Hundreds of cross-country mountain bike racers are gearing up for the tough and strategic first race in the Hell of a Series 2010 season Saturday May 15, the Orecrusher XC 2K10.
"It's a fun race, it's different," said race director Jim Douglas.
"The course is not huge and long, not huge climbs, not huge drops but the racers tell me it's a very strategic race because the trails are tight, mostly flat so you're really on the pedals quite consistently through the whole event."
The race kicks off with a lemans-style start where participants have to run 250 metres across the Don Ross Secondary School football field, to get on their bikes before setting off for six kilometres of single track trails in the Cheekeye Fan area of Brackendale.
"The fastest runners get out of the chute faster and the slower runners are at the back a bit," said Douglas.
The Hell of a Series includes North Vancouver's North Shore Bike Fest on Saturday June 5, and Squamish's Test of Metal on Saturday June 19, GearJammer on Saturday July 24 and Just Another Bike Race Saturday Aug. 21.
And unlike two other local Hell of a Series races - Test of Metal and GearJammer - Orecrusher is a multi-lap event that has riders starting and finishing in the same location.
"What I like [about that style], and why I chose that is it allows the spectators to become involved in it," said Douglas.
"Spectators can stay in the infield and cheer on their favourite riders and see what's going on and watch the strategies, changes in position and all that kind of stuff," said the former semi-pro racer. It works out quite well, I see lots of smiles at the end of the day."
Douglas said pre-riding the Brackendale area course is key to a successful Orecrusher.
"Picking your passing spots is always a good idea on this course and then before the event just make sure you've eaten well, hydrated and get there early enough so you get your warm up and set up for the race so there are no glitches."
The Orecrusher is perfect for those wanting to commit to next year's Hell of a Series season since prizes include entries into the 2011 Test of Metal, Gearjammer and Orecrusher races for first, second and third places respectively.
Since its inception six years ago as a race solely for teenagers called the Pre-Test, the Orecrusher has grown to include all ages, but it continues to be a fundraiser for the Outdoor Leadership program at Don Ross Secondary School.
Douglas said his family knows firsthand how great the program is Outdoor Leadership program is because his own child went through it years ago.
"It's not funded solely by the school, and the parents are already hit up with some significant costs to have their kids participate in the program, so I started the event in order to sort of help out the parents and the kids."
This year's event is limited to 250 participants to ensure track damage and subsequent repairs are kept to a minimum.
"And also if we get any more riders than 250 I just think it would be too crowded out there," Douglas added.
The classic style race is open to mountain bikers as young as 12 and there are still registration spaces available for $40 per racer.
Mountain bike riders wishing to compete can register online at www.orecrusher.com or in person the day of, if space permits. Anyone willing to volunteer for the event can contact Douglas through the Orecrusher website and lend a helping hand.
Last year, Marty Lazarski edged out local rider Dwayne Kress to win the elite male category in the 2009 Orecrusher.
