Dwayne Kress is the Sp’akw’us events organizer.
On Feb. 2, Mr. Bob Cheema, owner of the District Lot #509 & #510 or Cheema Lands, issued a letter to our local community newspaper noting he would be limiting public access to his lands. More recently fence posts have been erected, indicating that the property will soon be off limits to the public.
This follows the District of Squamish’s growth management in the OCP as reported by the Squamish Chief dated Jan.25.
Any event that utilizes this land is impacted as event approval permit and insurance requires formal permission for land access, from the land owner.
Since Sp’akw’us events are impacted by the closure of this parcel of land it is important that our organization lends a voice to this evolving situation to provide assurance to our current and future event participants.
Over the last two decades, Squamish has developed into an internationally recognized mountain bike destination. This has been achieved through a network of great volunteers, numerous user groups and the positive partnerships that have developed with many Squamish businesses.
The Sp’akw’us organizing committee continues to be thankful to those who have worked with us and continue to assist us in providing top quality events for our community.
We truly believe that our community’s greatest characteristics are developed and nurtured through progressive partnerships that allow for input and contribution from all stakeholders. However, as grateful as we are for Cheema’s generosity of land access over the last 20-years, the Sp’akw’us organizing committee has initiated steps to ensure trail connectivity for our event outside of the affected property area.
We will continue to work with community stakeholders in a progressive and cooperative manner to create alternative trail connections where needed.
We are continually grateful to those who work to provide quality community events and the support provided by this community through leadership, volunteer work, and community spirit.
In only its second year, the Sp’akw’us event has expanded to include two additional events over a 2-day weekend running June 16 to 17.
The Sp’akw’us 50 Marathon Mountain Bike Race started as a one-day race on June 17th, 2017, following in the footsteps of the Test of Metal which finished its final run in 2016 after 21 years of good times.
The upcoming 2017 Sp’akw’us event includes the original Sp’akw’us 50, set to run on June 16th, 2018 followed by the Sp’akw’us 35 which will run on Sunday, June 17th, 2018.
As well, the Sp’akw’us Challenge combines both individual events into a two-day, staged event.
