September 20, 2008 – As I rolled into Camp Fortune on Friday, September 12 for the 2008 Cycle Solutions Ontario O-Cup DH Provincial Championhips presented by Commencal I wasn’t sure what to expect. The weather was all over the map, hurricane Ike was bearing down on us and a brand new upper and mid section had been created for our provincial championship course.

As my staff and other awesome helpers walked up the course, smiles were everywhere from ear to ear. Tons of perfectly built berms were scattered everywhere, this was going to be a flowy, fast and hold on race.

For the most part the rain held off and allowed the course to take up a little moisture at night but nothing that turned it into a bog. By Sunday’s race day we had a bit of sun peaking through and the race course was primed!

In the always huge Senior Sport category we had a sweet battle with the two Steve’s only 6/10th’s off each other – the battle saw Steven Crown in 3rd as 2nd place went to Steven Vaillancourt, while Patrick took first by a whooping nine seconds!

1. Patrick Bachand (Quebec) 2:27.125
2. Steven Vaillancourt (Gearhead MTB, Renfrew) 2:36.061
3. Steven Crown 2:36.677

Junior Expert is always a great race to watch, especially with a number of riders moving up a category for 2009. Some of Quebec’s finest decided to come out and see if they could steal a win. But it wasn’t to be as Maxime (FH Racing) pulled in a 3rd, Jame Jeannet a solid 2nd and Rob Fraser (poisonfrog.ca) pulled out yet another victory securing the overall series as well.

1. Rob Fraser (Poisonfrog.ca Pickering) 2:18.926
2. James Jeannet (Pointe Claire, QC) 2:19.247
3. Maxime Fortin Faubert (FH Racing Quebec) 2:21.850

The ladies took the stage with a good field. Would Kristen or Anne be able to steal the thorny crown from La Reine Sheila, nooo…! It wasn’t to be – Morris decimated the field. Anne took 3rd, Kristen Courtney (poisonfrog.ca) a solid 2nd and yes Sheila Morris (Cycle Solutions) won by almost 23 seconds!!

1. Sheila Morris (Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny’s Racing) 2:45.086
2. Kristen Courtney (Poisonfrog.ca Brantford) 3:08.547
3. Anne Laplante (Gatineau, QC) 3:11.892

It was all down to the men’s elite, with Drew Pautler in Austria racing the world cup, a few people had their eyes on the prize. With some top pros returning from summer in Whistler and Quebec’s top three pro men racers, it was anybody’s to grab. But it was Canada Cup Superstar Justin Brown who would pull it out in the end. Zach Tatem (Trek Bike Store) had a great 5th, Josh DeCloet (Commencal) fresh from Whistler pulled in a 4th, Matt Zdriluk (poisonfrog.ca) also back from Whistler took bronze, it was Benoit Rioux fresh off a 3rd at QC provincials who secured the silver. But Downtown Justin Brown squeezed another 2/10ths out of the clock for the big fat Gold around his neck

1. Justin Brown (Brampton) 2:14.451
2. Beniot Rioux (Quebec 2:14.620
3. Matt Zdriluk (Poisonfrog.ca Beamsville) 2:16.338
4. Josh DeCloet (Commencal Turkey Point) 2:18.202
5. Zachary Tatem (Trek Bicycle Store Team Toronto) 2:18.251

Awards ceremony saw possibly the best ever contest for a 2008 Norco 250 frame. After about 30 people did a running race up the hill and back to determine the first five back. These unsuspecting top 5 had to pick a partner. Once the partner was picked, they were told what the final contest was…. it was a whip cream licking contest off your best buddies (or moms in one case) sweat and mud stained stomach. Patrick Bachand licked his best friend clean for the frame!

This season was amazing, we broke attendance records, build awesome new race courses, had our own fireworks display in the parking lots and most of all over 450 different people raced DH or 4X this year, more than any other season ever!!!!

Thanks to all the volunteers, marshals, and participants for making this what the O-Cup scene is all about – awesome times and great competition! I can’t wait until 2009, it’s going to be a sweet, sweet season.

We can’t thank enough our amazing support staff, Lee Allen, Kris Somers (MC/DJ), Allan Hawley and his timing staff, First aid Pro Patrol and staff and of course the amazing volunteers and sponsors: Cycle-Solutions.com Bike Store, Commencal Bikes, Norco Performance Bikes, Kenda Tires, Titec Components, Ontario Cycling Association, Dropmachine.com, Privateer Racing, To Wheels, Industry Bike park, Harvey’s , FUNN, Gamut, Trident and CIBC.

For all results and Ontario Cup DH/4X racing info go to www.sirbikealotracing.com