The GK Ripper is back and greener than ever with this year's golf tournament fundraiser on Sunday, Sept. 23. And with only 10 teams left to fill the roster, would-be participants are encouraged tosign up before it sells out.
GK Ripper celebrates its seventh annual event, and its second year as a golf tournament and video premier, having switched-up from its original mountain biking backdrop.
Organizers this year expect to push their total funds raised to date to around $60,000.
The event's namesake, Graham Kuerbis, said every year to date organizers have chosen an "unfortunate fortunate" recipient for the $8,000 to $10,000 raised -a local athlete who suffered an injury rendering him or her wheelchair-bound.
He himself was the initial recipient seven years ago after Alan Ross of Tantalus Bike Shop organized a fundraiser when a cycling accident caused Kuerbis to become partially paralyzed.
Kuerbis said he's thankful to announce there are no "unfortunate fortunates" this year, so organizers have decided to apply funds to help wheelchair access within the district.
The golf tournament will invite 36 teams for a fun round of golf that will include prizes on par threes for those who bet on dropping their ball onto the green from the tee, followed by dinner and drinks, all for $65.
The decision to switch to golf seems a success with almost all teams already signed up. Kuerbis said a core group of supporters and the event's growing popularity led to the decision to switch venues.
"We wanted to have a lot of people involved," he said.
But mountain biking is still a major part of the event.
"We're not counting out another bike race," said Kuerbis.
Participants and the entire community are also invited to a second GK Ripper fundraising event, a premier showing of the newest film in the mountain bike series, New World Disorder VIII Smackdown, on Oct. 6.
The Howe Sound Inn will host back-to-back screenings starting with an all ages show at the Garibaldi Room followed by a screening for adults only in the Brew Pub.
Tickets for the film go on sale Sept. 23. To sign up to the golf tournament, call Tantalus Bike Shop at 604-898-2588.
