If you're not on the COTR mailing list, get on it! This Sunday is the first race in the series up in Cumberland, I'm going to blatantly copy Norms COTR newsletter so that you get the info 'from the source':

Race #1. September 13^th: Coal Cross.  Taking it to the trees. Cumberland. Comox Lake (Don’t go to Village Park).

Before the first COTR race even happens one of the highlight events of the year will be going down the night before….in downtown Cumberland!

Saturday night is the Waverly Cyclocross Criterium and UROC Fundraiser starting at 5:00 at the Waverly Hotel (Downtown Cumberland)  Great prizes.  Great Fun.  Great People.  Great Cause…..it is great!  Check Facebook for all the details (poster WAY down below).

Sunday’s COTR Location:

Cumberland Lake Park Campground - is out at Comox Lake; formal address: 1100 Comox Lake Road, Cumberland, BC - www.cumberlandlakepark.ca

A LOT of people hounding me for information on the NEW COURSE this week….especially on Wednesday night.  I don’t know it!  No one does….. with the exception of ONE MAN.

That man is Curtis Saunders and this is his description of the course:

Race course description (from course designer Curtis Saunders):

"The race starts beside the majestic Comox lake in Cumberland, BC.

When the air raid-start siren sounds, it's a 150 foot (that is about 50 meters in Canadian….editor’s note) drag race for the super-cross-style hole shot that shatters into a gravel right hand corner. Racers pursue a grueling climb into a roller coaster ride through cyclocross-racer-only designated campsites.

The course then descends off into a World Cup DH #5 style hair raising descent, with a possible out and back road section, followed by an Erzberg-esque rock garden beach ride beside trundling picnic benches that offer photo op views of scenic Forbidden Plateau across the lake.

Racers then gruel through the Sandpit of Despair and then enter the challenging barrier hopping section. Repeat."

Back to me….well….that sounds AWESOME!!  Lets race!!

NEW THIS YEAR:  There will be the new Harbour Air Hand Up zone on the course.  Look for the logo’ed Bunting and members of their COTR team.  The team will be handing out numbered “Boarding Passes”.  Grab them.  Stash them on yourself.  Don’t wipe yourself or anyone else out while doing it.  At the awards we will call one boarding pass number and the holder will win passes on Harbour Air.  (Hint…..it will be obvious where it is at this race).

Accommodations

Terry at the Cumberland Lake Campground has put aside a number of tenting sites just for COTR racers on Saturday night. They are beautiful spots and you'll see first-hand the fun new venue and race course for this year!

Cumberland is looking forward to hosting you for our double header cx weekend! If you are looking for a place to stay, there are a few options that we can offer: The Riding Fool Hostel, Stansbury's Guest House, the Cumberland Getaway and the CLWS Cumberland Lake Wilderness Society. Please call ahead to book your spot at any of these places as they're run by some great peeps.

Registration (Repeat but always important)

Registration for each race will close at 7:00pm the night before the race.

Registration for the series will close at 7:00pm the night before the first race (in order to get the series discount).

Here is the link If you want to register for the series:

Series Registration - https://www.raceonline.ca/events/registration/series/?id=835A25A9-85AA-43A4-AA4C-61E118F17631

For the Individual races go here: Race 1 - https://www.raceonline.ca/events/details/?id=998 Race 2 - https://www.raceonline.ca/events/details/?id=999 Race 3 - https://www.raceonline.ca/events/details/?id=1000 Race 4 - https://www.raceonline.ca/events/details/?id=1001 Race 5 - https://www.raceonline.ca/events/details/?id=1002 Race 6 - https://www.raceonline.ca/events/details/?id=1003 Race 7 - https://www.raceonline.ca/events/details/?id=1004

Cross on the Rock Categories 2015 (There have been some changes) and start times.

