07/08/2013
We took our tour across the border into Canada this weekend, to a place called Squamish, half way between Vancouver and Whistler.
Undoubtedly a very beautiful place, with snow covered mountains every direction you looked.
It was surreal swimming in a lake and seeing your surrounds every time you took a breath, or riding on a course that felt like a basin surrounded by alps, then running on a trail through a variety of terrain.
All in all, a very nice place.
However, the race did have a few technical corners on the bike, which the commentators and officials warned competitors about on more than a dozen occasions.
This did not stop Richard Pearson from over-cooking a corner and face planting into the undergrowth on the side of the road whilst in the race lead.
He led out of the water, with a handful of Canadian professionals on his heels, and team-mate Reece Edwards also in the mix.
On the first testing corner, Richard went down, but bounced back on his bike to maintain his lead for the remainder of the race and take the win. In doing so he set a new bike course record, on the way to a new race record.
For his troubles he collected some scabs on his face, and a cheque for $500 Canadian dollars.
Reece and the local hotshot and race favourite went head to head on the bike course, fighting for second place.
As soon as the runners went on it was all over, with Reece putting the hammer down and running away to a $300 prize and a new run course record in the process.
All in all it was a good location, a good race, an enjoyable weekend, and well worth the 60min wait to get across the border into Canada.
Andrew also had an OK race, winning his age group, but also getting "chicked" by the lead female competitor.
The boys will put up some pics when they get the opportunity over the next few day.