Avid Toonie racing mountain bikers take note: get your required four hours of trail maintenance this weekend or risk voiding your overall standings.
This Sunday (Aug. 22) is the last Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA) trail building day, which means it's the last chance to get in those four hours of trail building needed to get the "volly points" that make overall standings eligible.
"We try to get as many people involved in mountain biking as possible out to volunteer," said SORCA volunteer co-ordinator Barry Wood. "We're run by volunteers and if more people help out there's not a huge burden put on a few."
This is the first year SORCA has made it mandatory for Toonie race competitors competing for overall standings to put in their fair share of volunteer work as well.
"Traditionally people that are serious about racing in the Toonie races and the Hell of a Series races don't tend to do any trail work, so we want to try to get those kind of people out helping on the trails," said Wood.
"So this year, for the first time, in order to be eligible for points and the trophies at the end, they have to show up to one trail day, which is usually about four hours."
He said it's been working well, and most people actually enjoy themselves in the end.
"We let everyone know from the very beginning that that was the case, and we've had a lot of new faces that we know from racing but don't know from doing trail work," said Wood. "Most of those guys and girls have been happy and actually had a good time working out on the trails."
Each year there are hundreds of volunteers who spend hours maintaining the trails and breaking new ones. To thank them for their hours and dedication, SORCA throws an end of season volunteer party.
"We get a bunch of prizes donated by local businesses and we have a volunteer party to show our appreciation for them," said Wood. "So this is the last chance this year for them to volunteer and get their names on the list to come to the volunteer party and be eligible for great prizes and a good time."
Organizers have had about 10 trail building days throughout the summer and turnout has been decent.
"Average turnout is 15 to 20 - then again sometimes we'll get 50 people, and sometimes we'll get five. The start of the year they tend to be busy and then summertime everyone gets busy."
Barry McLane is responsible for SORCA downhill trail maintenance and he will be running the show on Sunday. The focus point is re-establishing a trail connection between the S&M Connector and Meet Your Maker.
"It's a trail part that's been a long time coming," said McLane.
Volunteers should meet at 9 a.m. in Valleycliffe at the Westway Avenue and Cherry Drive intersection. SORCA sponsor Bean Around the World coffee shop will provide coffee to get everyone going.
Bring some gloves, water and any bush clipping and earth grubbing tools (hoes, pulaskis, maddocks) possible.