Beginner Men/Women	Including those racing the series as U13 and U15 Youth	10:45am
Kids “Zoom Zoom” Half Track	Kids around 7-10'ish (parents welcome) riding on the regular adult course.	11:30am
Intermediate Men	Males under 39, including those racing the series as U17 Youth	12:00pm
Intermediate Women	Including those racing the series as U17 Youth or Masters 40+	12:01pm
Lil' Nutcase Helmets Kids Race	Kids under 7 - parents discretion. Ride on separate kids course.	12:10pm
Masters Men (40-54)	All males 40-54 not wanting to race Expert (or Beginners)	1:00pm
Super Masters Men (55+)	All males 55+ (Unless racing Beginner)	1:00pm
Expert Men	"Fasters" Welcome (Fasters = Fast Masters)	2:15pm
Expert Women		2:16pm

Welcome to our NEW COTR Sponsors

The amazing thing about this series is that almost all the sponsors also race.  It brings a special touch to the series when everyone involved is REALLY involved!

The other amazing thing is it takes a LOT of sponsors to make this series what it is.  PLEASE go out of your way to support those that go out of their way to support what we love to do!

WD40 Bike

Long time supporter of the series, Peter Creighton from Cycles Lambert has channeled all his budget into WD40’s support of Cross on the Rock.  The wet-muddier races (not this weekend if you have checked the forecast) will enjoy the WD40 Power Washing station under their bright tent with a gas powered bearing cleaning ported and polished power washer.  Then you can re-lube and wash up using the great products from WD40.

Harbour Air

You will have seen some of the Harbour Air crew out last season sporting their team jerseys.  We are super excited to have them on board as a series sponsor this year.  You will see the Harbour Air Hand Up zone at all the races this year.  Remember to grab a boarding pass for your chance to win a round trip flight anywhere Harbour Air flies.

Vancouver Island Mazda Dealers

Zoom Zoom!  New Sponsors this year sponsoring the kids Half Track race (after the beginners).  Mazda will also be sponsoring some new edits from Pelle and a prize purse.  You will see their wicked cars on course.  Check them out (don’t crash into them please).

B78 Coaching

Sponsor of the pre-race clinic with rider Mical Dyck leading out the group.  B78 will also be giving away some prizes and coaching consultations.

Blue Tuke Sport Swap

Sporting Goods and Consignment Store in Courtenay.  6000sqft of GEAR!!!  Plus….the owner, Paul Laperriere, races the series!

(Thanks to our RETURNING Sponsors coming next newsletter)

Many thanks to our Outgoing Sponsors

Thanks to Brad Head from Zed Wheels (www.zedwheels.com) for sponsorship from 2011 to 2014.  Brad makes wicked wheels including the Cross Rock wheel set.  If you need great wheels that work in our conditions please consider Brad!

Lezyne, Muc Off were both through Cycles Lambert which has transformed into our new title sponsor with WD40.

Action Motorcycles helped us out for a number of years with Jamie Emery but is focusing (understandably) on their Moto Market rather than our non-motorized one.  Thanks Very Much Action Moto….if you want two wheels WITH a Motor…..there is only one choice.

Straight Up Cycles Curtis Schlossberger helped us out last season with some cash and prizes for the events starting with Bear Mountain.  Curtis has moved on from Straight Up Cycles but we appreciated his support to the series.

Orange Sport Supply has been and on/off sponsor of the series since the start.  They also supported Wendy Simms for a number of years with eNVy chainrings when she started racing more seriously.  Greg Inkster does a lot of community support for the size of company he has and we thank him very much for supporting COTR when he could.

Weekly Cross Rides Happening on the Island

Nanaimo

MIVA has a weekly Cross practice on Tuesday Nights.  See their FB page for details

Courtenay

Trail Bikes is the place to be and to contact.  No confirmation but I believe it is on Wednesdays.  If I get more info I will update.

Duncan

Wednesdays as well.  Cowichan CX. Contact Tom Elliot at tom@elliot.org

Come out to get your CX legs and practice the pain face (it's an important part!) you want for 2015.

Please note that this week the Cowichan Cross practice is 6:00PM, Quamichan School on Beverly Street.

Victoria

Wednesday nights is the Cross Club aka the “Cross Underground” which is actually not so underground any more.  This is the longest running cross series in Canada right here on Vancouver Island

Cross Club 2015

Victoria’s “Underground” Cyclocross Series Returns

The rain has arrived may never arrive…. But it’s Cyclocross Season, so time to sharpen your CX skills!

B’s ride at 5:30pm

A’s ride at 6:00pm.

