7 minute read
RECREATION AND OUTDOOR LIFE
Loving the Grind
by DANYAL TAYLOR
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I first met Dylan Bailey and Jena Greaser at Gearhub through different filming projects. Dylan and I went out onto the trails to film a promotional video for the Fernie Enduro, a local human powered downhill race event. I first met Jena, a bike instructor where we filmed an instructional bike series in collaboration with RideTheory, a mountain bike lesson organization in town.
I only started mountain biking two years ago and it has been a whirlwind of a journey. The first trail I tackled in Fernie was Swine Flu (whoops!), which led to a couple of good cuts and bruises. But since then, I’ve started to enjoy biking even more than the winter activities. Now, before you think ‘traitor!’, keep in mind there are few activities where you learn a new set of skills, jargon and throw down more money on gear than you ever have on a car. There’s a reason people invest time, money and energy into the sport, and why the mountain biking community is so prolific in places like Fernie. The video project with Dylan was the first time I had ever heard the word ‘Enduro.’ It begged the question - what did it mean? I soon realized there was a lot more to mountain biking than I knew, with slang like singletracks, double tracks, gravel, staged racing and the Gravel Royale.
Dylan is originally from Ontario, while Jena was born and bred in the USA. Both had visited Fernie quite a few times before committing to the move. They’ve ridden competitively since 2015 and met at the Canada Cup in 2016 on a group ride between race events. “There is a huge variety of race events - XCM, XCO, XC, Enduro, Single Track, and multi-day stage races like the Gravel Royale,” said Dylan. These staged events are typically on dirt roads or trails where you camp between stages. They both have quite the résumé from their time as competitors, between them winning Canadian and Provincial championships in their respective categories - so they know their stuff. There is an immense roster of off-road racing events across Canada and it takes a lot of training to get to the podium level. Between the 23 - 26 August, TransRockies hosted the Gravel Royale; a 375km gravel race between Panorama and Fernie travelling through the beautiful and rugged Canadian Rockies. “In general, all of your gains are made in the off-season. As you get closer to the event you begin to take longer rides and interval timed climbs,” said Dylan. It covers four stages and over 7000m of elevation gain. “I’m not superhuman,” Jena jokingly said. “It takes time and preparation to compete at a high level. What is important is to make sure you don’t fade. A lot of athletes will go all out all season, and the last few events their fatigue will catch up to them.”
I was curious why they deviated from the tar and asphalt to gravel and dirt. “It’s the sense of adventure. You are travelling through nature and you get to go out into the woods and ride your bike which
Danyal Taylor Photo
I always love to do,” Jena reminiscences. “Road racing you are often stuck with a group of riders, and you get a really bad road rash,” said Dylan. While they are fierce competitors on the trail, once the day is completed and they head to camp to rest for the next stage, everyone becomes friends, recounting the gnarly day just past. Jena ended with, “We have really found our tribe.”
So, as a newcomer into the biking scene, how can someone get started in these events? “If you haven’t done any sort of bike race before, just sign up for something small then you have a goal to work towards,” Dylan shares. We are so lucky and fortunate that there are a number of these events throughout the Kootenays. More-so locally to home is the Fernie Enduro and Gravel Grind which cater to every level of rider. So why not sign up for one of their races with a few buddies and have some friendly competition? I think I might have to next year.
L CAL
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Our trail network is designed to be inclusive for all non-motorized users including bikers, runners, walkers, and hikers. Our member and supporter clubs including Fernie Mountain Bike Club, Fernie Nordic Society, Stag Leap Running and Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club represent all the various trail users.
We have definitely seen an increase in trail users over the last few years. Specifically, an increase in runners. Here is what Abi Moore, President of Stag Leap Running Co. had to say:
“Trail running has been a popular sport in Fernie for many years, but it has certainly dramatically increased in popularity over the past few years. I think this is mainly due to the easy accessibility and low-cost of the sport, group runs available for all levels, the abundance of multi-use trails available year-round, and the increase in events and races on the Fernie calendar.
The local trail running scene is lit with newbies, veterans, Fernie-style elites, and the newly formed group of ‘leisure athletes - all playing together on the trails, supporting one another, and lifting each other up and over the endless ascents. You do not have to be a pro to come to Stag Leap’s weekly Run Club - with a variety of groups to cater to all speeds and needs, it’s as much about the social as it is about the kms.
While events have been a little on hold, they are coming in hot this fall, with The Lone Wolf on September 25 and the Fernie Half Marathon and 10km on October 3rd - both offering both locals and visitors alike, the chance to don a bib, toe the line and enjoy the glory of the finish line. But in all honesty, the best part about trail running isn’t the need for speed, racing, or winning, it’s about exploring amazing trail networks on foot, soaking in the muchdeserved mountain-top vistas and making new trail buddies. It really is a social, fun and life-changing sport for all - and you can take it with you wherever you go!”
With an increase in usage, more trail maintenance is required. A tremendous amount of work has gone into the trail network this past year thanks to our volunteers and paid trail crew. Some recent highlights include brushing on the Fairy Creek trail, tread improvements in the alpine sections and additional signage on Mt. Proctor, and Heiko’s to Rocky Road was brushed and avalanche debris removed.
In addition, Lazy Lizard, a favourite for all trail users, got a new connector trail to Island Lake Lodge. This was a great collaborative project between the FTA and Island Lake Lodge. The new trail connects to the lower parking lot was constructed, the old trail decommissioned, with Island Lake providing labour and the culvert and the FTA providing project management, labour and signage.
This month’s route is suitable for any kind of trail user. From the old barn off Coal Creek Rd. follow the Montane trails for an easy warm up. Cross the road and stay left navigating the switchbacks on lower Uprooted. Once you cross River Rd., it’s your choice, stay right on New Roots for an easier climb or Uprooted for a little more punch. Now that you are warmed up, start the main climb up Hyperventilation. More switchbacks to navigate and a few punchy sections at the top. Stay left and enjoy the views and fall colours from the top. The Hyperextension descent starts off with some tight trees, rooty sections and short steeper sections. Roots Extension has some rolling sections and loose sections to keep you on your toes. The route ends at the bottom of River Rd. Head back to the barn or hit some more trails.
Time: 1.25 - 1.75 hours Distance: Approx. 10km Difficulty: Blue/Black
Trails for All
by JULIE KELLY, FTA
Raven Eye Phtotgraphy Photo/Stag Leap Running Co.
