Sun Peaks Independent News - Vol 20 Issue 6 - The Bike Issue

June 10 - July 7, 2022

Vol. 20, Issue 6

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Behind the scenes: Trail building on Mt. Morrisey.

Bike maintenance tips to survive park riding.

Riders' favorite 'Bermalade' in the Sun Peaks Bike Park.

Photo by Reuben Krabbe.

THE BIKE ISSUE

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BRANDI SCHIER Publisher & Managing Editor brandi@sunpeaksnews.com

SAM EGAN Editor-at-large

TEGWYN HUGHES Community Editor tegwyn@sunpeaksnews.com

KRYA GRUBB Freelance journalist

KAYLA EMPEY Community Journalist kayla@sunpeaksnews.com

SONIA GARCÍA Layout & Graphic Designer sonia@sunpeaksnews.com

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NEWS BRIEFS

ONE BIKER’S REMARKABLE STORY OF RECOVERY

Red Bull Downtime returns and We Are One's Kamloops-made bike.

How optimism heals.

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OPENING SUNDANCE FOR SUMMER

BIKE MAINTENANCE TIPS

A behind-the-scenes look at the new trail network.

10 TRAIL BUILDING ON MT. MORRISEY

How to survive park riding.

26 PUZZLES & BUSINESS LISTINGS

Preparing the new pedal-access trails.

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WORLD CHAMPION CATHARINE PENDREL TAKES ON NEW COACHING GIG

BIKERS DISH THEIR FAVOURITE LOCAL LAPS

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Mountain bike enthusiasts share their go-to trails.

EVENTS

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Sam Egan, editor-at-large.

It’s safe to say a trail-building renaissance has descended upon Sun Peaks. It’s going to be an exciting summer sampling all the fresh lines being carved out of the forest — and this is just the beginning.

Some of B.C.’s finest trail builders have been enlisted to develop new routes on both Morrisey and Sundance mountains, and are only beginning to scratch the surface of what future networks spanning all three mountains could resemble.

Welcome to SPIN’s third annual Bike Issue, meant to enrich your understanding of these ribbons of trail that are the lifeblood of our sport. Find out which considerations went into the new ascent, how to keep your bike running smoothly, and how to respectfully share the terrain with resident wildlife while passing through.

In Kamloops, where I’m a freelance writer and photographer, we’re spoiled with a long biking season and are used to getting back on the saddle by around

March each year. While there’s no getting around the extra snowpack and the effect it has on delaying trail openings at higher elevations, everyone breaking new ground in Sun Peaks these days makes it very clear the soil and terrain is well worth waiting out the thaw.

As this issue’s editor-at-large, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with trail builders, designers and mountain bike professionals throughout the Sun Peaks and Kamloops riding communities. Many of the conversations that make up this issue were had during oxygen-deprived climbs and endorphin-fuelled descents.

Mountain bikers around here are famously generous with their time and keen to show you their new trails, too. So take a second to say “what’s up” out there — you never know who, or what, you might run into out in the woods.

I hope you enjoy the read and the ride.

Sam Egan

local news

LOW-KEY RACING ON HIGH-SPEED BERMS

THE ARRIVAL OF WE ARE ONE’S ENDURO BIKE

Red Bull Downtime event returns to Sun Peaks for second year

Designed, manufactured and assembled in Kamloops

By Sam Egan

By Sam Egan

File Photo - A socially-distanced Crankworx event in 2020.

Photo submitted.

What started as a socially-distanced racing opportunity in 2021 will return to Sun Peaks’ bike park this summer.

This year, riders will be racing down the new Stella Blue trail on Sundance Mountain, a playful intermediate jump trail created specifically with skill progression in mind.

Anyone 16 and older is encouraged to enter for free, and will be given a timing bracelet to tackle the course whenever they’re ready — no crowds, no other racers on course, no pressure.

“The great thing about this event is that anyone comfortable riding at an intermediate freeride level can participate, as they challenge the clock rather than other competitors directly,” said Rob McCloskey, Sun Peaks Resort LLP’s director of marketing.

The format allows each racer to take as many runs as they want and keep their best time. The automated timing system posts online results instantaneously, so anyone can check them from anywhere.

Over 80 mountain bikers entered the Sun Peaks competition in 2021 and the results leave no doubt that Kamloops and Sun Peaks riders have their dusty berms mastered.

McCloskey said they look forward to welcoming even more competitors when the low-key race format returns to Sun Peaks July 22 to 24, 2022. Two champions will be crowned in the mens and womens categories, and the winners will also win a trip to Red Bull Joyride in Whistler on Aug. 13, 2022.

Bike company We Are One is still riding the high of its first bike release after launching the Arrival in 2021, an entirely Kamloops-made build.

