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The Specialized
North Shore Ripper |
| It hit me moments ago. In order to choose photos for an article I often put them in a slideshow, cue up some tunes and let them sift through my retinas into my bones. I did this with David Ferguson's shots from Saturday and I got a chill - complete with gooseflesh. In the throes of compiling results, sorting prizes, marking the course and putting up banners it's pretty difficult to get a sense of what we might have started here. It should have hit me when Wade Simmons said "that was the most fun race I have ever done" but I was busy fumbling with the mic. It should have hit me when I noticed the buzz among the participants and spectators but at that point I was absorbed in trying to get the shot. Overheard comments about the professionalism of the event just surprised me - but I guess James Wilson and Sharon Bader get the credit for having made sure all eventualities were anticipated and dealt with. By all accounts we're on to something here and that is a great feeling. Ripper 3 wasn't blessed with fine weather but the volunteers, the troops from North Shore Search and Rescue and the fanfrickingtastic riders who came out made up for any lack of vitamin D. |
![]() Trailbuilding art. Photo ~ David Ferguson |
Who signs up for a race down a cedar strewn stuntfest on race day when the weather turns to shite? North Shore riders apparently - including Wade Simmons who found out about the race while cruising the web the night before. In all we had 52 warriors battling their way down CBC, most with a big grin for the fans. Maybe that was what separated these events from any other race I've attended; all the attitudes were left at home. Everyone was here for a good time and nobody disturbed the good vibe.

Despite the inclement weather, and the fact that we hadn't planned to do any race day registration, quite a few folks came out to sign up. Photo ~ David Ferguson
Wet it was though and while some folks went down, slipped off and generally had mishaps, there wasn't a single injury of note. We had peace of mind aplenty though thanks to North Shore Search and Rescue who once again set up along the course - just in case it hit the fan.

In order to get full bonus on the berm you needed to get both wheels above our line on the cedar - only a few riders managed it. Rider ~ Andrew Brown. Photo ~ Cam McRae
| The riders were smiling but they were also working hard. The fastest time down the hill was over 7 minutes and while that might sound like nothing to a marathoner, it's a long time to be riding skinny cedar planks suspended above the bony forest floor. Despite the aforementioned mishaps, what surprised me was how many riders tried every stunt in very slimy conditions. Two riders, Lee Lau and Al Stepaniuk, fell off the high point leading into the Millenium log but managed to finish the race. Rare was the rider who didn't go down at all - even Wade slipped off the very last stunt after going in a little too hot. The race format involved time bonuses for riding the stunts so there were volunteers at 9 points on the trail tracking who rode what. Being picky went against what we are up to so if you started and finished the stunt, no matter what happened in the middle, you got the bonus. Colin Miller got the bonus on the berm pictured above by getting off his bike and rolling it above the magic line. |
![]() Matt Bond - but not the artist formerly known as Konaboy - riding in the big trees. Photo ~ Cam McRae |

Wade Simmons dominating without meaning to. Photo ~ Colin Adamson
| Wade's Rocky. Wade rode a Rocky Mountain Switch in the Ripper- a 2005 model of course. His bike was equipped with a prototype Fox rear shock as well as a Marzocchi 66 - a 7" single crown. No word on whether it will end up being called the 77. The bike was Saint equipped bow to stern. |
Somebody made the comment that this wasn't a real race. If a real race is one where you have to be serious and aggro and clip in - just because it's faster - we'll leave those to other folks. If you can't wear a corduroy suit it's not worth doing in my books - nice touch Smoke. If it's freeride is it really a race? I guess the best way to prove that is to squeeze maximum fun out of the event instead of stressing about squeezing the lowest time down the hill. If you can do both that's great but if you're up for the North Shore Ripper for next year please remember that shits and giggles are the priority. The best example of this philosophy was Jason Winters - a mystery rider who nobody seemed to know. Riding CBC on a hardtail is hard work but blazing it on a full rigid with cantis and still riding all the stunts is magic - Jason did all that with a grin and still managed to finish a very respectable 16th. For his efforts Jason won a Giro Semi Helmet. |
![]() Johnny Smoke of Bush Pilot Biking dressed up in his best suit. Photo ~ Photo ~ Colin Adamson |

Some folks just get it. Jason Winters, geared up in lycra, rode the race full rigid, with cantilever brakes and a huge smile on his face. He also rode every stunt. Photo ~ Cam McRae

