Cheakamus Challenge

King of the Classics Sept. 20th

Known as the “King of the Classics” the Cheakamus Challenge celebrates the constant evolution of a race that has come to represent one of the toughest 1 day events in the Mountain Bike universe.
The route begins at the Squamish Airport just north of Brackendale and follows a rugged course along and above the Cheakamus River to the finish in Whistler’s Creekside.

Rider’s tackle this unforgiving course that climbs over 2000m. on a selection of trails that are  both mind-blowing beautiful and challenging to ride.

This year we are welcoming a new section of trail to the course as another piece of the Sea to Sky Trail puzzle falls into place from Cal Cheak to Sugar Cube Hill and through to Trash and the teeth of the course.

This section was just completed by the RMOW Trail crew and is going to be a sweet addition to the course.

In addition to the classic 70 km. course there is the Pique Newsmagazine Cheakamus Lite which features a 40 km. course that starts at 1 p.m. at the Whistler Bungee Bridge just south of the Athlete’s Village Site at Function Junction.

Over the past 20 years, Race Director Grant Lamont has put hundreds of hours and grown countless new grey hairs from staging the event and is very excited about year 20 at the helm.
“This event is one of the longest running MTB events in the world that has seen the best riders in Canada from World Champs such as Roland Green and Alison Sydor leading the field.”

For the past 3 years it has been Max Plaxton (Rocky Mountain Bicycles), Silver Medalist at the 2006 World’s dominate the event with his world class power and desire to win showing through as he battled Canada Cup Champ Neal Kindree over the 70 km. course.

For the women we expect another tough race as Sydor is hoping to make it her 6th Cheakamus win with tough competition coming from local girl Joanna Harrington and a host of other strong women.

This year we are anticipating close to 500 athletes to challenge themselves over this nasty route that is known as the “Celebration of Pain” when the riders head out at 10 a.m., Saturday, September 20th.

All riders will be treated to a great feed at the finish line being grilled up by the gang at Dusty’s featuring great burger platters for both meat and vegetable eaters.

The Cheakamus Challenge also likes to give back to the community and this year has partnered with Bicycles for Humanity to help get some bikes for the local First Nations communities in Mount Currie and Squamish. Riders will be asked to donate used bikes for the cause along with any cycling related gear that they have lying around the house and garage.

Race Director, Grant Lamont is also donating $2 from each paid entry to the Cops For Cancer Charity that helps support kids with this terrible disease and give them some joy in the tough battle the face each day.

For more info and to sign up for this years Cheakamus Challenge visit the web-site at cheakamuschallenge.com