Steady demand for We Are One’s carbon-fibre rims and handlebars has kept the company growing its Kamloops operation since launching in 2017. Now, the team of local employees has grown to around 100-strong with plans to move into a larger facility this summer.

In an era where many bike manufacturers struggle to source components for their builds, We Are One’s sales and marketing team said they managed to pull off the bike’s launch without any major issues.

“We’d be lying if there weren’t some bumps in the road, but overall the transition was well prepared for and reasonably seamless,” We Are One said in a statement to SPIN. “There were no major delays from any of our component suppliers and the delivery times remained on time. We were lucky that a lot of great companies wanted to work with us.”

The Arrival was originally released with 152 millimeters of rear travel.

Now, less than a year later, the company has followed up with optional linkage kits, which can increase that to 170 millimeters or decrease it to 130 millimeters, to appeal to a wide range of riders.

We Are One also showed off its new ‘articulating’ rims at the Sea Otter outdoor sport festival in California, which will be available by late summer 2022 and are designed for the hardest-charging Enduro World Series athletes. The design allows spoke nipples to seat better by protruding perpendicularly from twists in the rim, without pushing on one side of the spoke hole.

The new rims are rumoured to be 30 per cent more impact resistant than We Are One’s Revolution line, which will continue as a mainstay for most riders.

“We Are One as a company is constantly innovating and there are always plans to add new components and bikes to our lineup,” read We Are One’s statement. “For now, we are really excited about the linkage kits, it will really open up the Arrival to more customers in more riding areas — Turning the Arrival into one bike to rule them all!”

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OPENING SUNDANCE FOR SUMMER A behind-the-scenes look at the new trail network Story and photos by Sam Egan

The Sundance Mountain bike park expansion at Sun Peaks Resort means more time spent riding, more trail options and a whole new aspect of the valley to explore.

Most importantly, the project’s trail designers and builders say it’s an opportunity to make the bike park accessible to a wider range of mountain bikers.

Shawn Melnechuk, bike park coordinator, told SPIN his team’s vision for the Sundance expansion was to fill gaps between all skill levels in the existing trail inventory and make it easier for riders to develop their skills.

They chose to focus on reducing the jump in difficulty between existing blue and black trails by adding six new machine-built trails to smooth out the progression curve.

“We’ve now accomplished this with the new top-to-bottom black trail on Sundance and two new blue trails, which slide in between existing blue freeride trails,” Melnechuk said.

“The top half of the trail will ride easier than the bottom half, but still within the designed 8

skill level. Trail builders can influence the terrain more with a machine than by hand, so this progression within a trail is easier to accomplish with freeride trails.”

Melnechuk said the freeride trails are the busiest in the network because bikers seek them out, and new riders at the park will gravitate towards them.

For beginners, Sundance’s new green and blue trails are shorter than trails on the other mountain, so they’re more forgiving and less intense.

Ted Morton, trail designer for McElhanney and founder of the Canadian National Enduro Series, said new developments are going to help riders improve. He added the physical characteristics of Sundance make the perfect training ground to complement what the bike park is historically known for.

“You couldn’t ask for a better mountain to build trails on. The soil quality is awesome and the grade of the mountain is the stuff of dreams,” Morton said. “It gets early sun so it dries out quickly, but the soil is compact enough that it’s not going to be super dusty.”

Melnechuk said both Lifetime Outdoors Inc. and Landmark Trail Solutions have provided their own signature flavour to the Sundance expansion.

“Both of these trail builders and their crews are well known and respected in the mountain biking community, having proven their skills for quality trail product with their own personalities integrated into their builds,” Melnechuk said.

Both crews helped to create some of the most popular trails on Mt. Tod. Landmark helped with the Steam Shovel improvements, while Lifetime built Canada Line, Bermalade and Level Up. Landmark was chosen to build a new signature black jump trail, being known for mastering high-speed senders. Trail builder Ron Penney said their latest addition to Sun Peaks, "Super Nugget,” was designed with the interest of preparing riders for the double black jumps on Steam Shovel.

Rather than focusing on particular features, Penney said he designs each of his trails to convey a feeling from top to bottom.

“I like to focus on a machine-built trail being fast and flowy with a hand-built feel — lots of sections of a more singletrack vibe mixed in with big machine jump,” Penney said. “This trail being the latest trail, what sets it apart is that I’m always looking for a way to make them that much faster but more forgiving at the same time.”

Penney said overall, Sundance will be special for the next generation of trail development in the bike park.

“Sun Peaks has, in certain spots, this special gray clay,” he said. “It’s only in patches on the other mountain but on the Sundance side, it’s 95 per cent made up of this clay that I think is going to hold up to weather and riding better than anything else I’ve ever built with.”

