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Bike race attracts world-class riders
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| LEGENDARY RIDE: Marshal Cram, original owner of River City Coffee, rides a trail in the Lang Creek area. Cram, who is now a computer systems integrator based in Calgary, is considering entering the 2010 BC Bike Race, which will have stage three in Powell River. |
One-day stop creates immeasurable exposure
by Laura Walz | editor@prpeak.com
An epic bike race is making a one-day stop in Powell River, creating an opportunity to showcase the area to participants from around the world.
Organizers of the BC Bike Race are planning on making Powell River stage three of the seven-day event, which takes place from June 27 to July 3, 2010. Race competitors, who include some of the world’s finest mountain bike stage racers, ride from Vancouver, over to Vancouver Island, up to Comox, across to Powell River and down the Sunshine Coast, ending up in Whistler.
Event organizers have requested use of Willingdon Beach for one day and night, June 30. The competitors would race on a network of local trails, a route chosen by event organizers and local supporters.
It’s anticipated that over 400 racers will participate in the 2010 race, which translates into possibly as many as 1,000 people visiting Powell River.
BC Ferries is an official sponsor of the BC Bike Race, which began in 2007.
Wayne Brewer, a representative of the local cycling community, spoke to City of Powell River councillors about the event at the November 19 committee-of-the-whole meeting. He said he wrote a letter to council which provided background as well as detailing the exposure coming the city’s way because of the race.
“It’s taken us three years to get to this point,” Brewer said. “We’ve watched the bike race pass us by and a lot of us realize the benefits hosting such a race would bring to town.”
Race organizers have been to Powell River and Brewer took them out on the trails. “They love it,” he said. “The officials have seen Willingdon Beach and they think it is a perfect venue to start and finish the race, as well as to create their one-night community.”
All the city has to do is approve the use of Willingdon Beach as a venue, Brewer said.
Volunteers from the cycling community will come forward to help with the race, Brewer added. “Other communities would just love the chance to be part of the action,” he said. “We really don’t want to miss this opportunity. It will literally, to a whole new community, put us on the map.”
The Powell River area has an amazing set of trails, Brewer said, and now there is an opportunity for the world to come here. “These are world-class racers, world-class people,” he said. “These are people who travel to South Africa, to Australia, and around the world, racing. The evidence is when people come and race and see an event, they come back. Here’s our chance to take Powell River to another level for a whole new recreational group.”
The participants are fully supported, said Brewer. “They would arrive one day and race here while the organizers set up a one-day community for them at Willingdon Beach,” he said. “They’re gone the next day and they clean up. The volunteers will pitch in and do what we can to make sure the place is clean and ready for July 1 celebrations.”
Mayor Stewart Alsgard said he supported the request and the key words were “doing the cleanup.”
Stan Westby, chief administrative officer, said staff also supported the request. He suggested that Bill Reid, director of parks, recreation and culture, should prepare a report to address details like involving CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) Local 798 employees and preparing for the July 1 celebration the following day.
Councillor Chris McNaughton, president of Tourism Powell River, said that organization also supported the event. “It would be a wonderful opportunity for Powell River, to be showcased on the world stage,” he said.
The staff report is expected to be on the agenda for the December 3 committee-of-the-whole meeting.
Organizers of the BC Bike Race are planning on making Powell River stage three of the seven-day event, which takes place from June 27 to July 3, 2010. Race competitors, who include some of the world’s finest mountain bike stage racers, ride from Vancouver, over to Vancouver Island, up to Comox, across to Powell River and down the Sunshine Coast, ending up in Whistler.
Event organizers have requested use of Willingdon Beach for one day and night, June 30. The competitors would race on a network of local trails, a route chosen by event organizers and local supporters.
It’s anticipated that over 400 racers will participate in the 2010 race, which translates into possibly as many as 1,000 people visiting Powell River.
BC Ferries is an official sponsor of the BC Bike Race, which began in 2007.
Wayne Brewer, a representative of the local cycling community, spoke to City of Powell River councillors about the event at the November 19 committee-of-the-whole meeting. He said he wrote a letter to council which provided background as well as detailing the exposure coming the city’s way because of the race.
“It’s taken us three years to get to this point,” Brewer said. “We’ve watched the bike race pass us by and a lot of us realize the benefits hosting such a race would bring to town.”
Race organizers have been to Powell River and Brewer took them out on the trails. “They love it,” he said. “The officials have seen Willingdon Beach and they think it is a perfect venue to start and finish the race, as well as to create their one-night community.”
All the city has to do is approve the use of Willingdon Beach as a venue, Brewer said.
Volunteers from the cycling community will come forward to help with the race, Brewer added. “Other communities would just love the chance to be part of the action,” he said. “We really don’t want to miss this opportunity. It will literally, to a whole new community, put us on the map.”
The Powell River area has an amazing set of trails, Brewer said, and now there is an opportunity for the world to come here. “These are world-class racers, world-class people,” he said. “These are people who travel to South Africa, to Australia, and around the world, racing. The evidence is when people come and race and see an event, they come back. Here’s our chance to take Powell River to another level for a whole new recreational group.”
The participants are fully supported, said Brewer. “They would arrive one day and race here while the organizers set up a one-day community for them at Willingdon Beach,” he said. “They’re gone the next day and they clean up. The volunteers will pitch in and do what we can to make sure the place is clean and ready for July 1 celebrations.”
Mayor Stewart Alsgard said he supported the request and the key words were “doing the cleanup.”
Stan Westby, chief administrative officer, said staff also supported the request. He suggested that Bill Reid, director of parks, recreation and culture, should prepare a report to address details like involving CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) Local 798 employees and preparing for the July 1 celebration the following day.
Councillor Chris McNaughton, president of Tourism Powell River, said that organization also supported the event. “It would be a wonderful opportunity for Powell River, to be showcased on the world stage,” he said.
The staff report is expected to be on the agenda for the December 3 committee-of-the-whole meeting.
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| Quick Peaks: November 25, 2009 | Council approves park agreement |
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