Jane Emerick
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For Neal Kindree, it was the "biggest win" of his life and to his sister, Meghan, it was a win that was six years in the making. The local siblings took the top spots in the 2006 Test of Metal and both are grateful for their community's support.
"It's Christmas for me. I have been dying to win since grade 6," said Neal, 19, after being the first man across the line on Saturday. "It couldn't be better. The people cheering were unbelievable"
Ranked second overall in the Canada Cup Series and first overall in the Provincial cross-country mountain bike rankings, Kindree said his recent victory was the most memorable.
"For me it was the biggest race I have ever won," he said. "I was confident I could take it but [second place winner Seamus McGrath] is a stronger rider than me. In any other circumstances he would win."
Neal credits his victory on Saturday to staying calm and focusing on the top prize, not the money.
"Last year, I was too excited and I went out too fast and I didn't have anything left for the big climb. This year I made the decision to not worry about the [10 primes on the course awarded to the fastest man and woman at specific points on the course], and to do as little work as possible," he said. "I drafted [McGrath] for all of the flats and [down] hills. Going up Nine Mile [Hill] I was hurting. [McGrath] was trying to get rid of me but it didn't work."
Kindree made his move coming out on to Plateau Drive in Valleycliffe and held it to the finish.
"Coming out of Endo he had 50 feet on me and so on the Plateau I just hammered," he said. "[McGrath] went out the back door and I floored it to the finish."
Meghan Kindree, 21, was also trailing the women's leader but made her move earlier, half way up Nine Mile Hill, on a climbing section called Bonk Hill.
"[Ann Yew] was two minutes ahead of me at the first feeding station but I caught up on Bonk Hill," she said. "I had no idea how far back anyone was so I went hard to the finish."
Meghan said her victory was unexpected.
"Six years ago I didn't know I would be racing a mountain bike let alone winning the Test of Metal," she said. "It is really amazing, I wasn't expecting it. I knew how fast I could go but I didn't know how fast other people could go."
Paul Kindree is the father and primary coach of the sibling champions. He said neither of his children have natural talent as cyclists but have made up for it with hard work.
"They have tremendous determination, incredible work ethic and they set realistic goals," he said. "They work really hard at what they do and that is where their success lies."
He also said the community has played a large role in his daughter and son's mountain biking careers something he thought was evident at the Test of Metal.
"The event has unparallel community support. I have been to a lot of races and there is nothing like the Test, this is one of the races where the kids wanted to do really well," he said. "I think a part of their success is the community support for recreation in particularly mountain biking.
"With SORCA, the Toonie races, GearJammer, Test of Metal, and the high schools. There is a legacy of riding in the community and I think there are a lot of future champions coming up the ranks. Without this fabulous infrastructure [Meghan and Neal] wouldn't be doing as well as they're doing."
Next week, Neal Kindree will be travelling to Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec, for a world cup race. He and Meghan will both be competing at the Tim Horton's National Mountain Bike Championships in July at Sun Peaks near Kamloops.Each of the successful athletes had many people to thank.
"There are several local companies who give me a lot of support. Both bike shops, Team Squamish, Tim Horton's, Carney's Waste Systems, Kona [bikes] and Jude Goodwin at Goodwin Studios," said Neal.
"It's amazing. There's so much support in the race it's something you can't describe," said Meghan. "I would like to thank Rocky Mountain Business Objects, Team Squamish, which is very helpful and amazing, all the volunteers and locals out cheering, my parents who are so supportive of everything, Ryan Edwards for teaching me how to do downhill because I got a lot faster this year and thank-you to Brenny for feeding me."
