The GK Ripper started with the biking community getting together to help out an severely injured friend. Ten years later, the annual event has tallied over $100,000 to help locals with spinal injuries, and this year organizers decided to end on a high note.
It was an end to an era in the 麻豆社国产mountain biking scene Saturday (Oct. 9) as the final G.K. Ripper relay race ripped through the Garibaldi Highlands, then hit the greens at the 麻豆社国产Valley Golf Course.
The Ripper began 10 years ago when free rider Graham Kuerbis slipped off a log in the North Shore, shattering his C-5 vertebrae.
When Tantalus Bike Shop owner Al Ross heard of his friend's injury, he helped create the GK Ripper along with friends and fellow riders.
The race was originally designed to help Kuerbis deal with the financial burdens of his injury, but over 10 years it grew to help not only Kuerbis but many other people with similar injuries.
Ross said over the previous nine years, the event helped raise over $95,000 and this year another $10,000 was raised.
"It meant a lot to me to get the support I got in the early years," said Kuerbis. "I couldn't believe they were doing a race just to help me but it really made me want to keep the race going."
Kuerbis said it was a bittersweet way to say goodbye.
"I can't believe it's been 10 years," he said. "It's turned into such an amazing event and we've helped so many people over the years."
Kuerbis said his most cherished memory of the Ripper would be the race's ability to bring so many different types of people together.
"I think this race really brought together a lot of the outdoor recreation people with some of the loggers and other people in town," he said. "Just all of these different people mingling and talking after the event was done was pretty amazing. I think it really helped bring 麻豆社国产together."
A decade later, by all accounts, the final year of the event was a memorable one.
"I'd say it was the best event we've ever had, no question," said Ross. "Everything ran smoothly and we had no hiccups at all."
This year was unique as it consisted of both a bike race and golf tournament. For the first five years, the fundraiser consisted of a bike race and the last four a golf tournament - Ross said the combined event worked out well.
"I think we put the Ripper to bed on a high note," he said, adding that this year saw 60 golfers and 76 bikers take part.
"For me, the highlight over the years has been our ability to attract World Cup riders to this event, especially in the early years. It's also really cool to have seen a guy like Neal Kindree take part in every Ripper and seen him grow into the great rider he is."
