by admin | May 12, 2020 | Fernie TransRockies
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Cycling Canada has recommended that all events up to July 6th be cancelled or postponed. In cooperation with Cycling Canada, the Fernie Gravel Grind scheduled for June 20th will be postponed. It would not be prudent to maintain the original date for the gravel ride which would encourage highly inappropriate activities given these times. The return to group activity will be determined by the local and provincial health authorities. The Fernie Gravel Grind fully supports their efforts to minimize the impacts of Covid-19 and to ensure the health and safety of our community. If there is any sort of risk to the community during the future event, the event will be canceled entirely for 2020 and rescheduled for 202 1.
You can expect a clear decision mid-June on when and if the event will take place. Though an exact date has yet to be selected, the plan for the Fernie Gravel Grind is currently looking like late August. I’m staying optimistic that we will have a Fernie Gravel Grind this year in some capacity. Many options are being explored in the ways in which we can put on a socially distanced fundraiser event.
Obviously changing dates of an event is not ideal for anyone, so the Fernie Gravel Grind would like to give you some options as we navigate through these rough waters together.
1. Save the date.
Keep your registration and donations and plan to ride with us late August. If the pending date in August does not work for you, or it ends up being canceled all together, here are some more options.
2. Refund.
A 90% event refund is offered to all registrants, and a 100% refund to all donations by registrants. The remaining 10% is to cover registration fees and other event expenses already paid.
3. Donate.
Rather than asking for a refund, keep your registration as a donation to the Fernie Trails Alliance. All remaining proceeds will be donated directly to the FTA, regardless of the outcome this year.
This is not an easy time for any of us as I greatly appreciate your support and patience. If you would like a refund, please email carternieuwesteeg@icloud.com. But please keep in mind where your donations are going, regardless of the final outcome.
Better days are on the horizon, in the meantime ride safe and keep well.
Carter Nieuwesteeg
Event Director
carternieuwesteeg@icloud.com
by admin | Apr 26, 2020 | Fernie TransRockies
Pandemic Response
April 26, 2020
Hello….
We all hope that you are staying safe, healthy and positive. We want to thank-you for your previous and continued support throughout this Global Pandemic. As you know the Fernie Mountain Bike Club (FMBC) is all about events and so far 2020 is not looking very good for group gatherings. We have some good news and some sad news so let’s start with the sad news as it is always better to finish with good news.
SAD NEWS
The FMBC runs events and fundraises for the Fernie Trail Infrastructure. The monies raised from these events as well as membership fees go to the Fernie Trails Alliance who runs maintenance and negotiates land use agreements with landowners in the valley.
Here is a list of events that we normally put on:
Trail Razr V – cancelled
Bike Blitz II – cancelled
Little Critter Criterium – suspended
2Knee rides – suspended
FMBC Strider club – suspended
Fernie Women on Wheels – suspended
WAM BAM DIRT JUMP JAM – hmmm….cross our fingers?
Project 9 Race – see WBDJJ response
Dirt Diggler – wait and see
High Roller – all of the above?
Yep, we’re hoping that we’ll get the go ahead from Dr. Henry but we just don’t know what is going to happen for the 2020 bike season. In response to that uncertainty of our event schedule but also with full knowledge that our trails will need work we are launching a Temporary Pandemic Pass. $5 for families, individuals, seniors and youths. If you need the help then please take it, sign the waiver and come to our events. If nothing has changed for you then please renew at our regular rates. ($40 individuals, $90 families, $25 for seniors and youths). Purchasing your FMBC membership also gives you the new Fernie Trails Alliance Trail Pass that is being introduced this year.
There are so many unknowns and questions at this point. Should we even be riding our mountain bikes during a pandemic? Is it responsible to put ourselves in harms way when hospitals and healthcare workers are stressed? Is it exercise or a hobby? There is no doubt that accidents do happen to the most skilled riders so the FMBC encourages all riders to #stayhome, practice social distancing and wash your hands about a bazillion times a day and try to flatten the curve.
If you do ride your bike, ride well below your comfort level and ride near home (ideally, this should mean not driving anywhere to ride). When encountering others on the trail, be kind and allow lots of distance.
