The 2nd Edition of the Canadian Rockies took place this past weekend under near perfect sunny conditions in Canmore Alberta. Racers competed in both 24 and 4 hour races on a 13.2 km loop at the World class Canmore Nordic Center. This year the course was redesigned to provide a slightly shorter loop on some faster moving trails to provide a great riding experience for riders of all levels.
Teams of 2-10 riders in different categories as well as the Solo warriors took on the challenge. Edna Gonzalez from Mexico claimed the Solo Female overall title while Nicholas Emsley from Ontario claimed it on the mens side after a 24 hr battle with Magnus Stenlund, a local from Jasper Alberta. On the Teams side there was good competition in both the Teams of 2 and Teams of 4-5 divisions. The Corporate category (teams of 6-10) saw the deepest field with Team Progressives from Canmore taking the top step with 26 laps, the most of anyone in the 24hr Period.
Highlights of the weekend were the blue bird weather, the calm clear night, and the festivities around the race hub at the Canmore Nordic Center. Many racers commented on the luxury of camping two nights on site with the impressive Rockies towering above and a nice swimming lake behind to cooldown. The essence of the Canadian Rockies 24 is to provide a World class race with a welcoming atmosphere for riders of all abilities to get out and enjoy some of the best mountain biking anywhere.
Stay tuned for details on next years edition on both Facebook and Instagram: @canadian_rockies24 as well as the race website at: www.canadianrockies24.com!
Photo Credits: Cody Shimizu