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local news

BEHIND THE SCENES: TRAIL BUILDING ON MT. MORRISEY

By Sam Egan

As the snow recedes from the Sun Peaks valley this summer, trail builders will ascend alongside the thaw to prepare for the grand opening of the community’s newest trail system.

The vision for a purpose-built, pedal-access network on Mt. Morrisey was put into action last year to make use of the mountain’s unique elevation and topography. Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association (SPRTA) hired the trails team from Canadian consulting firm McElhanney to survey the area and plan the trail network.

“You often forget Sun Peaks is actually three mountains — three very distinct mountains,” said Ted Morton, McElhanney’s project manager for the Morrisey network. “They have different slopes, they face different ways, and I think that’s something really cool to showcase here.”

Before ever stepping foot in the forest, the McElhanney team looked at aerial images of the area to identify potential routes with good terrain but little environmental impact.

Morton said his team looked for desirable slopes, forest density, wildlife indicators and how water features could affect soil quality. Then, they set out on foot with the local bike club to see what actually lies below the forest canopy.

“In the initial phase we tried to cover as much ground as possible on foot and on bikes,” said SPRTA president Sam Loxton. “Broadly identifying where the wet area is, where the nice forest is. And then [McElhanney] went back and did more of a fine survey to really look for the specific trail corridors and natural points of interest.”

Three initial trails were identified for the first stage of the buildout: intersecting intermediate climb and descent trails, to be opened seasonally from bottom to top, and an optional mountaintop out-and-back add-on reaching into Morrisey’s winter backcountry zone.

Since they planned for the mountaintop trail to extend outside Sun Peaks Resort LLP’s (SPR) original license of occupation, SPRTA required an environmental assessment and First Nations consultation before breaking ground.

The project team consulted with an archaeologist, representatives from the Adams Lake Indian Band, Neskonlith Indian Band and Little Shuswap Lake Band, as well as a representative from the provincial government. Together, they explored the intended route for areas of archaeological and wildlife significance, and SPRTA got the go-ahead.

They wanted the trail to be about the same difficulty as the top of the uphill trail, so anyone making the climb could access the unique Sun Peaks valley views.

“It will be narrower and have more of an old-school technical feeling, but they’ll use a little bit of machine in there as well,” Loxton said. “That one will be open for hiking too.”

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On the left: Views during the layout of Out and Back. Down: A cedar bridge on the climb trail. Photos by Sam Loxton.

Starr Trail Solutions was hired to design and build the trail surface. Morton, who has ridden a fair share of trails as founder of the Canadian National Enduro Series, said Starr’s team is one of the best on the scene right now.

“That will be a phenomenally built trail,” Morton said. “They incorporate features like natural rises in the terrain, different types of soil and rock, and different types of corners so you’re not just riding switchback-to-switchback. They incorporate a lot of hand-building in their crew too.”

The new downhill trail uses the “three second rule,” meaning they’ve included features like small rollers, berms, shark fins and grade reversals to keep the rider engaged by having to move their bike at least every three seconds.

That same level of detail has gone into the network’s de-facto climb trail too. Morton said Kamloops riders will find it different to what they’re used to riding in town, where sparse forest often creates steep, relatively demanding switchback climbs.

“Here, that’s not what we designed. It’s lower-grade so you’re going to be travelling faster,” Morton said.

“We haven’t just tried to bring you to the top for a descent — this is a journey.”

Morton said the project team has given a lot of thought to the perspective of the rider, such as where technical spots or recovery zones should be placed along the way. They also tried to keep challenging spots out of the direct sun and made the trail pass water sources regularly so dogs could cool off.

“There are running creeks with cedar bridges …

There’s one spot where I’ve weaved the climbing trail through two massive old cedar trees, so you get this shaded, flowy up-track,” Morton said. “Then as you climb through the network you get into more of the Kamloops sparse forest.”

Looking ahead, SPRTA has a handful of trail projects ready to break ground next. Loxton said they hope to add more technical features to the network with an alternate blue descent and develop a new black route to explore different aspects of the mountain.

“Getting these first three trails in is kind of the foundation or the scaffolding of what could become a big network,” Loxton said. “Once you’ve got a climb trail, you just need to build more trails off the top.”

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get out there

How to avoid a wildlife encounter, and what to do if a bear or cougar is near Story and photos by Sam Egan

TIPS FOR BIKING INTO BEAR COUNTRY Sharing the woods with wildlife can be a thrilling element of trail riding, but it’s important to be prepared in case of an encounter.

According to WildSafeBC, British Columbia is home to roughly 3,500 cougars, 8,000 wolves and up to 250,000 black bears — all of which can be found in the forests of Sun Peaks.

The organization says mountain bikers have a heightened risk of running into wildlife because riders travel quickly and relatively quietly, and because wildlife like to share the trails as the path of least resistance through the forest.

