Biking season is just around the corner and the Team 麻豆社国产mountain bike racing club kicked off the 2014 season with a bang on Feb. 4.
This year's squad is the biggest yet, with 20 riders set to hit the trails. The meeting was also a chance to reflect on 2013 and hand out the annual awards.
The Best New Rider award went to Sean Fincham, who placed 61st in his first appearance at the Test of Metal (TOM) in June. Fincham was also a member of the Don Ross Secondary School (DRSS) mountain bike team that cleaned up at the North Shore Secondary Athletes Association finals in May, as he was named the top Grade 9 boys rider.
Tobin Hubner picked up the Most Improved Rider award after a year that saw him place 100th in the Test of Metal. Like Fincham, he was a key member on the DRSS mountain bike team.
Rhys Verner won the award for the Most Committed Rider. Verner had an outstanding year in 2013, finishing 18th overall in the Test of Metal, winning his age group in the Orecrusher and the Sunshine Coaster and also capturing a bronze medal at the Canada Summer Games.
In other big news at the meeting, Cycling B.C.'s Richard Woolles and Stewart Kerr from the TOM group jointly announced that youth athletes will receive B.C. Cup points at select TOM races in 2014. The points allow riders to qualify for Team B.C. Because of that, local riders will no longer have to travel out of town to collect points.
For more information on the team, visit www.teamsquamish.ca.