Details on locations will be emailed to the registered riders list each week.

Ride #1 and Kickoff is September 9

Ride#2 is September 16

Ride#3 is September 23

Ride#4 is September 30

Ride #5 is October 7

(Please note: No ride on Oct 14 due to Cross on the Rock race on Monday, Oct 12^th of that week)

Ride #6 is October 21

Ride #7 is October 28

Any questions or want to send any information:

Normon Thibault

E-Mail: normont@islandnet.com

Cross on the Rock (COTR) is a grassroots, laid back, fun, social, inclusive, surprisingly competitive Cyclocross series on Vancouver Island. It is organized through the efforts of many clubs, organizations and individuals collectively known as the “Council of Cross

Are you In or do you want OUT?

First order of business is this newsletter subscription list.  I know times and people change.  You might not want to ride cross any more (that is really strange).  You might not want to follow cross any more (more strange).  IF you don’t want this newsletter.  Fire me an e-mail.  If you are getting this e-mail more than once….send me a note.  If it is going to an old address and you want it to go to a fancy new one…..let me know.

The new footer for 2015 is not quite 100%.  Missing Island Cycles and wrong colour for B78…..but you guys get the picture!

The series finale for the MIVA Hill Climb Series had it all.  The rain bucketed down pretty well all day, until 6pm, but as we said rain or shine the race would go on and we're glad it did.  24 racers came out to take on the Doumont Double Points finale and close out the season, 4 for the first time this year as we welcomed Michael Addiscott, Tayden de Pol, Bill McMillan, and Phil Birrer back to the hill climbs. MIVA had put a $50 bounty in the 4 categories for any course record that could be broken.  The records stood as: MALE: Paul Auton (2011) 12:00
FEMALE: Janna Gillick (2011) 15:06
YOUTH MALE: Tayden de Pol (2014) 18:56
YOUTH FEMALE: Abigail Hare (2013) 19:25

All 3 categories that had entries tonight managed to break the former course record!

The youth males were off first with Tayden de Pol back out after swim season finished up, he hammered up the hill in just 17:06, a full 1 minute 50 seconds off his course record for last year!  Not a bad 2015 debut.  Right behind him was the Comox whizkid Evan Luksay, dancing up the final inclines and narrowly taking the course record down even further to 16:51 and with it, $50 to spend on bike stuff.

In the female category we once again had 8 ladies out.  From 2011-2014 MIVA averaged 1.24 women out per hill climb.  In 2015, we averaged EIGHT!  In 2014 we had 7 female entries total, in 2015 we had 40 entries and our lowest single race had 7 women.  The epic showdown between Kiyomi and Lorrie was not to be, as 24 hours before the race Kiyomi was injured on a trail run and showed up tonight to volunteer wearing an air cast unfortunately.  There was the potential for a tie in which case it would've defaulted down to an arm wrestle, a cage match, and who had more 12 point events.  Lorrie managed to push out a 2nd place finish tonight to finish with 62 points and take home the MIVA Female Hill Climb trophy.  Lisa Mcleod leapt up the standings with her 3rd place ride tonight to finish 2nd overall.  Janna Gillick came with her game face on and slammed a record breaking 14:12 new womens course record (5th overall as well), to add another $50 to her prize winnings (she donated it to nachos and wings at the Black Bear afterward, thank you!).

The male category also wasn't short on drama, as Mr. Four-for-Four Joel de Schiffart was summoned back to his running career and school and had to miss out.  Course record holder Paul Auton (12:00) also couldn't make tonight's race, leaving it wide open and the standings torn apart.  Nick Kupiak flew up the hill in just 11:48 to not only take the course record, but launch himself to the top of the standings with the double points victory and take home the Male Hill Climb trophy. Nick worked extremely hard all year and may have rode in more MIVA events than anyone else, from crits to TTs to hill climbs, and this trophy was well deserved. Close behind was Darren Vandergrift in 12:58 and from what I can tell, the 8th fastest time ever up Doumont.  In third place Joel Lutz set a PB and put himself into a 2nd place overall tie with Joel de Schiffart at 48 points.

Here is how the final standings shook out after a crazy final day: 2015 Hill Climb Championships Standings

Results via webscorer here

All of Patricks photos are here!