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Smaller groups of just one or two bikers make less noise, so having a larger group helps reduce the likelihood of running into bears or other wildlife on the trails.

Making vocal noises is the best way to let wildlife know someone is coming. Bear bells won’t cut it — animals don’t recognize the high-pitched sound as human and it doesn’t penetrate very deep into the forest.

Bringing a dog along on the trails can complicate things. Bears and cougars can see dogs as a threat or prey, and therefore attacks on dogs are much more common than attacks on humans.

Reacting to a wildlife encounter

However, most wildlife will try to avoid humans if they know they’re coming, so taking steps to avoid a surprise encounter is key.

Preventing a wildlife encounter Before heading out on the trails in a rich wildlife area like Sun Peaks, consult WildSafeBC’s online Wilderness Alert Reporting Program to scan the area for recent sightings.

If a biker intends to bring along bear spray, they should inspect its condition, be informed on how to use it, and carry it on themselves rather than on the bike in case of a collision.

(Yes, people have hit bears while biking in Sun Peaks.)

WildSafeBC also suggests paying careful attention to the approaching terrain and trail surroundings while riding. Watch for food sources like berries that animals could be feeding on, or fresh scat indicating they’ve passed through.

Slow down and use extra vigilance where sight lines are poor, like blind corners, thick bush or crests of hills. Riding into the wind or around running water can also mask smell and sound for animals down the trail.

Bears are the most common animal of concern bikers encounter in the forests of British Columbia. WildSafeBC says if a rider notices a bear that is unaware of the human’s presence, they should slowly back away while keeping an eye on the animal, then choose a different route.

If the bear becomes aware, the biker should speak softly and back away calmly, while making themselves look as big as possible.

Black bears will usually send their cubs up a tree or into the forest to protect them, so don’t block their retreat. Also don’t linger or try to take a photo, and if the bear leaves, don’t follow.

Don’t yell at a bear or run away, as this could instigate an attack. If a bear is showing signs of agitation like jaw popping, salivating, moaning or even bluff charging, give it some personal space. Avoid eye contact and back away slowly.

If the bear does charge, don’t run. If the biker has bear spray, they should use it once the bear is about five to 10 metres away.

Otherwise, the human should fall to their stomach at the last moment and hold their hands behind their neck to protect the back of their head. WildSafeBC suggests not crying out, and that the rider should keep their legs slightly apart to keep from being turned over.

Wait until the attack is over and the bear has left — but fight back if it becomes predatory.

If a bear is quietly approaching without showing signs of agitation, it might just want to use the trail, so give it a clear exit. If it keeps coming, it may be predatory. If it isn’t protecting a cub or a meal, act assertively and yell at the bear.

Mountain bikers may also encounter cougars on the trails, but cougar attacks are very rare.

The riders should keep calm, make themselves look as large as possible and back away slowly.

Keep the cougar in view, giving it a clear exit.

If there are small children around, the adult should pick them up because they’ll be most vulnerable.

If the cougar does attack, always fight back and never fall to the ground.

For more information on reducing humanwildlife conflicts, visit wildsafebc.com.

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get out there

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local news

Photos by Dylan Sherrard.

AFTER THE BURN: LEGACY OF THE FARM After a devastating wildfire took it out last summer, Full Monte Dirt Farm faces an uncertain future

By Sam Egan

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Mountain bikers love a mystery, and “The Farm” has always been an enigma in the riding community. But owners Ron Penney and Krystina Green never expected to create mountain biking’s worst-kept secret — or to watch it all burn down.

Together, Penney and Green began the Full Monte Dirt Farm in 2010, bringing snowboarding’s progressive jump designs to their 45-acre property in Monte Lake, BC. “When we bought the place, it was because I had a style of biking I preferred over most kinds of riding,” Penney said.

“What I was looking for did not exist.”

Penney started jumping his mountain bike in the late 1990s when hip arthritis forced him to give up snowboarding. Bike suspension had evolved to take the brunt of the pain out of landings in a way snowboarding couldn’t, but he found himself resorting to poaching the local mountain’s jumps at night to find the terrain he was after. “[The Farm’s] true purpose was to create a place where even the very best riders can stay on their toes in a quiet, chill setting away from it all,” Penney said.

Penney and Green began sculpting the property into the thawed-out snowboard park of their dreams. Penney said a lawsuit vetoed the prospects of opening a public bike park, but it created a space for up-and-coming riders to hone their craft.

The Farm was even featured in films like Follow Me and Ashes to Agassiz.

“It was nice to share that freedom with everybody over the years,” Penney said. “Some of [the riders] came from countries that don’t have the space that Canada does, so it was a real treat for them ... It’s pretty much a rider sanctuary — or it was, anyway.”

On August 5, 2021, the White Rock Lake wildfire burned through Monte Lake and flattened the paradise Penney and Green built, including their home, the forest and the trails that weaved through it.