GOOD NEWS
As mentioned above your FMBC board has voted to introduce a Temporary Pandemic Pass for those of us who have been financially hit. We want you to renew just in case we do get to run some events this summer/fall. We encourage those who can afford to do so to make donations over the membership fee but we want to be as inclusive as we can during this time.
Regarding Corporate Memberships, we had 28 membership sales last year, which was our best year ever. This year we had a few eager businesses renew early. Big Bang Bagel, Claris Media, Red Tree Lodge, Tourism Fernie, and Rocky Mountain Optometry have all renewed. We have offered a refund or partial refund for these businesses. If you supported us last year then please do not feel like you need to do it again this year as we know that money is tight. We have also put together a new $100 Corporate Pass for 2020 which can be purchased on the FMBC website.
Usually we have our ever popular Annual General Meeting during the Bike Blitz but in seeing that we have cancelled that event then we need to move the AGM. We hope the September 2020 High Roller will be the place where we hold the Annual General Meeting. If not, then we will look at other online options.
We have had a few directors step down and new ones step up. Thank you to Heather Lavers, Aaron Glover, Tom Gibson and Rick Weiss for all their help in the past. Welcome to our interim directors Dustin Denham, Cindy Sleeman and Jennifer Sliva.
In February 2020 we voted on supporting the Fernie Trails Alliance with a $10,000 donation. We didn’t take any pictures or post anything as we were waiting for everyone to get together for a group shot….whoops! Here is a cheque handing over pic from our Trail Razr IV. With your support we sent over $50K to the Fernie Trails Alliance in 2019.
LAST WORD
Thanks for your previous support and for your support in the future. We all look forward to the day when life can return to ‘normal’ and we can just ride our bikes with our friends.
On behalf of the FMBC board of directors…
Troy Nixon
FMBC Chair
by admin | Mar 26, 2020 | Fernie TransRockies
In the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic, TransRockies has taken the unprecedented step of rescheduling Singletrack 6 to September. This decision made in consultation with host communities, participants, and health authorities. It now appears that the original June dates would be impossible for our communities to accommodate and for many of our participants to travel.
The 2020 TransRockies Singletrack 6 will now take place on the following dates:
September 8-9: Rossland, BC
September 10-11: Kimberley, BC
September 12-13: Fernie, BC
Note that the direction of travel has now been reversed, starting in Rossland and finishing in Fernie, to accommodate pre-scheduled events in the host communities. Fernie will be the finish community and host the athletes for two stages and three nights. Fernie stage details have yet to be defined, details will be coming.
Registration details:
Your registration has been automatically transferred to the new dates, but realize that these are difficult circumstances for our participants and it may be challenging to change their plans to accommodate the new dates. Flexible change options have been offered in light of this. If you cannot make the new dates these are your options:
– Rollover you registration to 2021 or 2022 Singletrack 6.
– We will waive the administration fee if you need to rollover your credit. Proposed 2021 dates are July 15-20 but have not been finalized yet.
– Transfer your registration to someone else. Administration fee for this transfer waived.
– Transfer your registration credit to another TransRockies event for 2020 or 2021 (for you or someone else).
If you wish to take advantage of any of these options please email registration@transrockies.com. Please do this as soon as you can but no later than August 8, 2020. Please note that the final balance payment scheduled to be charged on March 30th will not be charged until July 1, 2020. They will be keeping the 250 person field limit in effect until event restrictions are lifted – registration spots are currently still available for the September 8-13 event. Unfortunately, TRI is not able to offer refunds.
by admin | Jan 22, 2020 | Fernie TransRockies
The Fernie Gravel Grind is a new bike event happening on June 20, 2020 that will showcase Fernie’s great gravel rides and raises funds for Fernie Trails.
Ride for fun, ride for the trails. This is a fondo-style fundraising event with all proceeds going to the Fernie Trails Alliance, and it’s not a race.
Local rider Carter Nieuwesteeg is the organizer of this event and he knows a good ride and has a genuine interest in giving back to what has made his life so cycle focus. The theme “Ride for fun, ride for the trails” exemplifies Carter’s spirit for riding and appreciation of the Fernie environment that propelled him into being an elite racer. Carter’s dad Jerry is behind the Highline 100, Fernie’s annual century ride, and has been a big influence in his cycling career.
