2024 marked Sun Peaks first year hosting downhill national championships in more than a decade and second year back on the Canada Cup / Dunbar Summer Series circuit. And the Kamloops, B.C.-area resort put on a show. A flat-out fast and long course pushed finish times over five minutes for all but the top pro racers and, adding to that challenge, constantly changing weather made course conditions unpredictable on race day.
While the weather through in a twist for racers, and organizers that had to manage lightening delays that briefly shut down the lifts, everyone got on course and Canada’s fastest proved their skill and speed in any conditions. New champions were crowned, sending the emaple leaf sleeves back out to the World Cup circuit on new jerseys for the second half of the season.
The sun was out at Sun Peaks on Sunday, often even while it was raining. When it wasn’t, covered lifts kept racers dry on their way to the start hut.
Before the rain, course conditions were as dry and loose as you’d expect in August. Pivot Factory Racing’s Jewett brothers kept close on eachother’s wheels in practice to stay out of the dust before hitting podiums in junior and elite later in the day.
Johnathan Helly is from Kamloops and races for Kamloop’s-based We Are One Components. He usually races enduro but, this summer, has been pushing into downhill quite successfully. Helly set the fastest time in seeding on Saturday. He crashed hard at the top of the course during his final practice run Sunday morning, though.
Despite breaking his fork, Helly was able to bounce back – and get a replacement Boxxer set up – on time to get on the podium in elite men’s finals.
When the sun was out, the fireweed was glowing. Megan Bedard flies through the flowers during practice before finishing second in the junior women’s championships race.
Masters and open categories kicked of racing. While it was dusty at the top, it was already hailing on the lower half of the course. Which would have been a rude surprise for a lot of riders mid-run.
The fast course at Sun Peaks required constant focus. Any loss of momentum could cost you speed for a while.
Heavy clouds rolled into the Sun Peaks village area, bringing occasional lightening strikes with them.
That caused a pause in racing while riders waited for the lifts to start running. In the RLR team pits, celebrating 10 years this year, there was no trouble finding…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…