408, 148, & 90.
What are these numbers?
408: The average vertical footage of the three resorts that the Tufrack Ontario Cup Downhill Race Series attended last year and will again this year.
148: The number of racers who raced for points in 2013.
90: The approximate average amount of time in seconds that the average racer can expect to spend on their race runs.
I admit that, at first glance, these numbers don’t make things look very good for us Ontario downhillers. Outside of Ontario, a typical race run can be anywhere from 3-5 minutes in length with the vertical footage to match. When speaking with non-racers about why they don’t race, some have even given these numbers (with less precision) as reasons for not racing.
Fact of the matter is that we actually represent the norm as far as the vertical we have to work with. Like Ontario, a great deal of the world is flat when compared to peak laden parts of the world such Whistler, Colorado and The Alps. So what do you do if you love DH as much as we do, you race what ya got.
Josh Toohill scrubs the now famous lip at Kelso.
Taylor Rowlands flying through the fog during O-Cup #1 2013 at Horseshoe.
Sid Slotegraaf during his race run at the 2012 Ontario Downhill Provincial Championships at Camp Fortune.
The spirit and determination of the Ontario downhill community has always been it’s greatest asset. Our passion for the sport is what has made what, on paper, seems impossible, possible. We have run a successful series, one of the biggest in North America at times, on 60-90 second tracks. That’s how much we love the sport. Most other regions with our topography would have taped out long ago or never entered the ring.
We have some of the best people in the world behind our series. Brian MacDonald and Mike Andrewskiw all smiles in the hail storm.
The tracks in Ontario have taught these racers the price of a mistake. While you may be able to recover from a dab or missed line on a 5min track, any error, even the slightest one, will take you out of the running at an O-Cup.
Despite the compact vertical, the tracks have remained challenging enough that most riders opt to race their big bikes. With many questioning the validity of some of the top World Cup DH tracks in the world “Is it a proper DH track if it can be raced on a non-specific DH bike?” the Ontario tracks have strived to keep the tracks challenging enough for most to run their full squish.
Old School Johnny slicies through the shale at Blue Mountain. John is just one of the many veterans of our series who is always there, ready to help when you need it.
Ontario may never become a downhill destination but our series has thrived for a number of years and produced some incredibly fast riders including Doug Beattie, Kyle Sangers, Rob Fraser, Sid Slotegraff, Peter McLean, Cécile Gambin and 3 time national DH champ Eric Cseff. The series still has young stars such as Adam Robbins who is holding his own in the Jr X category at some big US races. With proper support, Robbins can go all the way. And lets not forget our ladies. Our series has a super strong female category including 2013 World Masters Campion Tifenn Vialatte and current Canada cup series leader Kristen Courtney.
Kristen Courtney, death grip, out of the last woods at Horseshoe.
Ontario prodigy Adam Robbins sending it at Sir Sam’s.
With the country still beaming from Steve Smith’s 2013 season and on the edge of their seat watching his return to racing in 2014, the time is right for other Canadian racers to follow his lead. The Ontario DH series can still produce a champ.
We have some great riding within a day’s dive such as Bromont, MSA and numerous US destinations but while these are world class in comparison, they do not replace our local races. Having a regular series is integral to producing a top rider. This is where riders are first introduced to the sport and the support network begins. You can’t get to the big leagues without t-ball.
This is the year you should be more pumped than ever to get out racing with us—and I’ll tell you why.
#1: Our “Sprint” Races
Our vertical challenges are the main things that make our series so exciting and enjoyable to participate in. I think of them as sprint races. I came to cycling from a background in motorsports and I am still, to this day, a die-hard NASCAR fan. Any motorsports driver and/or fan will tell you that sprint races, be it a sprint to the finish or short “sprint races,” are the most exciting to watch and be involved in. Athletes have a limited amount of time to execute precise technical maneuvers and make crucial decisions. Small mistakes add tenths of seconds on the results sheet and knock you further down the results with every missed opportunity. Your mental, physical, and technical skills are all being tested here because there is no time for breaks or mistakes.
