This week we are off to climb to Witchcraft Lake for Hill Climb #3 in the 5 race series.  Even if you haven't come out yet, we'd love to have you.  It's not always about the points, it's about pushing yourself up a gruelling climb and coming out stronger because of it. We will be starting at the mailboxes on Kilpatrick/JinglePot, same as week 1.  Please park to the side and double park if ness to keep it clear for residents.  The route is located here, MIVA 2015 Witchcraft Lake Hill Climb.

Pre registration is link is here.

Hill Climb #1 Jameson Road Recap Results
Hill Climb #2 Nanaimo Lakes Road Recap Results
Hill Climb #3 Witchcraft *THIS WEEK*
Hill Climb #4 Departure Bay
Hill Climb #5 Doumont

 Series Standings

Another heart exploding climb, another amazing turnout of 22 riders showed up to take on Nanaimo Lakes Road.  This is the series' longest distance wise (7.3k) and greatest elevation gain (+233m). Tonight MIVA welcomed some graduates from the Monday Night Ride crew, with Valerie Capewell and Rachel Moll making their hill climb debuts!  Out of the 22 starters tonight, NINE were women!  This is great to see the ratio changing and seeing such a competitive line up every week.

Taking tonights Female Category was Janna Gillick, smashing the QOM in 16:40.  Kiyomi Schulz avenged last weeks 0.6 second defeat by edging Lorrie Baildham by 24.5 seconds.  For only her first real year on a road bike, Kiyomi has definitely found her calling.

The Comox Valley's Evan Luksay again took the Youth Male win flying up in 21:29, good for 16th overall even, this kid is FAST!

In the Mens Category Joel de Schiffart again took the win (and KOM) by a scant 10.2 seconds over Nicholas Kupiak.  To put their speed ascent in perspective, they both averaged over 30km/hr while climbing 233m.  Rounding out the podium was Darren Vandergrift a minute back at 15:43. Ian Drown's fan club came up to cheer him and everyone else in, and special mention to Mark Wieler for hammering straight from work to arrive just in time for his starting slot, great dedication! Ken Olson also made his return, as he gears up for more Cross on the Rock battles with Norm, Peter, and Joel.

MIVA Hill Climb 2 - Nanaimo Lakes Road

Results via Webscorer here. Series standings via Webscorer here.

After 2 races, here are the standings: 2015 Hill Climb Championships Standings

Next week is WITCHCRAFT, pre register here.  Witchcraft is 3.2km long, gaining 162m, with an average grade of 5%. (hint, see this orange star? When you open the Strava link for this climb favourite it so it will show up) Thanks to Peter for working the start line, and to Patrick for tonight's photos once again.

Start List is UP!

This Thursday August 13th is Hill Climb #2 up Nanaimo Lakes Road, pre register here.  As this race starts from near the intersection of Wakesiah/Nanaimo Lakes Road, we suggest you park at Colliery Dams and ride the half block over (or just ride to the race).  This is a 7.1km climb with an elevation gain of 241m. It is called MIVA 2015 Nanaimo Lakes Road Hill Climb (strava link).   If you don't remember to pre register it is not a problem, you'll start when there's a spot, we'd love to see you suffer up the climb either way!

Recap from last week here!

Hill Climb Series Update here!

Hill Climb #1 Jameson
Hill Climb #2 Nanaimo Lakes Road THIS WEEK! 
Hill Climb #3 Witchcraft
Hill Climb #4 Departure Bay
Hill Climb #5 Doumont

MIVA HILL CLIMB CHAMPS LINK: http://bikeracing.ca/2015-hill-climb-championships/ Note: series championship is on total points of the 5 races.

Thanks again to Patrick for posting up some great pictures for last week, and a reminder to NEVER EVER crop out a photographers watermark when it's reposted on FB etc (especially when you are given it for free at original resolution).  Patricks photo’s can be viewed here.

All 5 Hill Climb events are on THURSDAY evenings now, with the final climb up Doumont being moved from the Saturday.  See the updated poster below! All are individual starts, unless we are short on volunteers and the timer has to run the show, in which case a mass start will be used.

The Hill Climb Series is total points accumulated, with the final race at Doumont being worth double points.  Pre registration links are all located here!

Hill Climb #1 Recap Results Hill Climb #2 Nanaimo Lakes Road Hill Climb #3 Witchcraft Hill Climb #4 Departure Bay Hill Climb #5 Doumont

Patrick Burnham rode all 5 MIVA Hill Climbs today for clarity on where the events are (and it was 'fun' he said).  All 5 links below:

MIVA 2015 Departure Bay Hill Climb

MIVA 2015 Jameson Hill Climb

MIVA 2015 Witchcraft Lake Hill Climb

MIVA 2015 Nanaimo Lakes Road Hill Climb

MIVA Doumont Hill Climb

23 racers showed up to climb the 160m debut in the 2015 MIVA Hill Climb Championship Series, in addition to 4 volunteers, and another 5 spectators. To put this in perspective, last year 11 people raced this! In fact searching through the database* I couldn't find any with more than 15 riders attending. THANK YOU to this amazing community for helping to grow our sport and supporting our events. Hill Climb #1 started at Kilpatrick/JinglePot, went up to Jameson, to Northwood, then on the last unnamed road on the right the final push made people earn their finish line photo (Thank you Patrick Burnham). TT Champ Paul Auton made the trek up from Mill Bay, and the Comox/Courtenay cycling community was well represented by Evan and Wade Luksay.

RESULTS HERE!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aiden Hare led off and pushed hard up the final pitch to notch under 12 minutes in 11:59 (13:41 last year).  Evan Luksay shocked the entire field as he was 2nd last to start, but flew up the hill in 9:49 good for 11th OVERALL out of the 23 starters! Abigail Hare was the lone youth female participant, even after going significantly off course she showed her mental toughness as she backtracked then hammered HARD up the hill to the crowd cheering her in.  It would have been easy to turn around and call it a mistake, but she went full throttle, proving her mental strength that's been built up with her heavy swim training.  Next week Abigail and her dad Jason Hare will tackle an open water swim from Canada to France.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the female category, reigning hill climb champ Lorrie Baildham narrowly squeaked by Kiyomi Schulz by a scant 0.6 seconds to win her category in 9:22.4 seconds.  Rounding out the podium was Lesley Anderson in 10 minutes flat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the male category Joel De Schiffart hammered home a KOM worthy 7:11 in his hill climb debut, narrowly beating Criterium champion Nick Kupiak (7:17) and Paul Auton (7:24).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thank you to Jason Hare, Patrick Burnham, and Cheryl Morch for volunteering tonight, and to the Landry's and Kubacki's for cheering everyone in.  Patricks photo's can be viewed here (they're awesome).

Next week is Hill Climb 2 up Nanaimo Lakes Road, pre register here.  As this race starts from near the intersection of Wakesiah/Nanaimo Lakes Road, we suggest you park at Colliery Dams and ride the half block over (or just ride to the race).  This is a 7.1km climb with an elevation gain of 241m. It is called 'Col du Wakesiah' on Strava, link here.

If you are able to assist in timing or sending the riders off next week please let us know.

MIVA HILL CLIMB CHAMPS LINK: http://bikeracing.ca/2015-hill-climb-championships/ Note: series championship is on total points of the 5 races.

*not really a database

PARTING SHOT: Carnage at the summit...