Everyone knows that Fernie is best known for it’s epic skiing and this season was outstanding—we received 140% of our average snowpack. And that snowpack continues to linger at higher elevations and this delay will influence the planning of the Fernie 3 routing. Fortunately we have lots of options, a great crew and are working to ensure a low impact course with the best singletrack riding.
Part of the crew is local rider Martin Vale, Race Director, who started building mountain bike trails in Victoria during the mid 1980’s purely for the love of the sport. These early trails provided the foundation for host of world class mountain bike riders including the likes of Ryder Hesjedal, Andreas Hestler, Roland Green and Geoff Kabush putting Victoria on the map on the world scene as the place to be for mountain biking. When Martin moved to Fernie, fulltime in 2006, he recognized the potential for Fernie to become one of the quintessential mountain bike destination spots in the world. Some of Martin’s race results include:
Test of metal champion – Squamish BC 1993
Canadian x-country National Champion – Whistler BC 1996
TransRockies overall Open Men champion with teammate Carter Hovey – Fernie 2011
Furious 3 overall Open Men champion – Fernie 2011
Martin comments, “Route selection will make the most challenging stage on Day 2, flanked on Day 1 and 3 with easier stages with gradual warmup climbs. The routes will spread the racers to minimize congestion on the singeletrack.” Martin is working with Pat Gilmar, multi-time TransRockies Finisher, course planner, and Fernie trail-builder extraordinaire, as the course marking lead. Minimizing impact includes avoiding and mitigating wet areas, here Martin and Pat are building a new bridge over a mud-hole on Stove trail.
Below is a working map of Stage 1 to give you and idea of what to expect. Stage 2 and 3 will be finalized soon. Sad news is that Project 9 has been whipped out by a spring avalanche and will have to be rebuilt. The closest you’ll get to Project 9 in the Fernie 3 is drinking Fernie Beer’s new Project 9 Pil at the finish line!
If you haven’t registered already there are openings and if your a club rider, ask for a club discount. If your interested in volunteering and would like to raise money for Fernie’s trails, email us at: fts@fernie.com
We look forward to your participation and please be assured that this years event will feature the best 3 day singletrack stage race ever held in Fernie!