Matt Cummings snaps out of the gate.
Picture this: you’re sitting in the start gate surrounded by 150 of your buddies full of nervous energy and excitement. You stand up on the pedals as the clock counts you down. Final beeps – it’s time to go. The world around you goes silent as you slam down hard on the pedals. You know in your head that this is a short race and there is no room for error if you want to stand on the top step. During your run you’re 100% focused on getting to the bottom as fast as you can. Every skill you’ve trained for and acquired are now being put to use. The crowd cheers and cowbells ring as you approach the finish. You cross the line, having given 100% effort for your best run. Now you wait with one eye uphill and one eye on the live timing screen as your competitors go through the same motions as you. As you watch, you mentally reflect on your run: “Could I have put in a pedal stroke here? Should I have jumped that? How badly did that dab or missed gear change hurt my time?” Your heart beats harder as each competitor comes down the hill. This is exciting.
#2: Our Improved Schedule
Now let’s talk scheduling. In the past, some races were scheduled on popular family and vacation weekends. This was due to a past reliance on a timing/scoring system that was in high demand and it appeared downhill racing was the lowest priority, probably for a variety of good reasons. As a result, the scheduled dates we were given were no doubt a major factor in our lower rider count. How are riders supposed to turn out in droves when we’re having races on Mother’s and Father’s Day and a lot of them have families to tend to?
Well, good news! A new timing system has been sorted out and thus all of Tufrack’s 2014 Downhill events are scheduled on days that do not conflict with common holidays, common college/university course dates (as much as possible) or other mountain bike events of like-type. As a result of this, I expect our rider count to go up, barring nasty weather forecasts.
#3: Our Professionally-Built, Progression-Based Courses
The courses are an area of concern for every rider. Yes, everyone has an opinion of what the courses should and should not be like, but the reality is that you’re simply never going to please everyone. Tufrack has done an exceptional job of working with what we’ve got and re-defining the Ontario downhill racecourse. The courses are built the way that they have to be in order for us to be able to continue racing in a safe and insured environment. They are now an excellent mix of speed, drops, jumps, berms, and technical rock/root sections, with your choice of line options depending on your riding ability. The expert lines are challenging but rewarding if you’re brave enough to try them. The less extreme, toned-down “B and C-lines” work perfectly for those who prefer easier and potentially safer routes.
#4: There Are More Ways than Ever to Save Money.
One of the largest concerns on every racers mind are the costs associated with racing. It would be naive of me to discount the price of a downhill bike; they’re very expensive, if not ridiculously expensive. Couple that with registration, travel, hotel accommodations, food, and spare parts and you’re set to have an expensive weekend. However, I’ve learned a number of things in my two years of racing and in the months leading up to the 2014 race season, so let me try and save you some money:
If you plan to only race in Ontario, buy the new DH-only Citizen’s Permit from the OCA to be able to race in all Ontario DH races (including Camp Fortune) this season. Or, if you can’t make it to all four races, the OCA has changed the rules slightly to allow you to race twice as a non-member (you can register on-site on race weekends) instead of just once like previous years.
Purchase a season’s pass from Tufrack, which automatically registers you for all four races. Or, at least, pre-register for events individually two weeks ahead of time to save a few bucks.
Can only make one day of the weekend? Then make it Sunday. Tufrack is offering single-day passes each race weekend for a discounted rate for race day with rumored extended practice time on Sunday mornings/afternoons. You’ll save on hotel and food costs, too.
Carpool with other racers. The Ontario downhill racing community is a tight-knit community of like-minded people who all want to see our series grow and are usually happy to help. Here, on Riding Feels Good, you have access to the forums where you can post a need for a ride to a race and I’m willing to bet that you’ll get one. Just remember to pitch in for your portion of gas.
