March 19, 2008 – What better way to spend your Easter Sunday than ripping up the forest trails of Vancouver Island? Come on out this coming Sunday March 23rd for the first DH of the 2008 season.

Racing on Vancouver Island is underway and this Easter Sunday, the DH scene heats up with the newest race course in Nanaimo host to DH #1. Roller Coaster is the trail, located in the Mount Benson area, this downhill course should provide some great riding. The 5 minute rolling course is almost completely loamy singletrack. Mud holes are happily absent as are intense pedalling sections. The course lends to all riders with no excessive steeps or jumps, but natural berms and off camber logs and roots will keep you on your toes.

The top of the road still has about 1 foot of snow so shuttle trucks will leave with a short walk to the start of the course.

For those of you wishing to pre-ride the course, Island Timberlands limits access past the yellow gate on Nanaimo Lakes Rd. Parking near the gate will be your access before sunday leaving about a 30-45 minute hike to the start depending on how heavy your bike is. No pre-race shuttles are permitted. On Sunday, access will be through the gate and up the road 1km to the gravel pit, location for registration and the shuttle pickup.

Racers this season must be a GRMBA licensed member. This can be paid for through their home club, on race day at registration, or occasional racers can pay $10 for a 1 day race license at the event.

There will be three categories, beginner, intermediate and expert. All beginner category racers will race for free, but must pay for either a GRMBA club license or 1 day event license. There will be prizes for the winners of the expert and intermediate races. Race fees are $20 and shuttles are $5. Shuttles start at 9am and registration at 10am. Racing fires off at 12 noon.

The next DH race is Hammerfest in Parksville on Sunday May 4th, and the first XC race runs in Port Alberni on April 6th.

For more information contact Arrowsmith Bikes in Nanaimo www.arrowsmithbikesnan.com and be sure to check out www.islandcupseries.com for Race Results, Forums, Photo Galleries, Maps and more.

This year’s Island Cup is brought to you by:

– Arrowsmith Bikes Nanaimo & Parksville,
– Arrowsmith Mountain Bike Club,
– Dodge City Cycles,
– Experience Cycling Duncan,
– Riders Cycles,
– Riding Fool Hostel,
– Rumblefest,
– Ozzie’s Cycles,
– United Riders of Cumberland,
– River City Cycle Club,
– Comox Valley Mountain Biking.com
– Grass Roots Mountain Bike Association