flow, the way you breathe while cycling; it benefits your brain.”

Since the initial study, Outride has worked with researchers from different American universities including Stanford, the University of Georgia and the University of Wyoming to look specifically at the benefits of cycling on the brain for kids with ADHD. The research resulted in a program called Riding for Focus where Outride provides bikes and a curriculum for teachers who want to add cycling into their scheduled physical education (PE) classes.

Riding for Focus is now implemented at over 200 schools in North America, including one in Clearwater, B.C. and one at R.L. Clemitson Elementary in Kamloops.

“What has been found in the research is that bicycling can improve mood and their ability to understand their feelings,” DeLano explained. “Participants demonstrated improved attention and longer response times after exercise, indicating less impulsivity, and altered brain activity; tests demonstrated a trend towards ‘normal’ patterns of brain activity after cycling compared to before [the program] for students with attention issues.”

However, the research regarding the impact of the program is not peer-reviewed and thus has not yet been found to be fact.

“We also saw improvements in Math and English scores for kids who did the Riding for Focus [but] even though we have all that evidence, it’s not causal,” said Delano.

Riding into Kamloops Elementary school teacher Lacey Munden applied to Outride in 2019 to bring the program to her school. Munden was successful and received the curriculum along with 28 bikes in September of 2020.

“We’ve got 125 kids on bikes every week,” said Munden.

Munden rallied other teachers from her cohort to partake in the program with students ranging from grades five to seven.

Munden, along with other teachers, parent volunteers and Outride ambassadors, including local residents Canadian Olympian Catharine Pendrel and professional mountain biker Dylan Sherrard, have been instructing kids two or three days a week in lieu of traditional PE classes.

“There were kids who’ve never ridden a bike,” Munden said. “We worked with them after school to make sure they could pedal and we started with work on the school field.”

“Since then, it’s been amazing to see the confidence,” she said. “I’ve noticed a lot of the girls who tend to be quiet in PE classes often realize they can ride up hills quicker than some of the boys, or some of the boys who may not have been good in other kinds of PE are all of a sudden progressing quickly. They kind of blew my expectations out of the water.”

Anecdotally, Munden has noticed relief of behavioural issues after a ride.

“I would say that those kids that struggle behaviorally do much better [after] a ride.

Their teachers come in and it’s like ‘Holy moly [the kids] are quiet,’” Munden explained.

“I think getting out first thing in the morning has been great for them. It takes a little bit of their energy and they come back to school relaxed and focused.”

Her Riding for Focus program will wrap up its first year this spring and Munden is excited to see the results on report cards as well as the post-program quiz where students are asked how much they like school and how focused they were. Those answers are then compared to the pre-program quiz.

Riding Forward While alleviating ADHD symptoms is a feat in and of itself, Outride isn’t stopping there.

With record levels of inactivity and mental health challenges recently reported due to the pandemic, as well as rising reports of hate crimes and racism, Outride has expanded its aims to diversify the next generation of cyclists and build community through biking.

“Part of our goal through these programs, including the engagement of ambassadors, is to encourage applicants who have a whole range of backgrounds,” DeLano said.

DeLano explained Outride uses the bike as a tool to play a significant role in helping build community through the connections that are forged during long bike rides and events.

“Part of that is our commitment to increasing the number of people who know how to ride bikes, but the other part is how we’re doing our work. We recognize in the U.S. the systems and legacy of racism have continued to impact our BIPOC, marginalized, vulnerable rural communities disproportionately, [and] as a result we’re prioritizing our grants to the communities who need it most.”

For the next round of applications, potential participants will be asked what their socioeconomic status is and the demographic of the schools in an aim to diversify gender, ethnicity and ability in Outride programming.

As well, the next Outride research summit (free for all by registration) titled Advancing Youth and Community Well-Being through Cycling, will highlight recent research and information on the impacts of riding when it comes to health and well being, but will also engage communities in discussions around equity and access.

Munden added the program really is for everyone, as she has a student who is visually impared.

“Blake [a blind Outride ambassador] visited the R.L Clemitson Elementary School kids via Zoom and Kyra, our visually impared child, is on cloud nine and cannot wait to connect with Blake again. This experience has been such an asset to our school and we are so thankful!”