Penney said the property was the perfect place for a bike park, but the fires caused a total devastation.

“A key component of [the park] was for it to be in a forest, sheltered from the wind. That forest has been wiped out,” Penney said. “You can rebuild a house, but it will take longer than I have to replace a forest.”

Like many others who lost their homes to natural disaster last summer, Penney and Green have no choice but to stay and rebuild their lives the best they can in a landscape that no longer resembles home.

“We are still without a house and the building process is going to be lengthy from the looks of it,” Penney said. “I will rebuild myself with the help of our friends and family, and hopefully we are able to pull a rabbit out of the hat on this one.”

He said rebuilding in the current economic climate is going to be a challenge. However, the mountain bike community launched a GoFundMe campaign that has pooled over $73,000 to supplement the couple’s rebuilding efforts.

Penney particularly thanked Matty Miles for giving them a place to stay, Bicycle Cafe for starting the fundraiser and Pinkbike for sharing their story.

“All our friends in our circle have been nothing but amazing,” Penney said. “If it wasn’t for the bike community pulling together that $73,000, we would have had no hope.”

While The Farm’s influence can still be felt throughout the region’s trail networks, it’s unclear what the future holds for the Full Monte Dirt Farm — at least until Penney and Green rebuild their farmhouse.

“Personally, I won’t have time to keep the park going until I have built a new house,” Penney said. “The place does have a different look now, so I’m sure you will see it in future industry edits.”

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arts

Trail Building Social Events Group Rides More Trails = More Better

Buy your membership at sunpeakstrails.com

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arts

BIKERS DISH THEIR FAVOURITE LOCAL LAPS

By Sam Egan

With so many bike trails in Sun Peaks, it can be hard to decide which to hit first. SPIN spoke with trail designers and mountain bike enthusiasts to hear which trails they’ll be lapping this season.

Sam Loxton, president of the Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association, said his go-to trails require heading up the lift to the top of Canada Line.

“Cut off to Sugar and Sweet One. It’s not super committing — one of my main laps for sure,” said Loxton. “I’d ride that five times a day. You get a little bit of warm-up on Canada Line and then that section of Sugar, dropping in right after the wallrides, is so good.”

For trail designer Ted Morton, the new trail system he laid out for Mt. Morrisey is near and dear to his heart. He said he can’t wait to add the pedal-accessed network into his park days and take his less-experienced sister and nephew out on the beginner trails.

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“Sun Peaks used to be known for being gnarly, and now it’s not,” Morton said. “I’m going to put my nephew in a lesson on some green trails and my sister on an ebike. She’s going to come pedal up Morrisey with me and then she’s probably going to cruise down the logging road. I’m going to go shred the trail, then we’re all going to meet at the end.”

Meanwhile Shawn Melnechuk, Sun Peaks Resort LLP’s (SPR) bike park coordinator, said he’s keeping his cards close to his chest.

“I’ve never met a trail I haven’t liked, from green to double black. I’m excited to ride them all,” he said. “New, different trails are always fun.

It doesn’t matter which trail it is, I’m just excited to ride my bike, period.”

A full guide to Sun Peaks’ different bike trails can be found on the resort’s website at sunpeaksresort.com/bike.

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arts

ONE BIKER’S REMARKABLE STORY OF RECOVERY How optimism heals

By Kyra Grubb

In 2020, sports fanatic Jake Fox was riding high after the best mountain biking season he’d ever had. Fox had never felt better on a bike and earned an exciting sponsorship with Knolly Bikes, a local biker-approved brand.

Towards the end of the season, the 24-year-old broke his leg but bounced back quickly. Like most extreme sport athletes, Fox said injury was a typical experience for him.

“Every year, I’d break myself off for at least two months, it seemed like,” he said. “[Injury] wasn’t a matter of if, but when.”

Fox was just getting back into the sport when a day spent at a friend's homemade training facility in July 2021 went sour.

“It was my first time riding … an airbag landing, which is supposed to be safer in some scenarios. I wasn’t super keen on giving it a shot, but my friends convinced me I should try.”

“I went for a backflip-no-hander, a basic trick I had been doing successfully for years. On the landing, I sort of fumbled my hands … Then, when I rode off the end of the bag, I flipped over the handlebars and drove my head straight into the ground.”

Fox was not wearing a neck brace at the time and said he lost full sensation from his shoulders down.

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A friend’s father witnessed Fox’s fall and rushed over to hold him in c-spine, a first-aid strategy that immobilized Fox’s head to avoid further injury.

Fox suffered a broken neck and fractured vertebrae, but said without the man’s help his injuries could have been much worse. After a successful surgery and four days in hospital, doctors told Fox there was a five per cent chance he’d ever walk again.

