Jane Emerick
Special to the Chief
The 2006 Team Squamish riders have been announced and the group is poised to follow the success established last year. "We're trying to build on last year's accomplishments," said head coach, Paul Kindree. "About two-thirds of the team are returning members, the rest are new."
Last year, Team Squamish dominated provincial cycling events with more than 40 podium finishes. The team was also represented at the Canada Summer Games and the Pan-American Games.
Despite the team's success in 2005, Kindree, who considers the accomplishments of the team more important than individual's results, said the focus would remain on creating a positive experience for team members.
"As always, our goals this year include helping the kids become better cyclists and better racers. If they win some medals, that's great, but our primary focus is to see that they have some fun," he said.
The 27-member squad is made of local athletes ranging in age from 13 to 23. Kindree said apart from the coaching team members receive from himself, Pat Cairns and local bike shop owners Dave Heisler and Al Ross, the older athletes also act as role-models to the younger ones, providing effective mentorship.
The team unanimously chose Ryan Edwards as this year's team captain.
"It's a great honour," said Edwards, 23. "I looking forward to competing this year and also to mentoring some of the younger ridersKindree said the concept of involving both Corsa and Tantalus bike shops is different from most cycling teams because they are usually backed by one shop.
"I saw the opportunity to create something that was unique to Squamish," he said. "I pitched them on the idea of having a united team and they went for it."
This year Kindree relinquished his position as Team Squamish chair to concentrate on coaching, and life-long Squamish resident Armand Hurford stepped into the chair position.
"I'm excited about the prospect of working with these guys," said Hurford. "I wish that when I was a young rider I had had an opportunity like this."
Team Squamish is grateful to the Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA), the Squamish Trail Society and the District of Squamish for their support, as well as Greg Gardner GM, their anchor sponsor.
Kindree said the team will start training immediately in road biking, cross-country, and downhill biking, working on general fitness and "key performance factors" to help with the peak of the racing season between May and September.
He said the strong mountain biking community in Squamish is a reflection of the area we live in.
"I think we are incredibly fortunate to walk out the door and be connected with a network of trails north and south and a lot of young riders are testing themselves on these trails," he said.
"It is so easy to get on a bike and have fun."
Team Squamish 2006 includes many names seen in 2005 and a few notable additions. They are: Ryan Edwards, Neal Kindree, Kyle Ritchie, Meghan Kindree, Phillip Cairns, Miranda Millar, Molly Patterson, Michel Demers, Michael Mee, Lauren Hughes, Kyle Salter, Kyle Quesnel, Kyla Valleau, Kody Stoddart, Jordon Drinovz, Johnathan Aubry, Jeremy Allouche, Jaclyn McClements, Hayden Drygas, Harrison Gould, Gavin Arnott, Eden Imbeau, Danielle Dornik, Daniel MacKellar, Alison McClements, Aislinn Merkel and Tyler Ambrose.
