News Release – Comox Valley Schools crowns inaugural enduro mountain bike race champions

Cumberland, B.C. – Comox Valley Schools proudly hosted its inaugural High School Enduro Mountain Bike Race at Village Park in Cumberland. The event saw an outstanding turnout of 130 student athletes from Grades 8 through 12, representing five school districts, including teams traveling from as far away as the Gulf Islands.

The event started at the Cumberland Village Park before riders headed out on to the course in the Cumberland Trail Network that was staged on New Vanilla, Field of Dreams, Old Vanilla, Middle Vanilla and Vanilla Bottom. The course was well marked and had safety stations with first-aid volunteers along the way.

Enduro races have timed stages with transfers in between that are not timed.  Participants competed in a true Enduro-style format, tackling multiple timed stages separated by untimed transfer sections. The energy on the trails was electric, with students demonstrating incredible skill, resilience, and camaraderie.

Top Three Finishers by Category:

Boys Junior (Grades 8-10)

  1. Ben Jamieson – Cumberland Community School
  2. Taylor Grieve – Aspengrove School
  3. Tiernan Vasseur – Brooks Secondary School

 

Girls Junior (Grades 8-10)

  1. Echo Slobodzian – Mark R. Isfeld Secondary
  2. Meirah Honeysett – Lake Trail Community School
  3. Joanna Mussalem – Brooks Secondary School

 

Boys Senior (Grades 11-12)

  1. Nolan Weiss – G.P. Vanier Secondary
  2. Rylan Purden – Mark R. Isfeld Secondary
  3. Finn Amar – G.P. Vanier Secondary

 

Girls Senior (Grades 11-12)

  1. Mya Wing – Lake Trail Community School
  2. Rhyley Durand – Carihi Secondary
  3. Sunny Hillier – Brooks Secondary School

 

Boys U15 (Under 15)

  1. Ethan Jamieson – G.P. Vanier Secondary
  2. Davi Schettino – G.P. Vanier Secondary
  3. Sam Schum – Mark R. Isfeld Secondary

 

Girls U15 (Under 15)

  1. Talia MacPhail-McGrady – Mark R. Isfeld Secondary
  2. Annabelle Whitehead – Mark R. Isfeld Secondary
  3. Laila Gutzwiller – Mark R. Isfeld Secondary

 

Special thanks to volunteers Mike Tunnah, Lisa Ludwig, Brett Whitehead and Jana Buckle, teacher sponsor whose efforts were instrumental in making this event happen.

We would also like to acknowledge Mosaic Forest Management for access, the Village of Cumberland for use of Village Park and United Riders of Cumberland trail association for maintaining the trails and providing event equipment.

We also extend our gratitude to the many other parents and volunteers who supported the race – your contributions made all the difference. Participating school districts included Gulf Islands, Nanaimo-Ladysmith, Campbell River, Qualicum, qathet (Powell River), and Gulf Islands

Congratulations to all riders who took part in this exciting and memorable event.