“I initially broke down. I thought to myself … I’m never going to be able to walk or much less bike again.”

But Fox said he has always been a big believer in the power of optimism and was determined to have a positive outlook.

“Through other injuries, I noticed having a negative head space wasn’t helpful. I’d always heal better and faster when I’d think positive thoughts,” he said.

“With my neck, I was really stoked to have been able to move my arm on one day and then my toes on another … Each day, I was one step closer to my goal of walking again, and I really learned to praise the positive outcomes.”

From the start, he’d tell himself, “I’m going to be that five per cent.”

Fox said he leaned on the support of his friends and fellow peers, who rallied around him after his injury.

“I felt like the luckiest guy in the world after receiving so many messages of support from my close-knit circle of friends and others within the broader community of bikers,” Fox said.

“Pro-riders I’d idolized since I was a kid even reached out to me.”

Fox said the support he received played a significant role in convincing him anything was possible. While at a rehab centre, he expressed his intention to ski without the help of any assisted devices. At the time, Fox was still using a wheelchair.

His girlfriend, Katie Hutchins, said Fox bought a Sun Peaks season pass the summer after the accident, even after she and friends suggested he should hold off.

Fox did end up skiing Sun Peaks last winter and is already back on his bike this spring. He said he’s made serious progress toward reaching his previous goals.

“My goal for the end of the summer is to be riding all the same trails I used to be able to … but I’ll be holding off on tricks for the time being.”

To those who have experienced similar injuries, Fox suggests focusing on those small victories. He also urges anyone wanting to chat to reach out at @fake.jox on Instagram.

“One of the coolest things about the accident has been [speaking] with other kids who have had similar injuries.”

Credit: Bryce Piwek, Adventures Sports Photographer Caption Photo 1: Fox poses with his gifted Knolly Bike ahead of his injury.

May 11, 2021.

Caption Photo 2: Fox shows off his skills on his new Knolly Bike.

Vancouver, British Columbia

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get out there

BIKE MAINTENANCE TIPS TO SURVIVE PARK RIDING Industry experts explain how to keep bikes running smoothly at Sun Peaks’ unique park

By Sam Egan

Photo by Kelly Funk.

Riders who have a dedicated downhill rig in the garage for big shuttle days or park laps are no stranger to the toll chairliftassisted riding can take on a bike.

But with more riders bringing shorter travel bikes up the lift to check out the resort’s growing inventory of more approachable terrain, daily maintenance becomes all the more important to compensate for the extra mileage and elevation gain the chairlift provides.

Kamloops-based professional mountain bike athlete and photographer Dylan Sherrard has been gracing the covers of Sun Peaks’ bike maps and brochures for years, by making the park’s biggest features look like child’s play.

Sherrard worked at the Bicycle Café in Kamloops for many years, and each summer he returns to Sun Peaks to teach the next batch of young rippers in his freeride summer camp programs.

“Those years of bike shopping and bike camping definitely left a single glowing slice of advice that I can still hear echo in my ear today: Check your bolts,” he told SPIN. Sherrard said it’s easy to take for granted the vertical distance being covered when lapping the trails, but doing a quick bolt check every few laps can prevent a lot of wear and tear, failures and even crashes.

“If we have a rad weekend in the bike park and cruise a big handful of laps each day, that might add up to a few months worth of typical riding, in terms of ground covered,” he said.

“All that extra mileage, plus the side loads of big berms and slanted landings, does a magic trick of rattling our bikes loose.”

It’s precisely the long vertical of the descents off Sunburst Express riders need to prepare their bikes for, according to bike mechanics at McSporties in Sun Peaks.

In a statement to SPIN, McSporties mechanics said having properly serviced brakes, good tires and a flat repair kit at all times while riding is crucial.

“It's a long walk if your brakes fail or you get a flat, so plan accordingly to bring a spare tube, a pump, and some tire levers.”

24

In addition to the extra mileage, cross-country racer and Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) sales manager Aaron Weiss points out the park is also at a higher elevation — unloading at 1,850 metres above sea level — where conditions can be unpredictable and demanding.

Weiss recommends a thorough clean before and after each day of riding, to allow for a close inspection of the frame.

“Best to go low pressure and use brushes to get the bike spotless,” Weiss said. “Get into the nooks and crannies and look at the areas of the frame you don’t often look at. Once the bike is clean, lube the chain, put some lube under the fork seals and cycle the fork a few times.”

He also said it can be helpful to wipe the frame down with Maxima SC1 and watch for wear in a few other spots as well.

“I would check my chain for wear to make sure that I am not going to be blasting through drivetrain parts that are harder to come by right now,” Weiss said. “It’s best to have your drivetrain running right and your shifting be as predictable as possible in an environment that’s tough on bike parts.”

