FULL BOAR CHALLENGE!!!!!
October 20, 2009
This past weekend was the 10th (or so) annual Full Boar Challenge held at Greenstone Mountain just outside Kamloops, BC. Over the years it has changed venues and seen many people come and go (mostly come) but Trev and the boys at Full Boar always put on good races and an even better party. Saturday marks practice for the enduro DH, an xc race and a night hill climb. The xc doesn’t draw a ton of competitors but bragging rights and old rivalries are on the line so competition is stiff. The defending champion, Aaron Wiss, was on hand and barely won again this year with only a ten second winning margin over a buddy of his (sorry I didn’t write down names) on the five-lap course. Both of these guys looked like they could crush you in half with legs and then karate chop you on the head with there protein bars. Lotsa laughs and healthy competition. The enduro DH practice on Saturday greeted the riders with 2 inches of fresh at the top and obviously below zero temperatures. Boar (trev) always has bad luck with this race weekend as I can’t even remember the last Boar Challenge that we didn’t have snow. But he is old school and loves it. Ha ha. Anyways despite the snow, the traction was actually really good and then became super tacky after the dreaded hill climb and was classic Kamloops dust by the end of the course.
At the top
For those of you who have never ridden Greenstone, it is a must ride mountain. The trail starts of very tech with steep rocky pitches right off the get go, it then winds down through the tight trees of the burnt out forest, to the VERY steep hill climb. After that its warp speed down a fire road, but not your average fire road – a cool one – which lasts forever – its awesome. Then into a kinda choppy peddley cross country section, and if you have got the lungs you can peddle all of this too, but this section separates the men from the boys. And then finally into high speed classic Kamloops dust bowl corners to the finish. Practice was sick. Now I had bigger priorities to take care of in town on Saturday night so I could not stick around for the hill climb, movie premier, or the hill climb. It was my moms 40th birthday. Yeah that’s right I said 40. She’s young. Best mom ever. Happy birthday mom!!!!!!! From what I hear the light hill climb(cuz it is held a night – duh) was awesome and won again by Swanny – a local.
Trev on the mic
The New World 10 premier was also good and there was endless drunken debauchery stories for me to hear in the morning. Sunday the riders were greeted with sunny skies and a blue bird day. However the snow turned to frost on the trail and never thawed out because that part of the trail is on the south side of the mountain. This created problems, most notably for me. For the last couple of seasons the cove boys have been making an appearance and have been winning handily. Christian Short, Ewan Fafard, Dan Skogland and Mitch Forbes were all in attendance and we looking strong to defend the title. However, having not raced the last few challenges I was looking forward to CRUSHing them. . . Racing was good, no serious injuries and after a day of Enduro racing Mitch Forbes came out on top with a new course record of 16:32. Yes you read that right the fastest time of the day was sixteen and one half minutes. Average times are 19 to 20 mins. Dan Skogland came in second with 16:36 I think and Ewan was in third and Christian in fourth – Cove sweep. Big props to Skogs as he raced on a proto cove G-spot and 6 and 6 inch bike. I said there were some peddley section but I don’t think they make um for the GNARLY downhill parts – so a huge shout out to him. I crashed and had a mechanical and came seventh with 17:24. The enduro DH is also a poker runs and for the first time ever the winner of the race had the best hand. The best poker hand always wins a new bike or bike frame. This year it was a Brodie hardtail frame and Mitch graciously gave the frame away to a young family trying to get their little grommet into mountain bikes. Nice work Mitch. I wish I had more results to post from other categories. Sorry. But a huge thanks has to go out to Boar, all his staff, the volunteers and everyone for coming out. I was a hell of a ride. And to all the meatballs that didn’t show up . . . . you don’t know what your missing. See y’all next year.
Written by……
