THE hot sun energized my body as I sat at Lost Lake reminiscing about the epic week I had just had with the B.C. Bike Race.
It was a Monday morning in Whistler and the crowds had headed home. Kim and I were enjoying some quiet time after one of the busiest weeks of my summer.
This was the sixth edition of the B.C. Bike Race and I have worked all of them. For the last three years, I followed the racers throughout the week-long arduous course capturing their daily ride and producing a short movie that attempted to showcase the beauty, the toughness and the funny bits that they encountered each day.
I used a Beta Trials Bike, which allowed me to capture the leaders and those a little further back, as well as sneak into a few areas where the racers couldn't even see me.
The B.C. Bike Race is a 450-kilometre mountain bike race that spans seven days. Each day is spent in a unique town where racers race, then sit back and enjoy B.C.'s awesome hospitality.
This year's event started in Cumberland and hit Campbell River, Powell River, the Sunshine Coast and Squamish before the final day in Whistler.
Day zero started with the sign-in for racers, which was pretty hectic since there were more than 500 of them from 33 different countries.
It was also the Adera Kids Race, sponsored by Adera Development. More than 250 kids showed up dressed as their favorite superhero and were ready to ride.
That afternoon, all those involved in the race boarded a B.C. Ferries vessel for the breathtaking ride across to Nanaimo and then headed onto Cumberland. Sunday morning was Canada Day and the race started with a huge marching band parade and coast guard helicopter lead out. You could tell those not from here were in awe.
The rain arrived for day two in Campbell River but the beautiful scenery and incredible trails kept racers' spirits high. The rain brought the forest to life and I can't describe how vibrant the colours were that day. After a wet night, the sun finally arrived and Powell River and the Sunshine Coast greeted racers with some of the best weather and single track they had ever seen.
Before I knew it, we had arrived in Squamish where the racers spent two nights, which allowed them to stop and smell the roses. The trails in Squamish were perfect and the smiles on all of the racers' faces told me that this was by far their favorite day. It was also followed by a great beer garden and a little chill time before the final day.
The last day in Whistler was a shorter day, and it was amazing to see each and every racer hit the finish line in the Whistler Olympic Park with their families and friends cheering them on.
Adventurer Dave Norona encourages you to check out the B.C. Bike Race website at www. bcbikerace.com. His escapades are supported by Comor Sports, PowerBar and Columbia Sportswear.
