(Victoria, BC – November 16, 2015)
The Dr. Walker Sports Chiropractor Cycling Team, one of Victoria’s top cycling teams, is preparing for the 2016 season by looking for talented individuals to train and compete with the team next year. The team will be focusing on Track and Road Cycling, as well as Triathlon and Para-athletes. The team will continue its partnership with Pacific Cycling Centre under the direction of Houshang Amiri – noted National, Olympic, and UCI Coach.
Team owner, Dr. Wayne Walker and his organization, hope to build on their existing team of 10 talented cyclists between U17 -U23, to compete on Vancouver Island, BC’s Lower Mainland and eventually, nationally and internationally.
“The team had several successes this year. From our para program to our youth program, all the way through to having an athlete, Evan Carey competing at the Pan-Am Championships in Team Sprint and winning Gold,” said Ryan Arbuckle, Team Manager. “Our youth athletes not only learned how to race and compete at a high level, but they demonstrated great sportsmanship on and off the bike and bonded as a unit. By supporting each other’s trials and tribulations of the hardships of racing and getting through it with a smile, made it very easy for us as management to work with everyone. We can’t wait for next season to see where it will take us.”
Arbuckle stresses that there will always remain a club component affiliated with the team. Club membership will be open to any athlete wishing to join. However, athletes not chosen for the initial team of 10 will not be able to receive funding through the youth program, but they will still be eligible for the same training and sponsorship deals.
“At Pacific Cycling Centre we always strive for excellence, and want to partner with like-minded individuals who are not just interested, but committed and willing to engage in high performance sport and talent development to help build future Olympians. We know without such a committed group of people we can’t achieve our goals,” said Amiri. “At PCC we are fortunate to partner with Dr. Walker Sports Chiropractor Cycling. Our team consists of very talented and young U17-U19 and U23 athletes who are eager to move to the next level, and who are enthusiastic to represent the team and the sponsors during 2016 race season.”
The team also announced new sponsors for the upcoming season: Jim Pattison Volvo of Victoria, Cycles West, The Local Restaurant, Westshore 24hr Fitness, and returning sponsors: Code Performance Wear, Hub International Barton Insurance, Kissanya Arbuckle Photography, Marin Bikes California, Mortgage Designers at Mortgage Architects, Kerry J. Blain, Inc. Chartered Accountant, Rumble Supershake, EnergyLab Sports, Infinit Nutrition Canada and Schwalbe North America.
Applicants interested in the U17 – U23 program are invited to send their race resume and a letter of intent by November 30, 2015. The letter should include why they would like to race for the team, their goals for the 2016 season, why they would make a good fit for the team and what they intend to give back to the team. These can be emailed to: Ryan Arbuckle, Team Manager at drwalkercycling@hotmail.ca.
For more information contact:
Ryan Arbuckle, Team Manager
drwalkercycling@hotmail.ca
Background
The Dr. Walker Sports Chiropractor Cycling Team was originally formed in 1995 and has included the best track cyclists, road cyclists and triathletes in Canada for nearly two decades. The team has always been an inclusive team – youth development (U15 – U23) and para development has always been promoted.
Notable former members of the team have included world land speed record holder Sam Whittingham, Tyler Hansen (National Champion), Keith Bruneau, Murray Solem, Dale Marat, Andre Steinhausen, Michele Voigt (US Olympian), Luca Segato, Mike and Chris Lamb, Tony Zarsadias, Ross Hooker, the Worsfeld twins, Ryan Clarke, Vinko Poldugrovac, Matt Barlee, Matt Chater, Mike Chandler, Chris Anstey, Mike Cooper, James Holtz, Ryan Arbuckle (former Multi Para National Champion), Breanna Loster, and Sarah Kirby. Major accomplishments of the team include being the first and only team to ever sweep the medals in every men’s event at the BC Provincial Track Championships and win Gold and Silver in every women’s event in 1998; five Para National Championship titles and a 3rd place overall at the 2007 Para Track World Championships. In road racing the team won the Tour of Delta, the Tour of White Rock, the Gastown Grand Prix Criterium (twice), and the Bastion Square Grand Prix several times.
Pacific Cycling Centre provides coaching services for Elite, Masters, and Junior athletes in road, mountain bike, track, and cyclo-cross. Pacific Cycling Centre’s former name, National Cycling Centre was established after the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria. Under Head Coach Houshang Amiri, the Centre created the most successful training environment in Canada. Amiri has coached numerous athletes to World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games in road, mountain bike track and Paralympics disciplines, notably Svein Tuft, Erinne Willock, Roland Green, and Brian Cowie. Amiri has won numerous coaching excellence awards and achieved the highest level of coaching certification in Canada for cycling. He is in high demand as a UCI Coach, visiting countries to deliver Level 2 coaching courses, in keeping with the IOC and UCI’s commitment to develop the sport of cycling world-wide.
