From the junior perspective this was a test of a new youth start and ranking. I've been asking for a youth ranking so kids know how they are doing against their peers. Normon Thibault, the series organizer went one step farther and added a u17 start at the same time as beginner. 30 kids turned up.
Tripleshot came away with two wins, Cameron Paul in u13 boys, and Rachel Carey in u15 girls. Second timer Sasha Fraser was 4th u17 boy, only two minutes down, and behind two kids from Comox who have been training all summer, and drove down to ride the velodrome this summer. (He came to me after and say he wants to train "every day"
) Zarja Djurickovic was 5th u13 boy.David and Duncan were 7th and 8th u19, with Duncan slowed by a jammed shifter, a long time in an unintentional single speed, then a bike change. They're 6th and 7th overall in the series.
Liz brown hit a pedal on the BMX track in warmup and fell bruising her hip, but rode anyway till a tricky side hill forced a dismount and twisted her ankle, and she called it a day. Not badly though.
And lots of kids who wanted to go but had other obligations; probably 10 more.
On the adult side Catherine Grant, former team bc rider at Canada games (Duncan's her son) came out of retirement and took 7th in beginner women. Simon Pearson was 10 th beginner men, on the strength of positive and very audible self talk. I think he could talk himself down at the controls of an airliner. "I WILL make it (grunt) over THAT!".
Vanessa and Andrea were 12 and 14th in the strong women's intermediate field, ahead of junior provincial team riders. And I heard that included an endo for Andrea but did not hear more.
Dylan Reeves was 6th in a huge masters mens field. and Jenn Erlendson was 7th expert woman. I had a last row call up in masters men's, so started passing guys as soon as i coulld. Three or four in the start straight, couple more in the second straight. Holy cow, there's Steve Lund, he's usually fast at the start. Got in the passing line in the spiral. Making up ground! In the dead turn in the middle i brushed shoulders with Dylan, said hi, still passing guys. Hill side zig zags, got a guy on each turn. I'm flying! Through the trees i worked my way up to Pete Wellsman one of the favourites in my age category (50+), and got a little giddy. Don't usually see him beween the start and the finish. Drunk on my success, of course i have to try to pass him. Gunned it down the start ramp of the BMX track that was part of the course half way round. Like an Al Queda pilot, the take off was fine, but i apparently had no idea how to land. I recall my bike disappearing under and behind me, a way too long hang time, and then lying there thinking, this going to hurt. Mostly shock though, landed on my left shoulder,back of my head (helmet did its job tho), and back. Lots of nice folks helped out, including a nurse whose name I forget who talked me into getting checked out in Courtenay in case there was any head damage. (At least more than I started with).
Service great at st Joe's; got in fast, they cleaned me up, quick xray (yup, broken and overlapped), coupla painkillers, offered me a sandwich and juice, and referred me direct to the surgeon who repaired my other collarbone.
Finally big thanks to Graeme Brown for running me into the hospital, going back for the kids, coming and getting me , and stopping by a pharmacy.
