An international ensemble of extreme speed demons are chomping at the bit to take a ride very few would dare imagine.
Longboard riders will reach top speeds of 100 km per hour while manoeuvring tight hairpin turns down a 3.5 km stretch of paved road in Britannia Beach at the 2010 Gold Rush Challenge on Saturday May 29 to 30.
About 150 international longboarders will compete for the bragging rights of racing down one of North America's most aggressive downhill races and a cash prize.
Racers from the Philippines, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Scandinavia and across Europe have already registered to zip down Copper Drive, during the two-day event.
"There's international competitors that come to B.C. just the same way they come to ski here of to downhill mountain bike here, they come to downhill skateboard here," said Gold Rush Challenge organizer and longboard racer Lee Cation.
The course, identical to last year's track, features a 1,000-ft. vertical over 3.5 km and five corners including three massive hairpins.
Salt Spring Island longboarder Adrian English competed on the same course last year and said it was "crazy."
"You really have to think about the corner and your braking technique in the corner because there's no way you're making it though at 80 or 95 km per hour. It's really a topnotch track - world class stuff," he said.
"It's a crazy course."
Cation said all longboard courses should meet certain requirements and Britannia Beach certainly does.
"The criteria for these roads we seeks out would be average or above average pavement would be ideal, steep grade, good tight hairpin corners, no stop signs or stop lights, no high traffic," said Cation.
"We can stop in a hurry, but we want to keep going. At the end of the day, most of our participants, the ones that excel at this level are really alpine people. They really just like to spend their time on the mountain, just the same way a hiker, snowboarder or skier would, so a beautiful setting is also the last criteria."
Racers will compete in four-person heats in four categories, open, women's, junior (under 16 years old) and over 30 with the winner of the open category walking away with a $1,000 cash prize. The remaining $1,000 is divided amongst the remaining podium finishers.
"I know how it went last year, I'm not quite sure how we'll do it this year but there's $2,000 in cash for the top performers."
The 2010 event has grown in size since last year's event only hosted 100 racers, but Cation insists the growth is controlled.
"We wanted to make sure its very controlled and that we're respectful of the town of Britannia Beach and that's really what's number one," said the Vancouverite.
Cation perceives the race as a win-win situation for everyone involved; longboarders get to race an exquisite course while the community of Britannia Beach gets some business and a better reputation.
"Britannia has a bit of a scar on its reputation with the mining activity and some of the subsequent mining pollution, and that's how people think of Britannia. I want to help change that and bring a little bit to Britannia because they're in Squamish's shadow, in Whistler's shadow. They want to have something that's there own and unique and take advantage of what's there that's not being used."
Much of the course follows Copper Drive which Cation says is an "underutilized" road built to accommodate future homes up atop the mountain.
With a $200 registration fee, racers will receive breakfast and dinner on Saturday and Sunday as well as a night's stay at a local campsite.
Cation said any remaining funds would be used for next year's Gold Rush Challenge.
The Gold Rush Challenge kicks off on Saturday May 29. Spectators park their vehicles at no charge and enjoy the competition free of charge. A free shuttle bus will be available throughout the day, allowing for spectators to enjoy the full length of the racecourse.
For information on the race or to register for the competition visit www.goldrushchallenge.ca.
Registration closes Friday April 30.