Jerry and Carter Nieuwesteeg
Industry has its benefits including creating one of the greatest gravel network of roads in British Columbia. Fernie’s logging and mining activities have created endless gravel rides that have little or no traffic and offer excellent scenery and wildlife sightings. Safety concerns and tranquility have have been transforming many road riders to gravel grinders and this new adventure experience.
Fernie Trails and managed by the Fernie Trails Alliance and all proceeds will help support their efforts to maintain responsible non-motorized trail access on Crown lands and private lands in the Fernie area. A sustainable trail system that contributes to a vibrant, healthy community and the hardworking volunteers need your support.
The Gravel Grind ride will consist of loops through the backcountry starting in Fernie. To be inclusive there will be a 30km, 80km and120km options. The routes will be announced one week prior to the event. There will be no route markings; turn-by-turn directions will be available for download onto a cycling computer and physical copies of the map will also be provided on the day of the event. It’s not a race, there will be no timing—ride at your own pace for the love of the trails!
All bike types are welcome, a cross-country mountain bike or gravel bike is recommended, a standard road bike will not be suitable for the gravel.
This adventure ride has limited registrations, so you best register now before the event is full.
Registration is $50 which gets you:
1. A pre-ride coffee thanks to Rooftop Coffee Roasters.
2. A well stocked feed station.
3. A post ride beverage at the Kodiak Lounge thanks to the Raging Elk Hostel.
4. One kick ass day on the bike and all the warm and fuzzy feelings from donating to a good cause (and so many Strava kudos).
There are $25, $50, and $100 add-ons at registration if you are feeling extra generous and want to show some extra love for the FTA (remember trails don’t build themselves).
REGISTER HERE TODAY TO ENSURE YOUR ENTRY.
About Carter Nieuwesteeg
Born: Jan 1, 1997
Age: 23
From: Fernie BC
Currently living: Victoria, BC.
Disciplines: Cross Country and Cyclocross.
Education: Studying Economics at the University of Victoria (Graduation: 2020, BA Economics). I chose UVic because if there’s one place to get better at biking, its on the island.
Team: Santa Cruz Bicycles Trade Team
First Race Ever: Fernie 3, 2014 .
Years Racing: 6 (this will be my 4th year racing for Santa Cruz Bicycles).
Coach: Keith Wilson
Training locations: I have been doing all of my winter training in Victoria while studying at UVic, I come home each summer in between races. Luckily a lot of my friends at school are also elite racers, so its a pretty unique case to have buddies I can study with and then go hammer bikes together.
Favourite Bike: Santa Cruz Bicycles Tallboy
Favourite Trail: Hyper Ventilation
2020 Event Schedule:
– Whiskey 50
– TransRockies Singletrack 6
– Fernie Gravel Grind
– BC Bike Race
– Downieville Classic
– Canadian Marathon and Cyclocross Championships
– Yak Attack
Interests outside of biking: Fly fishing, downhill skiing, eating ice cream, and organizing the Fernie Gravel Grind.
Who got me into biking: My Dad when I was 6 or 7 years old by dragging me up to the top of Dem Bones in the Fernie Provincial Park. I hated the climb but always forgot about it after the fun descent.
Born and raised in Fernie BC and I grew up riding the local trails since as long as I can remember. My love for riding the trails in my backyard gradually transformed into a passion for racing and the sport as a whole. Cycling has become more than just a part of my life, its determined where I chose to pursue my post-secondary education, how I’ve met some of my closest friends, brought me closer with my family, and the reason why I so heavily believe in giving back to my community.
by admin | Nov 22, 2019 | Fernie TransRockies
Born from the desire to showcase premiere Western Canadian mountain bike communities, Singletrack 6 features a rider-built and maintained route that changes annually. Stages are a combination of epic marathon cross-country loops with timed descents to best suit each location.
Fernie is hosting registration and the first two stages in the 2020 return of the ST6. Stage one will be based from the Fernie Aquatic Centre and the riders will enjoy the Ridgemont, Castle Mountain and Montane trails. Stage two will be based at Fernie Alpine Resort and the riders will enjoy the Lizard Range and Fernie Mountain trails.
