The Sunshine Coaster returns on May 2nd and 3rd, with the XC Short Course featured as the second race in the 2015 BC XC Premier Series. This is year 15 for the Sunshine Coaster mountain bike race, if you count its previous incarnation as the Rat Race. And this year, race organizers are stepping it up a notch.
The shorter 21 km XC course gives you a nice tour of Roberts Creek, and is part of the BC SC Premier Series this year. The XCM is 45 km of Roberts Creek trails, featuring many trails that have been put in for BC Bike Race, with lots of downhill flowy sections to reward your climbs, and the infamous Rio Grande descent. Sunshine Coast trailbuilders have been busy sprucing things up and getting rid of mudholes. The Downhill on May 3 is held on the Mach Chicken trail and features a B Team barbeque at the bottom. Shuttling is provided by Endless Biking.
Prizes this year are phenomenal: Boreale Biking has offered two 3-day guided tours of the Whitehorse trails complete with food and accommodation–these prizes are for the “Works” category which asks that you run the XCM and the DH on the same bike, no modifications allowed. Prizes also include flights from Harbour Air, BC Bike Race swag, and cash prizing for Pros as well as many draw prizes from local bike shops and other sponsors. Local Pro rider Kris Sneddon has donated cash prizes just for the local racers as well.
A salmon barbeque (with vegetarian option) is included with race entry, as is a Coaster beer glass and a free water bottle from Spin Cycles. Townsite Brewery will be on site to fill that glass for you.
Kids races and run bike races will be hosted by Off the Edge Adventure Sports in Sechelt.
Camping on site is free, but limited to tents, and fresh water is available. There is also a campsite 10 minutes away. Up the Creek hostel just down the road has beds for $30 a night and even a private cabin. Ferries leave Horseshoe Bay every 2 hours and you can ride on and then put your bike on the bus.
Make the trip over to Roberts Creek, check out the Coast Gravity Park while you’re up there, and make it a family weekend. For full info on the Sunshine Coaster, go to www.sunshinecoaster.net