Thank you to Kiyomi for picking up the hot chocolate and helping me set up the MIVA tent (while in an air cast), to Patrick for once again snapping amazing photos, to Ross for also getting some pics, and to Peter for starting everyone off from the bottom.

To go from having 7 racers per night average to over 23 is nothing short of amazing, thank you to all of you who made the effort to hit the climbs with us. MIVA took a gamble by moving the season up a month as normally the hill climbs are Sept-Oct, this move paid off in high attendance AND it clears all of our schedules to get out on the cross bikes and focus on that.  If you thought our takeover at the pub tonight was social, wait until you see a cross race (if you haven't before).

Next up is the already-happening CROSS season.  Hit up the Cross On The Rock website for details, registration will be going live very soon.  MIVA's event in the series is on Sunday November 8th, the back end of a double header (OBB hosts Saturday at Bowen).  This is a huge event and is not possible without the hard work of many of you. If you're interested in helping out with the My Little Pony crew it is much appreciated, please let me know. In the meantime, hit up the 'Cross group training rides happening Tuesdays at 6pm @Maxey/Wellington.

RELATED NOTE: the MIVA tent is available to anyone going to the Cross races, let me know!

(sorry if there are errors, no time to proof this or put pics in)

We have been working HARD for most of this month to secure a legit park (with permission) to hold cyclocross clinics, but unfortunately have been stone walled by red tape.  The RDN won't allow us to use Anders and Dorrits park as "The farm property was only recently received by the East Wellington-Pleasant Valley community as park and the property and its uses are still being established." and "Setting out a course on the property, again, is not an acceptable special use of the property at this time".  It's unfortunate but MIVA officially asks that you refrain from using this park.  

There are unofficial group CX rides happening on Tuesdays @ 6pm, meeting at Maxey Rd and Wellington.  Where you go from there is up to the group!  The MIVA facebook group has the details each week.

2 weeks til Cumberland Cross!

EDIT: Start List is up (as of 315pm). It may shuffle up or down by a minute or two but this is the general order

The final event in the 2015 MIVA Hill Climb Series is on Thursday September 3rd, going up Doumont.  This course is the gold standard in Nanaimo, used as the finale every season.  We're throwing it in this year that it is worth DOUBLE POINTS, upping the ante, so bring your 'A' game and hammer up it!  There will be a social at the bottom of the climb at the Black Bear Pub after, what better way to close out the Hill Climb Season?

Pre registration link is here.

Route is here on Strava, MIVA Doumont Hill Climb

A bit o history below:

Doumont Results: 2008: Stefan Jakobsen 12:27 2009 – 3 racers – Derek Brain 13:31 2010 – 6 racers – Male Patrick Paquette 12:44 2011 – (race 1)  7 racers – Male: Paul Auton 12:20 / Female Janna Gillick 15:06 2011 – (race 2) 12 racers – Male: Paul Auton 12:00 / Female: Cheryl Morch 15:51 2012 – 7 racers – Male Doug Merrick 13:25 / Female: Lorrie Baildham 15:43 / Youth Female: Abigail Hare 21:35 2013 (race 1) – 12 racers – Male: Justin Mark 12:22 / Female: Jennifer Gordon 26:27 / Youth Female: Abigail Hare 22:33 / Youth Male: Aiden Hare 22:33 2013 (race 2) – 8 racers – Male: Justin Mark 12:44 / Female: Cheryl Morch 16:02 / Youth Female: Abigail Hare 19:25 / Youth Male: Aiden Hare 23:45 2014 – 8 racers – Male: Ken Olson 13:20 / Female: Lorrie Baildham 15:16 / Youth Male Tayden de Pol 18:56

To make things interesting, there is a $50 bounty for any new records up Doumont, ANY category. Times to beat: MALE: Paul Auton (2011) 12:00 FEMALE: Janna Gillick (2011) 15:06 YOUTH MALE: Tayden de Pol (2014) 18:56 YOUTH FEMALE: Abigail Hare (2013) 19:25 I will have 4 crisp $50 bills ready, as well as the hill climb trophies for the winners to hoist above their heads!

