Racers took to Vernon害羞草研究所檚 DND Fields for a full day of heart-pumping cyclocross (CX) action on Sunday, Oct. 1.

The race, dubbed, The Burn in Vernon, was a part of the B.C. Interior Cyclocross calendar, running for its 12th year.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a beginner friendly sport and race discipline. Once the gun goes off, everyone is going at the same time,害羞草研究所� said Steve Gaucher, an organizer of the event. 害羞草研究所淲e tell all our racers to bring all their friends. You get some spills and people take some tumbles so it is entertaining to watch.害羞草研究所�

CX is a blend of road and mountain biking. Think of a road bike but with treaded tires, like a gravel bike. The races are spectator-friendly, consisting of numerous laps of a course that encourages racers to hop off their bikes and carry them up and down obstacles.

害羞草研究所淭hrowing your bike on your shoulder and running up hills, makes it more exciting than your typical road race,害羞草研究所� Gaucher explained. 害羞草研究所淲e like to call it steeplechase but for bikes.害羞草研究所�

It is one of the few sports where bad weather is encouraged, as Gaucher mentioned the wet, muddy atmosphere elicits falls and tumbles.

害羞草研究所淭his being a carry on from the summer road season, we anticipate that conditions will get a little bit sloppy, cold and rainy, although we haven害羞草研究所檛 had a lot of cooperation from the weather in that respect.害羞草研究所�

Despite an influx of bike purchases since the pandemic, it has been a struggle to maintain and increase participation in the sport, something that has baffled Gaucher.

害羞草研究所淲e are having disproportionate difficulties in the Interior, as the coast, Alberta, and Ontario are not having the same participation problems, which we are hoping to change.害羞草研究所�

There are three more races on the CX calendar in the Interior. Sunday, Oct. 22, racers will be at Mariposa Park in Penticton, and the following week is a doubleheader of action, at Knox Mountain in Kelowna on Saturday and Sunday, Oct 28 and 29.

害羞草研究所淔or people who are new to the sport or don害羞草研究所檛 have a compatible bike, you are still open to race, in the open and youth categories,害羞草研究所� Gaucher said. 害羞草研究所淣o one is taking it super duper serious and no one is going to be shamed for not having the newest and coolest bike so its a great sport to try for beginners.害羞草研究所�

More information can be found at .

Below is a list of the podium placers at The Burn, where 38 racers took part:

Open Category

Andres Jaramillo (first), JP Viljoen (second), Mike Pearson (third).

U13 Men

Mattie Lane (first), Killian Russell (second).

U13 Women

Grace Szabadi (first), Holly Szabadi (second).

U15 Women

Emily Lane (first).

U17 Women

Brooke Bates (first).

Masters Women

Lina Augaitis (first), Helena Coney (second), Marta Green (third).

Single Speed Men

Chris Angermann (first), Joe Wessel (second), Brad Denison (third).

Intermediate Men

Michael Rullkotter (first), Eric Deare (second), Chris Angermann (third).

Masters Men

Aaron Weiss (first), Jamie Sprules (second), Alex Lane (third).

Elite Women

Helena Coney (first), Kira McClellan (second).

Elite Men

Aidan Oliphant (first), Tyson Green (second).

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