The local Orecrusher event is gearing up for its latest installment on Saturday, and if the younger 麻豆社国产cross-country riders need any inspiration, they need only to look to their elders.
Several members from Team 麻豆社国产are now competing on the world stage. 鈥淩ight now it鈥檚 an exciting time in Squamish,鈥� coach Mike Charuk said. 鈥淪ome of our riders are doing really well on the international scene.鈥�
As one example, he points to Luke Di Marzo, who was with the team for four years and is involved as an assistant coach.聽
鈥淗e helps out still in town,鈥� the coach said.
Di Marzo graduated from Howe Sound Secondary last spring and trained with teacher Joel Harwood at the school鈥檚 bike academy.
Of late, Di Marzo has been riding in places as far away as Chile and Argentina, and he鈥檚 off to Ireland for his next race in a little over a month. 鈥淗e鈥檚 on the World Enduro circuit,鈥� Charuk said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 ranked sixth in the U21 category.鈥�
Then there鈥檚 Sean Fincham, who鈥檚 in Grade 12 and in his fourth year with Team 麻豆社国产but is currently competing internationally at the U19 level.聽
鈥淩ight now, he鈥檚 competing with the national team in Switzerland and Germany,鈥� said Charuk.
Earlier this month, Fincham raced at the UCI Junior series event in Switzerland, finishing 29th out of 160 riders. At the race in Germany, he finished 20th after starting in 80th spot.
Also a participant at the Howe Sound bike academy, Fincham is looking to compete in the U.S. at the collegiate level, possibly at a university in Colorado or Georgia, in addition to his international competitions.
鈥淗e鈥檚 entertaining scholarship, fully paid, four year, in the United States,鈥� Charuk said. 鈥淵ou get to travel, and you get university paid for.鈥�
Another rider moving up the circuit is Rhys Verner, who is part of the Next Generation development program.聽
He is on the national team riding as a U23 and will compete at two upcoming World Cup events in Germany and France.聽
Last year at the national championships in Saint-Felicien, Que., he just missed the top of the podium. 鈥淩hys came second at the nationals by five seconds,鈥� Charuk said.
There are others on the way up too, like Holden Jones, who will be missing Orecrusher this weekend in order to compete in the Suburu Sea Otter Classic, held April 14 to 17 in Monterey, Calif.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a really fast up-and-comer,鈥� Charuk said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 following the same bike track as Rhys and Sean.鈥�
Next month, some of Charuk鈥檚 riders will be heading to Quebec for a Canada Cup race in Mt. Tremblant, such as Jones and Nick Kleban, along with Fincham and Quinn Moberg.
In the meantime, many local riders for Team Squamish, past and present, will be riding the trails of Brackendale for this weekend鈥檚 Orecrusher race, including Hunter Verner, Jhett Verner, Sorcha Henning, Michaela Hoskin, Jordan Tulk, Jose Munoz, Cameron Fielding, Di Marzo, Fincham, Jacob Murray and Ainho Ijurko.
The event is taking place a few weeks earlier than usual this year.聽
The multi-lap cross-country race has served as the opener for the Test of Metal series of events in Squamish.
Last year, 277 riders took part in different age categories, with several 麻豆社国产posting strong results, including Moberg, who won with a time of 1:50:48.聽