Standings:

A new record was set tonight when TWENTY SIX racers took on the Departure Bay hill climb!In 2011 we had 11 (Stefan Jakobsen 6:52, Janna Gillick 8:27) In 2012 we had 16 (Paul Auton 7:05, Janna Gillick 8:43) In 2013 we had 10 (Justin Mark 7:08, Lorrie Baildham 8:55) In 2014 we raced elsewhere. In 2015, 26 racers and 4 year old records obliterated.  It's amazing seeing how strong the riding scene is in the mid island!

On to the race! Evan Luksay  took the youth male crown again, going 4 for 4 so far in the series.  Both Aiden and Abigail Hare rode strong races knocking time off their previous results.

In the female race, it was Janna Gillick taking home the course record and the win in just 8:15 (after her CX workout). The Kiyomi vs Lorrie battle raged on, with Kiyomi taking tonights battle by a scant 6 seconds! Lorrie holds the series lead by just 2 points (42 to 40) going into next Thursdays FINALE.  We once again had a strong group of 8 women come out to the hill climbs tonight, all of whom are getting faster and faster!

In the male category, it was another win for upstart Joel de Schiffart (4 for 4) in a new course record of 6:37.  Paul Auton hammered up in just 6:50 (2nd fastest time ever on this course) for second, and Nick Kupiak just edged Darren Vandergrift for third 7:05 to 7:09.  Reagan Lovig rode a swift 8:14 in his final race as a Nanaimoite as sadly, he is moving over to Sechelt. Reagan has been a huge supporter of MIVA the past 3 years, maybe we'll get a road 'race' going on the Sunshine Coast next summer....road trip?

Thank you to Peter, Jason, Ross, and Patrick (photos) for volunteering tonight.

But what does it all MEAN? The standings now look like this: --------------------------------- WHAT NEXT?

The Doumont finale is what.  NEXT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd, 630pm.  DOUBLE POINTS.  Winner takes 24 points, second place 20, third place 18, and so on.  This could shake up the standings, you have nothing to save it for (except the Cross on the Rock series!), so come lay it down! This is a 5.3km grunt climbing 218m, if the wind doesn't get you, a cougar might.  We start at the Pleasant Valley Social Center on Doumont Road (just off Metral).  If follows Doumont then right on Weigles Rd climbing until you run out of pavement.  Traditionally this has been held on a Saturday morning which yielded poor numbers (see below).  So I repeat, this is on THURSDAY SEPT 3!

Doumont Results: 2008: Stefan Jakobsen 12:27 2009 - 3 racers - Derek Brain 13:31 2010 - 6 racers - Male Patrick Paquette 12:44 2011 - (race 1)  7 racers - Male: Paul Auton 12:20 / Female Janna Gillick 15:06 2011 - (race 2) 12 racers - Male: Paul Auton 12:00 / Female: Cheryl Morch 15:51 2012 - 7 racers - Male Doug Merrick 13:25 / Female: Lorrie Baildham 15:43 / Youth Female: Abigail Hare 21:35 2013 (race 1) - 12 racers - Male: Justin Mark 12:22 / Female: Jennifer Gordon 26:27 / Youth Female: Abigail Hare 22:33 / Youth Male: Aiden Hare 22:33 2013 (race 2) - 8 racers - Male: Justin Mark 12:44 / Female: Cheryl Morch 16:02 / Youth Female: Abigail Hare 19:25 / Youth Male: Aiden Hare 23:45 2014 - 8 racers - Male: Ken Olson 13:20 / Female: Lorrie Baildham 15:16 / Youth Male Tayden de Pol 18:56

To make things interesting, there is a $50 bounty for any new records up Doumont, ANY category. Times to beat: MALE: Paul Auton (2011) 12:00 FEMALE: Janna Gillick (2011) 15:06 YOUTH MALE: Tayden de Pol (2014) 18:56 YOUTH FEMALE: Abigail Hare (2013) 19:25 I will have 4 crisp $50 bills ready, as well as the hill climb trophies for the winners to hoist above their heads!

Afterward we will be meeting at the Black Bear Pub for socials.  Even if you're not racing, come cheer everyone on.  The finish lines have been electric with the cheering this year, you all are awesome.