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the bike issue

LOCAL OLYMPIAN INCREASES MOMENTUM AT WORLD CUP STAGES We reached Olympic bronze medalist and former cross-country World Champion Catharine Pendrel postpartum, pre-Olympics and in between races in Europe

By Jarrett Hofmann

SPIN caught up with the Kamloops-based Olympian over email to discuss her recent World Cup races in Europe, what it’s like to be a new mother while training at a high intensity, goals for the Olympics and what’s next for the former World Cup Champion.

to have the best performance I can have! I think I can put out a strong race there.

SUN PEAKS INDEPENDENT NEWS: How does it feel to be back racing? Can you give us a brief breakdown of what went down in your recent races?

CP: Best moments have been seeing friends, pre-riding together and getting so much support whether my result was 52nd or top 25.

Most challenging has been finding the time to mentally prepare for my race, consoling an upset baby at 1:30 a.m. and making sure I don't put too much load on my husband so this stays fun and manageable and he gets out for rides too.

CATHARINE PENDREL: Great! Every race start I have to remind myself I actually like racing, but once I settle into the rhythm it's good. I've been able to enjoy forward momentum in my races. My first race weekend was a bit rough, jumping into a World Cup after 20 months away and only a couple days after travelling over to Europe —I travelled late so I could get vaccinated and just wasn't recovered enough to race well. I started strong but faded badly in the second half.

The next weekend however, with more time [in] the time zone, and a race in my legs, I had a strong ride for 23rd.

SPIN: What does the victory in the Villa Di Casies race mean to you and what gave you the edge?

CP: I felt really great in the race physically and technically. Each week and race is a step in my return to full speed and I'm happy with my progress. It will be great to get back into World Cup racing and see if that work can translate to a top 20 ride.

SPIN: How do you feel about the upcoming Olympics?

How will you be preparing and what are your goals?

CP: I'm excited! I think the course is really challenging and will showcase the sport well. I feel fit but have a lot of fine tuning to do yet which I am targeting in training and also by getting in some more races. Heat preparation will also be key for Tokyo. My goal will be 22

SPIN: What have your best moments and biggest challenges been since being back in racing?

SPIN: How has it been returning to the mental intensity that is required for training for a World Cup race? What’s made things easier for you to do so?

CP: It's been pretty good because it has been progressive with my training. You can't just jump back into high intensity training after a baby, you have to build up to it. Being excited about the progress I was making helped a lot.

SPIN: What role has the recent pregnancy and new baby played in that process? What’s it like racing while navigating motherhood?

CP: I was getting pretty burnt out on high performance in 2019 and was really stressed about the final Olympic qualifiers in 2020. Now, I am more relaxed about everything. It's almost like starting my career again where I'm just excited to see how fast I can get and where that can take me, it's refreshing. For sure some parts are harder, but I also get to have my family with me which is really special.

SPIN: Any advice for other new mothers trying to get back into sport/activity?

CP: Be patient with yourself. You've been through a lot but fitness will come back! Also, don't be afraid to ask for support so you can have some exercise time every day. Being able to take this time out I think helps us have more energy for our little ones when we get home.

SPIN: Do you feel there could be better types of support for new mothers, not just high-end athletes?

CP: For sure! So much room to grow here. I think being able to stay active can do so much for mom's mental health, but staying active is tough if your energy is already [tapped] out from work or child care.

Any support to give primary care givers the support to get out as well as more [information] on how to be active during and after pregnancy is so valuable.

SPIN: How do you feel about the media and industry focusing on you being postpartum?

CP: I think it's great. I want women to know it doesn't have to be [either] sport or family. It takes a lot of support and not everybody will bounce back as quickly so timelines will vary, but you can be a high level athlete after childbirth if this is your desire. When you are pregnant and ambitious about what you want to do in sport afterwards you can get a lot of "oh we'll see" dismal comments. I'd like that narrative to change. If I am at the Olympics this summer I know I won't be the only woman there who had a baby in January. Aliphine Tuliamuk will also be competing in the Marathon [event].

SPIN: Will this be your last year of racing? If so, where do you plan to spend your time within the mountain biking community?

Pendrel charges ahead on her rock-garden line.