Weiss said he likes as much grip as possible when bringing his short travel trail bike to tackle a large descent. He double checks the air pressure in his shock and fork, as well as resets the stanchion rings before riding, and pays special attention to get his rubber hooking up just right.

“Lastly, I would set a baseline for tire pressure,” he said.

“There is a really simple formula through Stan’s NoTubes of your weight in pounds divided by seven, and then add two PSI for the rear wheel and subtract one PSI for the front. This is a good starting point for tubeless tires.”

Weiss said if the rear is moving too much, then either increase the pressure or consider an insert for added support.

Although it can be easy to let maintenance slide when the chairlift is doing most of the hard work, keeping parts running smoothly will improve a day on the trails and prevent expensive repairs.

25

puzzles & business listings

WE'RE GROWING TO THE MOVIES

by Barbara Olson © ClassiCanadian Crosswords

Across 1 6 9 14 15 16 17 19 20 22 23

Piece of the pie?

London's prov.

Yellowhead town west of Edmonton Email option Dance-drama of Japan "I don't ___ respect!"

(Dangerfield quip) Artificial sweetener Make ___ at (flirt with) 2002 Michelle Pfeiffer/Alison Lohman film about a girl raised in foster care Passionate desire Dog: Sp.

24 27 30 31 32 35 36 38 39 41 43 48

Bottom left computer key 2006 Scarlett Johansson/Josh Hartnett film about a brutal murder investigation Petal plucker's bloom Goes off, as a pager Jagmeet Singh's pol. grp.

To the ___ degree Univ. transcript fig.

Three-of-a-kind in rummy ___ grievance (complains) Knitter's inverted stitches 1989 Dolly Parton/Sally Field film about five southern friends Chacun ___ goût (each to his own)

49 50 52

Reeking to high heaven Booby prize position Yawn-inspiring Roll into ___ (round cookie direction) Chris Hadfield's former employer Morse bits Used, euphemistically War movie sound effects Latin term meaning "for now" Red Chamber member It includes the Masters and the U.S. Open "Take a hike!", to the Fonz "Little Red Book" writer

45 46

55 57 58 59 60 61 62 63

Pull ___ one (deceive) Fall preceder?

1989 Kathleen Turner/Michael Douglas film about a rich couple's divorce battle, with "The" Christmas costume Large family's car buying concern Give ___ (approve) "Self" starter, at times Lightens up, in a way Army chaplain Cal. spans Frequented, as a restaurant

Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 21 26

Inch along, as in traffic Closed again Snooty Having louvers, as a blind Spare item in a "boot" Ready for "walkies," perhaps What the ruthless show their foes Gerry Rafferty song about sailing "Yikes!"

British new wave group ___ Mode Takes by surprise Slip-___ (simple footwear) Terrible two's words Illuminated from above Partner of Wynken and Blynken

25 26 28 29 32 33 34 36 37 40 41 42 44

47 51 53 54 55 56

Noisy brawl Fictional thief-turned-sleuth Lupin San Sebastián shuteye "Heyyyy, over here!"

Sand trap smoother Beatles' meter maid Pit stop product "Just as I thought!"

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They're All Alike - solution 27

sports

Pendrel talks shift into national coaching, living in Kamloops

By Sam Egan

Catharine Pendrel, Clif Pro Team athlete, poses post race in 2021; mud and all.

Photo by Michael Cerveny, Clif Pro Team.

WORLD CHAMPION CATHARINE PENDREL TAKES ON NEW COACHING GIG

28

Photo www.facebook.com/catharine.pendrel.

Of all the local mountain bikers you might find at the Kamloops trailheads, Canadian cross-country legend Catharine Pendrel may just top the list for having the most diverse resume.

After a busy final racing season at the World Cup Circuit and her fourth Olympic Games last year, Pendrel announced she will be joining Cycling Canada as a national team coach this summer.

Pendrel said her schedule will look different as a coach than what she’s used to.

“I will travel less than as a racer but still a considerable amount, with about 12 weeks on the road between racing and training camps,” she said. “The counter is that when I am home, I have no ‘have to’ training so I can be more flexible to focus on family.”

And it’s the many relationships she’s forged within the cycling community that she said she looks forward to continuing in this next chapter of her career.

“Last year I was teammates with Peter Disera at the Olympics and this year I get to coach him, so that’s a fun partnership,” she said. “I am also working with some juniors and U23, so I’m really excited to help their development.”

After growing up in New Brunswick, Pendrel moved to Kamloops in 2006 with her husband Keith Wilson. The move was inspired by a teaching position for Wilson, who has coached Pendrel and other riders to podium finishes at all levels of cycling.

The couple found Kamloops’ burgeoning trail networks to be an ideal training ground. Pendrel said it was the perfect contrast to the years she spent in Victoria and New Brunswick, where trails were more technical with lots of roots and rocks.