Trevor Hansen took one for team nsmb by playing hurt. His dog Baron, wearing his own nsmb jersey, followed close behind for support. Photo ~ Cam McRae
| CBC is truly the work of a madman. The rockwork in some of the berms is beyond obsessive and some of the woodwork belongs in a museum. On top of that it winds through some of the largest trees in the lower mainland, all the while keeping the trail off the ground because the trail crosses a sensitive swamp. Tonnes of work is what I'm talking about. The mastermind behind this marvel of human effort is Jeremy Power and without his efforts as well as those of the nsmbA and the crew he lead during the initial building stages, CBC would still be a nasty mudhole. Thanks Jeremy - the great condition of the trail meant that even after all the recent rain the trail was race ready Saturday morning. Thanks also to Barb Haley for organizing the trail day Sunday and for all the volunteers who came out. |
![]() There would have been no racing without a trail. We have Jeremy Power (left) to thank for the gem that is CBC.Photo ~ David Ferguson |
Speaking of volunteers - we had an amazing crew out for each Ripper event. Thanks to all the volunteers - all your help really made the races run smoothly. May your trails be loamy and your landings soft.

The Gerbil Cage extension was greasy but most riders managed to conquer it. Rider ~ Tim from Huckwagon. Photo ~ Cam McRae

King and Queen; Megan Hoodspith and Ryan Newman (in black jersey) Photo ~ David Ferguson
| I mentioned in my previous article that we would be crowning the Ripper King and Queen. Megan Hoodspith was the undisputed Queen winning two of three and finishing second on Oilcan and Ryan Newman was King, finishing close behind both Wade Simmons and Andrew Shandro and finishing Ripper one with a flat tire. Congrats to our new Monarchs. When Wade Simmons rolled by everyone started to buzz about his lines. None of us knew he was coming so it was a great surprise. In typical style Wade wanted to give his prize to the youngest rider who came out and that was 13-year old Daniel Crowe-Hutchon, who walked away with an nsmb hoodie. |
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Congrats to all the riders for coming out to support the nsmbA - all the proceeds from these races are going straight back into the trails. Huge thanks to all of our sponsors as well - these folks are all about encouraging local events and supporting our trails; Specialized, Cycles Lambert, Rock Shox, Avid, SRAM, Bean Around the World, OGC, Giro, Sugoi, Whistler Action Video , EMDOUBLEYU Design , Huckwagon and of course Dizzy Cycles who spearheaded the event.