Group up with your buddies and go splits on hotel rooms and condos. This is really only an issue at Horseshoe because on-site camping is not allowed, but even an expensive condo is not nearly as expensive when divided among 3-6 people. At Horseshoe races, my teammates and I grab a 3-bedroom suite at Georgian College for about $98/night.
Camp when you can. Two of the three venues (Sir Sam’s and Camp Fortune) allow camping on-site at no extra cost. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed by the nightlife either—but you’ll have to see that for yourself.
Pack your meals instead of paying restaurant prices. This is a good way to eat healthier and will potentially yield better, more fulfilling race results.
Don’t have a downhill bike? That’s fine. While it is best to have a higher-end bike for downhill racing, a full-on DH sled is not a necessity. Racers have just as much fun on trail and Enduro bikes. If you’re unsure if your bike is suitable for downhill racing, ask in our forums.
As for spare parts; if you don’t have any you are rolling the dice. However, in my experience, if I have ever needed to borrow a part for my race run there has always been someone who has been willing to help. Additionally, what I’ve started doing is saving my older parts rather than selling them and keeping them as spares.
By rough math, I’ve saved you a pile of money. You should be stoked on that alone!
#5: It’s About A Weekend of Riding With Your Buddies.
Lots of non-racers have told me that they don’t race because they aren’t really excited about turning their hobby into something competitive. I said this for a while too, but I eventually realized that you don’t have to be the competitive type to enjoy the environment. Most riders would agree that the best times to be had on your bike are the times when you and all of your buddies are riding together. Tufrack is continuously making efforts to make race weekends feel more like casual ride weekends with your buddies and I’d say that they have succeeded. The vibe and community is fun and positive—one of the best out there. You can get as caught up in the competition as you’d like but at the end of the day everyone out there is there for the same reason: to ride their bikes with their buddies. And, let’s face it; you’ll still be interested to know where you ended up after your race run.
The Eastside Cycle boys heading back up the lift to cheer on the rest of the races.
#6: You Don’t Have to be a “Pro”.
There are categories for all different ages and riding levels: Sport, Expert, and Elite and their respective age categories. The courses, as I mentioned earlier, have multiple line choices that you can choose based on your confidence and riding ability. Course walks are also available to all riders at various points throughout the weekend and are strongly encouraged by organizers. If you need help through a section, veteran riders are always game to help you find a line that works for you. Lastly, as mentioned in points above, the courses cater to all riding abilities. You can get as caught up as you want in the competition and the races are very exciting. You really can’t know how fast or good you are or can be until you come out and take part. Besides, racing really isn’t all about winning.
In short, you really have no excuse not to come and try it. The future of our sport and series is looking promising thanks to the continued support of businesses, communities, and organizations like Tufrack, the OCA, Riding Feels Good, Horseshoe Resort, Sir Sams Ski & Bike, Camp Fortune Resort, and all of the sponsors, shops, teams, and riders who support us every weekend.
Blue Mountain, while not on the official 2014 OCUP schedule, is contributing to the future of downhill racing with the reintroduction of the popular East Coast Open Downhill Race. They are also still actively improving and expanding their recreational lift-accessed downhill trail network which will continue to play a huge part in getting more riders involved in our sport.
Brandon Cassell clicked over the finish line jump for the crowd at the 2011 East Coast Open at Blue Mountain.
I want to emphasize that much of the negative talk you may have heard on our series comes from those who have never raced with us. We really have one of the best, most supportive riding communities you’ll find. The racing is exciting, the schedule is constantly improving, the courses are fantastic, costs can be managed, and you don’t have to be a competitive or pro rider to participate. Our series has also proven itself as an excellent grassroots program that can churn out competitive world-class downhill racers. Could you be the next?
I have a challenge to all riders who have not raced with us before: come and race with us and tell me it wasn’t one of the best times you’ve had on your bike.
Got questions about the 2014 downhill racing season? The great members of this community are always ready to help. We want to hear from you in the comments below and in the forums. Are you stoked yet?