Photo by Michael Cerveny, Clif Pro Team.

CP: At the World Cup level yes. Mountain biking seems to be the only sport where we retire just to do other races though lol. It will be nice to have more weekends in [B.C.] for riding...just need to find babysitters now so Keith and I can actually go together!

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Welcome to Sun Peaks’ finest quarter share offering – the Residences at Sun Peaks Grand.

This top floor 1-bedroom end unit offers the ability to share costs with 3 other owners.

Comfortably sleeps 4, this luxury apartment is located in the Village with first-rate access to four season recreation. Relax and enjoy the convenience of all hotel amenities, including slopeside heated outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, restaurants, ski valet, room service, and access to The Residences exclusive hot tub.

#406 HEARTHSTONE LODGE | $74,900

The perfect place to call home! This cute 2 bedroom downtown bungalow is for someone looking to downsize or is a great starter home in an excellent neighbourhood. This charming home has some modern updates with eat in kitchen, granite countertops with centre island, newer hot water tank, updated windows and doors, and the furnace was replaced in 2019. The backyard is fully fenced and fairly private with detached garage and provides additional RV parking. This desirable location is walking distance to all amenities.

Location is everything! Take in the slopeside views while relaxing by the cozy fireplace in this top floor studio in the Hearthstone Lodge. Village location, sleeps 4 and perfectly set up for longer stays – with full sized fridge, cooktop, microwave and dishwasher, to enjoy meals from the comfort of home. Quick access to the slopes plus all the amenities you would expect from the Hearthstone Lodge, including secure underground parking, main floor restaurants offering dine-in and take-out, shopping, ski room, exercise center and hot tubs. Friendly & experienced in house front desk management team to look after all the details while you are away.

#6 ALPINE GREENS | $579,900 This pristine 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo features an authentic river rock wood burning fireplace with timber mantle, heated tile floors, new paint and lighting, and comes fully furnished. Enjoy the large sundeck overlooking the 2nd Fairway and Valley trail close to lifts and all resort amenities. The main floor features an open concept with vaulted ceilings, laundry and two spacious bedrooms. The top floor master bedroom is spacious and comes complete with ensuite, walk-in closet and private balcony with great views of Mt. Morrisey and the golf course. This move in ready home is south facing and is a pleasure to show.

#303 HEARTHSTONE LODGE | $99,900 Loads of living space and family separation in this spacious studio loft. This south facing property is bright in winter and features a kitchen with stove top, fridge, microwave, and dishwasher. A cozy fireplace accents the living room. The property comfortably sleeps four.

Hotel amenities include hot tubs, exercise room, ski room, secure underground parking, shops and restaurants. In house management provided by Bear Country allows carefree rental as well as personal use.

COMMERCIAL SPACE

#308 FIRESIDE LODGE | $344,900

#305 COAST SUNDANCE LODGE | $51,900

Fireside Lodge is centrally located in the heart of Sun Peaks Village. Location is everything.

Here you are close to all resort shopping and amenities. Ski-in and Ski-out from this bright one bedroom condo which features an open floor plan, cozy fireplace and covered deck overlooking the village. Property amenities include outdoor hot tub, heated underground parking, elevator, shared on floor laundry, ski and bike storage, and the convenience of in building restaurants and commercial outlets. Unlimited owner use, with short term rental allowed.

This deluxe studio suite features two double beds with kitchen, cozy fireplace and is centrally located in the heart of Sun Peaks. The adjacent studio (#303) is also available for sale and has a connecting door between the two rooms. This is a fantastic ski-in, ski-out location with all resort amenities at your front door. This lodge offers a generous 180 days owner use with professional rental management agreement in place with Coast Hotels.

Lodge features underground parking, exercise center, outdoor hot tub, cafes, restaurant and more.

#107 KOOKABURRA LODGE | $559,000 This 1076 sq.ft. space is available in the Kookaburra Lodge. High traffic corner exposure and great storefront visibility and patio area that offers the opportunity for significant growth, as Sun Peaks continues to improve and expand its development. Concrete structure for strength, acoustic and fire qualities with sprinkler system in place. Great location adjacent to the village with year round community and school. Existing lease in place.

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