Riders will experience an exceptionally varied six consecutive days of mountain biking as they navigate singletrack that climbs to the high alpine, flows across arid desert-like landscapes and finally descends through lush rain forest. Singletrack 6 is simply the perfect brew of cross-county riding, breathtaking climbs, panoramic vistas and epic descents. There is truly something for everyone.
Family and supporters will also be able to enjoy the festival atmosphere in each of the host communities with plenty to see and do for bikers and non-bikers alike of all ages in some of the most scenic, friendly and welcoming areas of Canada.
At Singletrack 6, you will definitely Ride the West.
Core Features:
The most varied mountain biking of any mountain bike stage race.
High percentage of ride-able singletrack.
Timed descents on most stages
Sharing the stories of the communities at each stop and the people behind the trails.
Different riding from stage-to-stage: free and flowy to rocky and rooty.
Post stage bbqs, music, slideshows, awards, and swag.
Entries are limited to only 300 riders total
Singletrack 6 – Fernie to Rossland: June 8-13, 2020
Singletrack 3 – Fernie & Kimberley: June 8-10, 2020
Singletrack 3 FlexPass: Any 3 days, June 8-13, 2020
REGISTER HERE.
by admin | Jul 29, 2019 | Fernie TransRockies
The Fernie TransRockies Stage 7 created some new Canadiana Héritage with a photo finish in the outdoor skating rink. This was a first time for a non-hockey event to be held in the outdoor facility and Happy Cow was pretty stoked to be the first to cross the finish line!
The next riders to finish were participating in the the Kids’ Bike Rally. Close to a 100 kid’s between the ages of 3 and 9 rolled into the finish line for the Transrockies Classic. Stage 1 started at Gearhub sports where they were outfitted with a rally plate, a safety bell and safety tips on their equipment. The participants bikes were decorated at stage 2 and at stage 3 they met Balloon Tom! Balloon Tom entertained the kids with his magic creations before sending them to the final stage 4 for watermelon and ice cream!
This mini-rally continues to be a great success and adds to the festivities surrounding mountain biking. A big thanks to Gearhub, Teck and Happy Cow for making it happen! Balloon Tom’s headwear became the fun statement of the day!
This year the TranRockies Classic replaced the Singletrack 6, this was a return to the companies roots. Heinrich Albrecht (above),the founder of the TransRockies, traveled from his home in from Munich Germany to observe the event. Known as Heini by his friends, he commented on the small turnout for the Classic, “Today’s riders don’t want to suffer like they used too, they only want to have fun.” In the first years over 600 riders participated–less than 100 riders rode into Fernie on Sunday. Heini also commented that the TransAlps, the TransRockies blueprint, also has less than half of previous years participant levels.
Next year the Singletrack 6 will return with shorter singletrack only stages followed by beers, restaurants and hotel beds—this is what today’s riders want. The 2020 Singletrack 6 will start in Fernie on June 8th for two exciting singletrak stages and then move onto Kimberly and Rossland for four more stages.
This years Fernie Finish had riders leave Crowsnest and enter the Fernie trail system with a 1000 meter descent of Porky Blue, a traverse of Kush, a lap on the new flow trail Contra and onto FloWRKR before rolling the Coal Heritage trail to the Aquatic Centre. The riders were exhausted at the final finish line to end an epic week of torture crossing the Rockies.
The first racer to cross the finish line was Travis Hauck (above), the self proclaimed sole XC rider in Nelson. Travis is a very skilled rider and commented that he loved the Fernie trail section. Nelson riders are known for flying their bikes and Travis is no exception!
Photo Ryan Schultz, Facebook
Local riders Krista Turcasso and Mark Elson finished a very respectable 1st in their category and the arena erupted in applause with their finish. A large group of family and friends brought the event to life. See the full results here.
The TransRockies Classic most likely was held for its last time in its original point-to-point form. The long stages appeal to endurance riders like Travis, Krista and Mark but the participants are in decline. Singletrack 6 however is on the docket and is sure to be an amazing single track experience. Registration is open!
A big thanks to our sponsors who help make this event happen, including: Gearhub Sports, Teck, Park Place Lodge, Red Tree Lodge, The Raging Elk, Fernie RV Resort, Fernie Slopeside Lodge, Lizard Creek Lodge, Fernie Lodging Company, Snow Valley Lodging, Fernie Central Reservations and Happy Cow Ice Cream.
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