January 23, 2007 – This week, race organizers released the details for the North Shore Credit Union Pre-Test mountain bike event, which will be held on June 9, 2007 in Squamish.

“The Pre-Test is the natural evolution of last year’s Teen Test event,” said Race Director Jim Douglas, “with the same mass start excitement that the Test of Metal is famous for.”

The race will combine the Teen Test on a short course starting in Brackendale, while the adults hammer through an approximately 40km course.

With first place in each adult Pre-Test category securing an entry into the 2007 Test of Metal, the race will offer an opportunity for all the disappointed TOM racers unable to register before the record 48 minute sellout of the race to participate in the main event on June 16.

Second place in the adult cats will earn a spot in the 2007 Gearjammer and third place gets an entry to the new Grass Roots Mountain Bike Association (GRMBA) championship to be held in Squamish this September.
The top three placers in each youth category will earn trophies and medals.

“A new category will be added for those kids who would like to race with an adult and show them up,” said Douglas. A “Mud Buddy” category of a youth 12 to 14 and an adult must race together and cross the finish line together.

The Pre-Test will be limited to 250 racers and organizers are anticipating this event selling out.

Adults categories for the long course will be the same as the Test of Metal:

– Under 20 male/female
– 20-29 Male/Female
– 30-34 Male/Female
– 35-39 Male/Female
– 40-44 Male/Female
– 45-49 Male/Female
– 50+ Male/Female
– Elite Male/Female
– Youth categories on the shorter course are as follows:
– 12-13 male/female
– 14-15 male/female
– 16-17 male/female
– Mud Buddies (one youth 12 to 14 with one adult)

Youth racers, apart from the Mud Buddies, pay $25.00, the cost for Adult and Mud Buddy teams is $35.00 which includes event insurances charges.

Registration opens February 1 at www.testofmetal.com. Check the website often for updates.