Check out some great footage from the 2009 Banff Bikefest:

The Bikehawks Gravity Bike Club in conjunction with NitehawkRecreation Area and Nitehawk gravity bike park, are proud to present the first annual Race to the river, an Alberta Bicycle Association sanctioned event.The Race
As the opening downhill event for the 2009 Alberta Bicycle Association DH series, you can look forward to a weekend of fun, sun, and the most lift accessed vertical in Alberta. Course prep is on schedule, and racers can look forward to a variety of terrain including; tight forest single-track, switchbacks, drops, jumps, and a rock garden all twisted into the provinces longest race run.

Registration is through Karelo.com, but race day registration will be accepted with an additional $10 fee.

All classes are $40 if pre-registered before July 3, $50 if registering after July 3rd. Full refunds will be issued if cancellation is received before July 3rd. After this a $10 administration fee will be retained. All racers must hold a valid 2009 ABA membership as well as a daily lift pass. Day licenses will be available for an additional cost of $10.

Check out http://gonitehawk.com for the trail map and more information

Provided by Deadgoat Racing

Sunday June 28th, 2009, we are pleased to host the 22nd year of the Summer Solstice XC in the beautiful Kananaskis south of Bragg Creek.

The Summer Solstice is the longest running and one of the most favorite XC race stops in Alberta. This year we have moved the race a week later in hopes of having nicer weather for all the racers.

This is the third year with the modified and welcomed course. No longer, does the support staff have to hike into the woods and sit in the shade during the race. We moved the feed zone to the Station Flats day use area for more fan viewing and sun shine for all. In doing so we have lengthened the famous course and added a pro-log lap for most categories.

The course is famous for its long climbs and fast single track down hills. You do have to look out for the occasional cow on course, this adding even more entertainment. Once you have climbed to the top of the course, you will be welcomed with amazing views of Kananaskis and surrounding areas. Do enjoy the view, as it is short lived before you start the first big down hill single track.

This year we have also increased our allowable number of riders and added day licenses for non-licensed riders.

And this year we have added The Rivers Cove Campground for anyone wanting to camp out in Kananaskis. This is an ideal addition for people not wanting to drive back and forth from Calgary or for people coming from out of town. There is camping for the Friday and Saturday nights for anyone wishing to make a weekend out of it. And I am sure that we will have some crazy events in the evenings for anyone wishing to challenge their biking skills.

We will be using the campsite for all race day parking also. So please car pool if you can or come out and camp.

Scheduled Times,

Saturday, June 27th
Pre-ride and registration from 12:00 noon until 4:00 pm

Sunday, June 28th
8:00am - 9:30am Registration, racer sign-on

First Start
10:00am (Novice men and women) 1 lap, 12 km
10:02am (Novice Youth men and Women) 1 lap, 12 km

Second Start
10:15am (Sport Men) 2 laps, 24km
10:17am (Sport Women) 1 lap, 12km
10:19am (Sport Youth Boys) 1 lap, 12km
10:19am (sport Youth Girls) 1 lap, 12km

Third Start
10:40am (Elite Men) 3 laps + pro-log, 42km
10:42am (Expert Men) 2 laps + pro-log, 30km
10:44am (Elite Women) 2 laps + pro-log, 30km
10:44am (Expert Women) 2 laps + pro-log, 30km

Registration is now online with www.karelo.com.

Station Flats Day use area is located on HWY #66 south west of Bragg Creek. From Calgary, take HWY #8 to HWY #22 and head south to Bragg Creek. From there, follow HWY #22 south through the 4 way stop (in Bragg Creek) to the tee intersection of HWY #22 and HWY #66. Turn west on HWY #66 and follow the signs to Station Flats Day use area. Camping and parking will be across the HWY just east of Station Flats Day use area.

For any questions, regarding the race, special request, and camping please contact:

Ted Anderson
ted.anderson@akxlumber.ca
www.deadgoat.ca

Provided by the Canadian Cycling Association

Samantha Cools and Scott Erwood crowned Canadian champions at BMX Nationals

KINGSTON, Ont. - Canadian Olympic team members Scott Erwood of Surrey, B.C., and Samantha Cools of Airdrie, Alta., were crowned the men’s and women’s champions on Sunday at the BMX cycling nationals.

The competition also determined a selection pool for the senior and junior teams for the BMX world championships scheduled for July 23-26 in Adelaide, Australia. Canada can field three men and three women in senior competition at the worlds and two men and one woman in the junior category.

Cools, seventh at the Olympic Games last year where BMX made its official debut, dominated Sunday’s final for the victory. Danielle Brisson of Abbotsford, B.C., was second and Rosemary Adams of Surrey was third.

“I was able to put it all together in the final,” said Cools. “I knew if I had a good start I would be hard to catch. I just got stronger during the race. It’s the kind of race I wanted in my preparations for the world championships.”

In the men’s final, Erwood prevailed over Patrick Lebel of Calgary and Ontario’s Randall Neave.

“The track was in really good shape after all the rain on Saturday,” said Erwood, who reached the quarterfinals at the Olympics and is eyeing a berth in the semis at the worlds. “I capitalised on a good starting position and had an awesome race. Winning the nationals was one of my big goals this season.”

In the women’s junior final, 16-year-old Abby Graalman of Red Deer, Alta., overcame a serious injury suffered last season, to earn her first career national crown. Brookelyn Wilkinson of Abbotsford was second and Sarah Biron of Nicolet, Que., was third.

