Ripper Triple Crown Wrap
It was a dark and Stormy Day...
Words by Dan Gronross. Photos by Danielle Baker.
Why can’t I quit you?
Well Cletus, to put 'er simply, quittin’ ain’t what Rippers do.
This year the Ripper Series has proven quite challenging for the participants, and on several occasions quitting might have been the easier option. From the snow-covered “Not so 7th Secret” to the much warmer, but no less wet Super Dh, Mother Nature had it out for the participants.
The climb began with a thick fog... Photo ~ Corey Toews
The Triple Crown was no different for 2008. New and old Rippers fought their way up and down all three mountains across the North Shore, battling the rain, the fog, the cold and finally by the end of the day the assault of the late day setting sun. 
and so did the descent.
The goal of the Triple Crown is to scale all three local mountains while collecting cards for the best poker hand along the way. Seymour and Cypress can be shuttled but Fromme is a mandatory climb. To add a little fun to the mix there were activities at the various check points. Riders who managed to complete the complex and dangerous tasks received cards to sweeten their hand.
Melanie Vaughan navigates the slick rockwork on CBC. The first downhill of the Triple Crown.
After the Triple Crown the organizers sit down over several glasses of “Water” and decide who has put the best effort into the series. The Ripper Queen and Ripper King, as they are known, define what it is to be a Ripper. Actually they show up dressed and ready to provide extra cheer when needed. For their hard work they each won Specialized P2s and their fees for all the Rippers for 2009 are taken care of.
This years recipients are:
Megan Illingworth crowned Ripper Queen. From riding the Ripper against medical orders, to Team Mega Chamois and finally as a member of Daddy, buy me a Cowboy! Megan was a welcome face at every Ripper this year and if I remember correctly, most of the last year's as well.
Megan Illingworth, yes you are the Ripper Queen for 2008. Congrats on winning and riding in the mini skirt.
Andrew Prenty's coronation was next and he is a light-hearted monarch. For his work and costumes as a member of Team Moosel, The Seymour Samurais, as one of the Frommepah Loampahs and finally as a member of I can’t believe its not chamois butter. Andrew illustrated a determination and drive that was matched by no one. Congrats buddy on the excellent work in the wardrobe department.
Andrew Prenty as Ripper King for 2008, looking lavish in the sombrero - complete with Tom Selleck's moustache.
Everyone was gunning for the best poker hand - or so I thought. I was stationed at the final check in at Obsession Bikes and the number of people who handed me cards and said, “What do I have?” was quite amazing. And I thought I was the worst poker player ever. I normally discovered pairs or triples, flushes, the normal stuff. I was truly astounded when two ladies rolled up and one of them passed me a stack of five Aces. It was Gina MacInnes and Maureen Shore’s first Ripper. They walked up to me at the beginning of the event and asked if it was okay that they were shuttling since it seemed that everyone was riding up. Shuttle or no shuttle, these ladies, who on first appearance were a wee bit green behind the ears, managed to beat every shuttle team out there, and were the 5th team to arrive at Obsession. For her hand Gina won the Manitou 140 Minute and Maureen a jersey. Hope the fork lightens up the bike next year so that you can pedal up!
A full house ain't nuthin at the Triple Crown.
In case you haven't picked up on it yet, the wardrobe theme for this year's TC was Cowboy chic. And boy did some go way too far. There seems to be one incident each year that stands out and defines that particular Ripper. Last year it was probably Ryan Walters and Kevin Tafts rocking the Tandem down the 7th Secret, dressed as Batman and Robin. This year we had our own personal “Brokeback Mountain duo”. After the revulsion settled in your stomach and you could just about look in their general direction, they would on command, stretch for you. Mathew Bond and Chris Campbell came dressed in the shortest shortshorts I ever want to see on any guy. Homemade sleeveless plaid shirts and cowboy boots completed the look. 
Matthew Bond and Chris Campbell pretty much ruined everyone’s appetite with this get up.
The 18 women riders and 5 support crew of Celestial Pedal made up the largest team in Triple Crown history. They fought through all levels of ability and several well-documented crashes. Celestial Pedal beat the Shuttlewhores to the final check point at Obsession, although I don't think the Shuttlewhores had any intention of coming off the mountain. (Did someone say Brokeback?) Great work ladies!
The lovely ladies of Celestial Pedal, in no particle order: Colleen Keyland, Danielle Baker, Dorothy Luebke, Helena Juhasz, Jennifer Miller, Judy Garren, Katherina Kubenk, Laura Principe, Marilee Stefuik, Maya Klvana, Nicole Hlus, Nina Parr, Susan Sheldon, Suzanne Humphreys, Tiffany Duzita, Tina Yiu, Veronica Kacinik and Ryan Petersen.
The mini skirt-clad team of Daddy buy me a cowboy! won the best dressed award. They rode and shuttled with the aid of Quinn, their own personal chauffeur. Despite the wet hair and the mud splatters, women shredding the mountains are as welcome as a mug of beer after a rodeo clown shift.
Complete with a private escort, (left to right) Michelle Gumond, Christine Dennestedt, Danice Oyesugi, Monica Marx, Meghan Illingworth and their driver Quinn.
The absence of some key organizers made this Ripper quite different for those left holding the bag. Our commander in chief James Wilson was wrenching on the BC Bike Race, Aimee Dunn was showing all the good folks of Mt. 7 just how fast she can ride at Psychosis, and Cam McRae was in Marin County riding the new bikes from Specialized. You folks were missed. 
Branden Grass navigates the skinny, wary of the infamous rubber chicken.
The 2008 North Shore Ripper is all wrapped up. Those of us who call ourselves 'the organizers' would like to high five each and every one of you who continually come out for the Ripper events - and especially all the vollies who do the grunt work on event day. If you'd like to join the organizing crew (we even have our own gang sign) we'd love to have you along. You just have to promise to have fun.
Jason Leber scores an extra card for knocking the can off the workmate bench with a super soaker. Only the best equipment for the Ripper Events!
The North Shore Ripper Events are generously sponsored by the following great companies. I sure hope they don’t have any dressing in drag restrictions in the fine print.
Jim Pattison Toyota North Shore
Specialized
NSMB.com
NSMBA
Obsession: Bikes
Cycles Lambert
Lezyne
Bean Around the World
Dakine
Pedros
OGC
Ryders Eyewear
Bella Candella
Manitou
Hiro
Syncros
Emdoubleyou Design
Reaction Lab Communications
Trident Sports
Insurance provided by the good folks at,
GRMBA
Enjoy the rest of the summer and see you next year!
Cheers!
Dan Gronross
Where you there to rip in the cold and wet? I heard a rumour this was the best Ripper yet. Do you agree? Was the voting for King and Queen rigged? Spill the beans here.
