The 2014 Gearjammer was one of the muddiest races in the recent history of the race and rainy conditions seemed to give a distinct advantage to hometown riders.
麻豆社国产residents Greg Day and Brandi Heisterman won the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 divisions respectfully at the 12th annual race on Saturday (July 19).
Day cruised to the win in 2:35:29, over two minutes ahead of second place rider Peter Watson of Kelowna. Washington State鈥檚 Toby Swanson placed third.
Day admitted it was a tough ride at times but that the new additions to the course might to a more fun race.
鈥淚t was super wet out there and it鈥檚 flat off the start and with everyone riding together I think there was a lot of mud and grim in people鈥檚 eyes early,鈥� he said, with a grin. 鈥淏ut I think the trails really needed the rain. The hardest part of the course was the Northwest passage road 鈥� it must have rained hard there because it felt like riding through bark mulch, the whole road was leg sucking.鈥�
He said the separation occurred just after the road to Ed鈥檚 Bypass.
鈥淭here was a group of us and I was leading and I sort of picked up the pace a but and no one was able to move with me,鈥� he said.
It鈥檚 been a good month for Day, who won the Team of 2 Open Men division with Squamish鈥檚 Quinn Moberg on July 5. The busy month for Day continues with a trip to Alberta to race solo in the Singletrack 6 stage race starting on Saturday (July 26).
A total of 199 riders participated in this year鈥檚 race and the local flavour was strong. Other local males finishing in the top 50 included: Eric Goodwin (fifth), Matteo Abel (eighth), Carl Goldstraw (ninth), Michael Kinney (14th), Zac Gartside (17th), Rob Phoenix (20th), Brendan Hunt (24th), Silas Wiefelspuett (33rd), Jan Toom (38th), Chad Hendren (41st), Evan Sharp (42nd), Paul Maki (43rd), Francois Samson (48th) and Chris McCrum (49th).
For the women it was a return to the top for Squamish鈥檚 Brandi Heisterman, who last won the event back in 2010. She posted a time of 3:08:53, good for 28th fastest overall on the day.
She said she wasn鈥檛 totally into the race when she woke up but getting on the course re-invigorated her.
鈥淚t was weird today because off the cuff I didn鈥檛 really feel like racing but once I got out there and I was racing a couple of girls and going back and forth I realized how much I love riding here,鈥� she said. 鈥淥nce we hit Re-Cycle I wanted to open a gap and I was just having so much fun out there today. It really makes you feel proud of our trails.鈥�
Heisterman said Gearjammer has conflicted with some of her X-Terra triathlon races the past few years but her schedule opened up this year and she鈥檚 glad she got to regain her crown.
The next big event on Heisterman鈥檚 plate is Crankworx in Whistler starting next month. Heisterman edged out 麻豆社国产riders Zoe Dawson and Meghan Kindree, who placed second and third respectively amongst all females.
For complete results from the race, visit www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=25513.
