Avert your eyes, kids and teens dreading the return of school – but yes, it’s true, September is right around the corner. And with September comes Whistler’s Month of Pain, that time of year that offers a super-powered string of local races and physical challenges.
The action starts on the Labour Day weekend, beginning with the return of the Westside Wheelup on Saturday, Sept. 4. The 17th edition of the cross-country mountain bike race is set to kick off the month of sporting madness with its usual blend of classic West Side riding and fundraising for the B.C. Para-alpine ski team. In years past, the technical, enjoyable race has been lauded for having “a true mountain biker’s course.”
On Sunday, Sept. 5, the Xterra Canadian National Championships will send top off-road triathletes surging through the trails and waters around Whistler. The national event involves Sport- and Championship-distance races starting with lake swims of 750 or 1,000 metres followed by bike legs of 15 or 30 kilometres and trail runs of 4.5 or nine km before racers hit the finish line at Nita Lake Lodge. For more information, check out xterracanada.ca.
In subsequent September weekends, Whistler will host the inaugural RBC GranFondo Whistler, with 4,000 road cyclists making the stunning Sea to Sky journey from Vancouver to Whistler; the Red Bull 5,000 Down mass-start downhill bike race in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park; the perennial classic Cheakamus Challenge mountain bike race; the annual Terry Fox Run; and the return of the Whistler Spirit Run and Festival in the Whistler Olympic Park to close the active month. Stay tuned to The Question for future event details.
