The Fernie Enduro QOM and KOM were crowned yesterday at Gearhub Sports following a summer of racing. The winners celebrated Gearhubs 10th Anniversary with a $300 shopping spree during their highly discounted storewide sale.
Joy Attalla and Strahan Loken earned the crowns in the womens and mens open categories following four races in the Virtual Stava timed event. It began early July on Castle Mountain with Race 1 on Hyper Extension to Roots and then moved to the Cedar Valley side for Race 2 on Project 9 and Race 3 on Red Sonya. With virtual events plans can change and with Fernie Alpine resort opening their bike park to uphill climbing we celebrated by added Race 4 on Lower TNT to Rumplestumpskin. The new FAR Enduro/E-bike friendly pass was a nice option for the final Showdown.
All participants had to be Fernie Mountain Bike Club members and otherwise there were no entry fees, just Strava. To keep the motivation rolling Gearhub Sports provide amazing prizes for all races, random participants and outstanding performances. Notable performances include 16 year old Jacob Baggott’s slew of 3rd place and 2nd place finish. Local speedster Carter Nieuwesteeg won the Project 9 race and kept the pressure on Loken with 2nd place finishes. In the women’s category 15 year old Attalla won all four races and was followed closely by Charlize Street and Jenn Sliva. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more fast times from this young lady!
Attalla’s mother described the summer of racing;
“So proud of you Joy- she won all 4 stages! It made her summer! What a lot of fun was had with friends on strava and this towns biking community, amazing local sponsors @gearhubsports for the race & donations and @straightlinebicycles for her bike and keeping it in tip top shape and @DanSavage for organizing and all of the amazing friends and mentors to chase @alexpaul70 crew @carternieuwesteeg @minigoat411 @charlizestreet @jennifermchugh44 @jennslowpez”
Loken, Fernie’s fasted man, also posted;
“Yeah “it’s just Strava” but as a 41 y/o Dad with a desk job, I’m grateful to take top spot in the Fernie Virtual Enduro. I pushed hard and new KOMs went down on each and every stage in full blown summer conditions. Only one devastating crash haha👌There’s always more to learn on bikes, and learn about yourself, and for me it comes out when I try my personal best.
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Hyperextension 1st;
Project 2nd;
Red Sonya 1st;
TNT/Rumple 1st;
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Thanks GearHub Sports for the stoke, Dan Savage for event masterminding, Carter Nieuwesteeg for setting incredible times that forced me out of my comfort zone to compete, and Fernie Mountain Bike Club for the best trail network anywhere. Thanks for being friends @gearhubsports , @rockymountainbicycles , @raceface , @oneupcomponents , @weareonecomposites and making the best stuff out there. Finally love to my family Lynn Loken, Nolan, and Kieva; you mean everything to me.”
A big thanks to Mark Hall from Gearhub Sports for his generous prizing, Troy Nixon from the Fernie Mountain Bike Club for his endless support, the Fernie Trails Alliance for trail approvals, and all of the racers who gave their best!