“Kamloops has a ton of climbing and high-speed riding which helped me gain not only fitness, but a wide-ranging

skill set,” Pendrel said. “The short winters with great access to skiing for training and then long warm summers are really nice from a training perspective, as I get variety but also great quality training conditions.”

Two years after moving to Kamloops, Pendrel competed in her first Olympics at the 2008 Beijing Games, where she landed herself fourth place. She then returned in 2012, coming in ninth in London, and again in 2016 where she brought home a bronze medal for Canada — even after an early-race crash.

As her list of accolades grew, so did the riding community and trail offerings in Kamloops. Pendrel said she spends most of her leisure time in the saddle riding between the Kenna Cartwright and Pineview networks, just a quick pedal from home.

Pendrel had planned to retire from competition and start a family after what was to be her Olympic finale in 2020.

But when COVID-19 delayed the games until the following year, she opted to tackle both new motherhood and a busy final year of racing head-on.

Sharing her journey on social media in 2021, just three months after the birth of her first child, Pendrel made international headlines with her return to racing and inspired athletes around the world to balance careers and family life.

Alongside her busy World Cup schedule, Pendrel has dabbled further off piste over the years with fat tire, backcountry and enduro events.

Although she didn’t take out a race license in 2022 so she could commit to her coaching transition, Pendrel isn’t done with racing completely. She said she would love to compete in stage races or local events in the future.

29

events

SPRTA members out on the trails on June 4. Photo provided.

EVENTS JUNE 10 TO JULY 7 Weekly Sundays, starting June 19 Sun Peaks Market

Browse products from local farmers and artisans throughout the village from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

June June 17 to 19 Bike park opening weekend

Sun Peaks Resort mountain biking and hiking trails open.

June 19 Live music

Outdoor live music from jazz band Mozi Bones from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

June 26 Little Big Golf Challenge

A family event featuring nine holes of golf, dinner and a silent auction to raise money for the Sun Peaks Education Society.

June 27 Sun Peaks Health Association AGM 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Memberships available at the door. Location TBC.

July July 1 Canada Day celebrations / First Fridays Enjoy activities throughout the village such as live music, mini golf, balloon twisting, an artisan market and a kid’s bike parade.

July 2 to 3 Free family entertainment

Continue to celebrate the Canada Day long weekend with more fun family activities and entertainment throughout the village.

July 4 to 10 Kids golf free

Children 16 and under golf for free at the Sun Peaks golf course when accompanied by an adult.

30

RECREATIONAL TRAIL ASSOCIATION PLANS BUSY SUMMER Organization hopes momentum carries after hosting first event

By Kayla Empey

After hosting its first successful gathering of the season, Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association (SPRTA) is looking forward to a busy summer.

On June 4, the second annual B.C. Trails day, SPRTA held Trail Building 101. Attendees were shown how the local pedal-access trails are maintained and given an opportunity to help finish construction.

Sam Loxton, SPRTA president, said it was great to get out on the trails with the community after not being able to gather much over the past couple of years. The gathering drew over 25 people, most of whom had never tried trail building before and were interested in learning more.

“We got tools in everyone's hands and did a little bit of cleanup,” Loxton said.

“We got a little section kind of finished and ready for riding, so that was really good.

It's always satisfying for everyone to see the finished product once they've put a little bit of work into it.”

After spending an hour and a half on the trails, participants went to Vertical Cafe for après.

“Hopefully we'll get those people back out throughout the year to some of our other trail building events,” Loxton said. “It was a really nice afternoon and a super fun way to kick off our events for this summer.”

Kelly Kozevnikov, SPRTA’s events director, said the non-profit is already planning a bustling summer. Some events

are still in the works, but she said they are excited for group rides to return.

On June 24, July 8, August 19 and September 9, community members can gather in the village for an evening ride together, followed by drinks and snacks at local businesses.

For a bigger community event, Kozevnikov said SPRTA is planning a Mt. Morrisey trail opening to unveil the work it’s done on the mountain over the past year. This was originally supposed to take place mid-June, but has been postponed due to the weather.

Loxton added the Chainrings and Chakras event, in collaboration with Sun Peaks Yoga, will also be returning this summer. This was held a couple times before the pandemic, but has been on pause since then.

“For people that like mountain biking and yoga, that'll be a pretty fun way to get a ride and some yoga in and then a fun social drink at the end of that too,” Loxton said.

More information on these events will be posted soon. Loxton said SPRTA will have a booth at the local farmers market as well, for anyone who wants to sign up as a member or show support by purchasing items like stickers and socks.

“We're really excited to be able to have a bit more focus on events and get people out on the trails having a good time,” Loxton said. “Then we've also got a busy summer with trail building too, so it should be a really big year for us.”

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