Bryon Enns was in the running for Ripper King - despite riding a hardtail. The man can ride. Instead he won the Grand Prize - a P3 frame from Specialized.
Left to right: Sharon Bader of the nsmbA, a random hobo, Bryon Enns and James Wilson of Dizzy Cycles. Photo ~ David Ferguson
Putting on a race is a little bit like child birth - afterwards you don't remember the pain. So I guess we'll see you next year. Thanks again to everyone who helped make the series a great success and a great time.
To check out video of the event go to whistleractionvideo.com
To see the results keep on scrolling.
Cam McRae
Event Sponsors
Specialized North Shore Ripper Leg 3 Results
No. |
First Name |
Last Name |
Cat |
Age |
elapsed |
bonus |
final time |
|
| 1 | 861 | Wade | Simmons | Men | 30 | 0:07:09 | 0:03:05 | 0:04:04 |
| 2 | 823 | Ryan | Newman | Men | 20 | 0:07:27 | 0:03:20 | 0:04:07 |
| 3 | 807 | Ryan | Waters | Men | 27 | 0:07:42 | 0:03:20 | 0:04:22 |
| 4 | 845 | Grant | Laird | men | 22 | 0:07:40 | 0:03:15 | 0:04:25 |
| 5 | 831 | Michael | Loehr | Men | 28 | 0:08:10 | 0:03:20 | 0:04:50 |
| 6 | 865 | Bryon | Enns | Men | 39 | 0:08:18 | 0:03:20 | 0:04:58 |
| 7 | 824 | Colin | Miller | Men | 37 | 0:08:25 | 0:03:25 | 0:05:00 |
| 8 | 853 | Chris | Stomgren | Men | 30 | 0:08:26 | 0:03:20 | 0:05:06 |
| 9 | 850 | Roger | Ventura | Men | 31 | 0:08:14 | 0:03:05 | 0:05:09 |
| 10 | 848 | John | Matthews | Men | 34 | 0:08:34 | 0:03:20 | 0:05:14 |
| 11 | 815 | Mathew | Bond | Men | 21 | 0:08:36 | 0:03:20 | 0:05:16 |
| 12 | 866 | Trevor | Kerr | Men | 42 | 0:08:43 | 0:03:20 | 0:05:23 |
| 13 | 809 | Terry | Walker | Men | 46 | 0:08:54 | 0:03:15 | 0:05:39 |
| 14 | 805 | Adam | Jilling | Men | 35 | 0:08:22 | 0:02:40 | 0:05:42 |
| 15 | 804 | Luke | Metcalf | Men | 19 | 0:07:20 | 0:01:30 | 0:05:50 |
| 16 | 924 | Jason | Winters | Men | 30 | 0:09:12 | 0:03:20 | 0:05:52 |
| 17 | 864 | Darren | White | Men | 37 | 0:09:19 | 0:03:20 | 0:05:59 |
| 18 | 860 | Jared | Johnson | Men | 26 | 0:08:28 | 0:02:15 | 0:06:13 |
| 19 | 835 | Chris | Campbell | Men | 21 | 0:09:33 | 0:03:20 | 0:06:13 |
| 20 | 857 | Christopher | Everitt | Men | 18 | 0:09:15 | 0:03:00 | 0:06:15 |
| 21 | 832 | Richard | Jarman | Men | 35 | 0:09:45 | 0:03:05 | 0:06:40 |
| 22 | 842 | Andrew | Mundie | Men | 37 | 0:09:31 | 0:02:50 | 0:06:41 |
| 23 | 844 | Tim | Petrescue | Men | 23 | 0:09:53 | 0:03:05 | 0:06:48 |
| 24 | 818 | Ed | Witwicki | Men | 31 | 0:08:28 | 0:01:35 | 0:06:53 |
| 25 | 926 | Trevor | Hansen | Men | 40 | 0:10:05 | 0:03:10 | 0:06:55 |
| 26 | 801 | Burton | Hartmann | Men | 40 | 0:10:02 | 0:03:03 | 0:06:59 |
| 27 | 828 | Stuart | Loewen | Men | 46 | 0:10:20 | 0:03:15 | 0:07:05 |
| 28 | 813 | Jordan | Marko | Men | 35 | 0:09:26 | 0:02:05 | 0:07:21 |
| 29 | 829 | Tim | Gadd | Men | 18 | 0:09:40 | 0:02:05 | 0:07:35 |
| 30 | 843 | Brian | Goldstone | Men | 34 | 0:10:48 | 0:03:05 | 0:07:43 |
| 31 | 838 | Brian | Cameron | Men | 29 | 0:10:30 | 0:02:20 | 0:08:10 |
| 32 | 808 | Sean | Killen | Men | 33 | 0:11:32 | 0:03:05 | 0:08:27 |
| 33 | 839 | Michael | Hallett | Men | 28 | 0:09:56 | 0:01:10 | 0:08:46 |
| 34 | 826 | David | Sturgeon | Men | 33 | 0:10:17 | 0:01:30 | 0:08:47 |
| 35 | 847 | Derek | Peddle | Men | 32 | 0:09:15 | 0:00:05 | 0:09:10 |
| 36 | 852 | Allan | Stepaniuk | Men | 38 | 0:11:48 | 0:01:45 | 0:10:03 |
| 37 | 803 | Lee | Lau | Men | 35 | 0:12:54 | 0:02:20 | 0:10:34 |
| 1 | 840 | Keith | Mewis | Under 18 | 18 | 0:09:40 | 0:02:15 | 0:07:25 |
| 2 | 923 | Steven | Rogers | Under 18 | 15 | 0:09:24 | 0:01:50 | 0:07:34 |
| 3 | 925 | Ian | Nelson | Under 18 | 16 | 0:09:19 | 0:01:35 | 0:07:44 |
| 4 | 810 | Jeremy | Withers | Under 18 | 16 | 0:10:58 | 0:02:50 | 0:08:08 |
| 5 | 841 | Conor | Trainor | Under 18 | 15 | 0:09:04 | 0:00:25 | 0:08:39 |
| 6 | 817 | David | Loretto | Under 18 | 15 | 0:09:29 | 0:00:30 | 0:08:59 |
| 7 | 812 | Andrew | Brown | Under 18 | 17 | 0:10:08 | 0:01:05 | 0:09:03 |
| 8 | 825 | Craig | Johnstone | Under 18 | 18 | 0:10:44 | 0:01:35 | 0:09:09 |
| 9 | 867 | Malcolm | Brodie | Under 18 | 14 | 0:12:17 | 0:02:00 | 0:10:17 |
| 10 | 854 | Daniel | Crowe-Hutchon | Under 18 | 13 | 0:12:18 | 0:01:00 | 0:11:18 |
| 11 | 821 | Jason | Wong | Under 18 | 14 | 0:12:08 | 0:00:00 | 0:12:08 |
| 1 | 800 | Megan | Hoodspith | Women | 32 | 0:10:51 | 0:03:15 | 0:07:36 |
| 2 | 858 | Brittany | Wood | Women | 15 | 0:10:53 | 0:03:15 | 0:07:38 |
| 3 | 837 | Kelly | Kozevnikov | Women | 32 | 0:08:28 | 0:00:20 | 0:08:08 |
| 4 | 855 | Joanna | Weintreger | Women | 29 | 0:10:16 | 0:01:15 | 0:09:01 |





















