The first ever Sky Pilot trail race thrilled runners on Sept. 21 but if race director Gary Robbins has his way, it鈥檒l be an even more unique experience in 2015.
Robbins said the race came together with a lot of help from volunteers and all around 麻豆社国产ingenuity.
鈥淭he challenge with this race was that the trail network on the Sea to Sky Gondola is still very much in a stage of development,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e were happy with our 12 kilometre race and one thing we really like to do at Coast Mountain Trail Series is distinguish our 12 and 18 km races as beginner and advanced.鈥�
Robbins said he and his team of volunteers spent weeks coming up with a course they were proud of.
鈥淲e had the ability to construct something new and 麻豆社国产local Eric Carter and Will McKechnie had a great vision to tie together a trail network,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e decided to put it together in early August and it was a monumental effort.鈥�
Several hundred hours of work were put into the new trail with the original goal connecting the shoulder of Sky Pilot to the shoulder of Mount Habrich. The trail was completed but because of rain prior to the Sky Pilot race, Robbins made the call to alter the course due to safety reasons.
Robbins said the deaths earlier this summer made him try even harder to ensure his course was safe.
鈥淥ur biggest challenge is always delivering a safe experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut no one dropped out and I didn鈥檛 get a single email about concerns. We had an 11 item mandatory gear list 鈥� something we鈥檝e never done before 鈥� and everyone had to sign off on 10 questions that proclaimed their mountain experience and competence.鈥�
He said the unique course and views helped make Sky Pilot the first ever CMTS race to completely sell out. Next year Robbins said the challenge will be intensified and he鈥檚 hoping to utilize course they initially built, if conditions are dry.
鈥淲e鈥檇 like to run the original course we had planned for this year but people will need to run with a helmet, harness and a prusik,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e confident in our course and really want to share it with people 鈥� it鈥檚 a really unique and special race for us.鈥�
For more details on the race, visit www.coastmountaintrailseries.com/sky-pilot.html.