Graalman broke her collarbone last July in practice and went through a lengthy rehabilitation process.

“I’m a little surprised to win the gold medal today,” said Graalman, who started riding BMX at age seven. “It’s been a long and difficult recovery and I only started feeling comfortable riding recently. But I know in this sport you cannot win unless you go all out. I really focused on that first straight then once past the first corner I gave it my all.”

In the junior men’s race, 17-year-old Tory Nyhaug of Coquitlam, B.C., took the gold. Erick Nicol of Calgary was second and Michael Beaudoin of Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Que., was third.

“I felt strong and consistent all day and it went really well,” said Nyhaug, a BMX rider since age four. “We all had good starts in the final and it was really tight but I got through the first difficult section cleanly and that was the difference in the race.”

The Morgan Construction Devon Grand Prix is a 4 event stage race with overall results calculated as an omnium utilizing a modified ABA Alberta Road Cup Schedule. Riders do not have to complete all stages to receive and omnium placing. The event is sanctioned by the Alberta Bicycle Association.

Friday June 26/09: Stage 1: Devon IGA Saskatchewan Ave Hill Climb

Saturday June 27/09: Stage 2: River Valley Cycle Individual Time Trial

Saturday June 27/09: Stage 3: Morgan Construction Downtown Criterium

Sunday June 28/08: Stage 4: Devon Chevrolet Genesee Hills Road Race

Categories:
The following categories will be offered based on ABA Ability Categories:
Women A and B (race together but scored separately)
Cat 1 and 2
Cat 3
Cat 4
Cat 5
Youth (U15 and U17)
Paraolympic

Come out and race the 4 stage event for over $6500 in prize money. Plus, this is a pre-ride for the Masters, Junior and Paraolympic Canadian National Road championships for 2010! Get a leg up on the competition for next year.

Entry
On-line entry will be available on Karelo. http://www.karelo.com/register.php?BID=243&BT=10&PrivEv=7910

Riders may enter the entire event ($85) or the ITT only ($35). All riders contesting the Omnium must have a valid UCI road license. Entry the Youth category is $30

Riders may enter the ITT only as it is part of the Alberta Time Trial Series. Single day licenses will be available for riders only wishing to do the ITT. These can be obtained from the ABA representative at sign on for the ITT. Single day licenses are not available for the other stages.

Riders not wishing to contest all the stages may do so but must enter the entire event with full registration fee.

Single Day Licenses:
Non-licensed riders wishing to do the ITT stage only on a single day license must register with Karelo. Your name will appear on the start list and you will have a finalized start time. You must register at sign on Saturday morning between 8:30 and 10 am to sign a waiver and receive your numbers for the event.

Check out how it’s done on Tuesday nights in Tewillegar Park - Edmonton, AB.

Hosted by CAUSE Canada and Rundle Mountain Cycling Club, and supported by The Drake Inn and Pub, this will be the third Canada Cup held in Canmore over the past 3 years.

The 2009 CAUSE Canada Canada Cup is a marriage between two historic mountain bike races. Both the Ziggy Gnarly and the Race For Human Rights have long histories of supporting mountain bike racing at the Canmore Nordic Centre. This year’s race, however, is being produced by CAUSE Canada (cause.ca) and all proceeds from the event will be allocated to public health teaching and HIV / AIDS prevention work in West Africa. Kona Africa bikes will be purchased and used in this important work by CAUSE Canada’s African field staff.

The race will be held at the Canmore Nordic Centre located in Canmore, Alberta. This is World Class facility which has plenty of parking, washrooms and a cafeteria onsite.

The Race course is a mix between double track climbs and technical single track descents. It is a slightly modified course which has been used in the last 2 Canada Cups. It is approximately 8km in length and the elite men did this in approximately 28 mins. There will be two mechanical/Feed Zones located about 4 kms apart. The first zone will be in the main stadium area, which will be easily accessible. The second station is remote but we will provide transportation for wheels etc. This will be coordinated for teams about 2 hours before the start of the elite race. Access for support personnel is by foot or bicycle only.

Register at www.zone4.ca and get more information at www.cause.ca

A few of the hardcourt boys are coming to edmonton to introduce new players to the “greatest bike game evva!”. They will be bringing everything needed to play, all you need is a bike and some enthusiasm.

The aim of this trip is to try and get a hardcourt polo league going in edmonton so we (in calgary) have another city to play against regularly.

Here is the facebook event - http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=94703826509&ref=nf

Calgary Bike Polo wants to get Edmonton into bike polo. Bike Polo Battle of Alberta….are you guys up for it?? We’ll be there on Saturday to introduce people to the game and have some fun. We’ll also be bringing some polo mallets to leave with you guys so you can get some regular games going on, come check it out, all ages and abilities are encouraged….come out and have some fun, all you need is a bike.

A big thank you goes out to Sheldon Smart of Edmonton for capturing the day on video.  Check out what the 1st Edmonton Canada Cup was all about:

Canada Cup, Edmonton AB - 2009 from Sheldon Smart on Vimeo.

Be sure to check out Sheldon’s blog at www.bikeridr.com to get the low down on what it’s like to be a new MTB racer in Alberta!

Full results The United Cycle Edmonton Canada Cup presented by Intact Insurance can be found [here]

A bunch more photos can be viewed [here] and [here] and [here]