Words By Stotts.
Every couple of years Tony Horn, a Race
Director for WORCA(Whistler Off Road Cycling Association), puts on an event to
try and find the best all-around mountain biker. The last event was 2 years ago it was the 4
Queens. One of the Previous events was the 2006 Samurai of Singletrack, it started by riding over the peak of
Whistler and descending to the valley through 50 cm of snow. The stuff of legends.
So
when he 4 Kings was announced, it was a good goal to see if I, and my bike, could handle it. First, I had to get an entry, I sat by the computer and was lucky to get
in. The event sold out in 17 min for a
total of 150 spots, for the cost of one Mackenzie King.
The first stage was the Dub in the Dark TT,
a 14.5 km time trail around Lost Lake Trails, at night. It was awesome. There is something so incredible about riding
at night on technical trails that has to be experienced.
At the finishing
gate.
I finished about 111 in the GC on the day, not bad for an out of
towner.
Requiste yarn bomb while having breakfast
Full face Helmet ready for the Elvis, All shook up DH. Gone Bakery kept me fed over the weekend.
I took 2 practice runs in the bike park
prior to my race. It was needed and I was rusty with my landings.
After scooting my way down Schleyer-Lower
Whistler dh- Detroit Rock City, my run landed me in 114th on the GC
not very styling.
It was time to rest before the afternoon
Enduro Stage
Then it was up to the Red Gate for the
start of the Yummy 500. 150 people to be
timed, in groups of 10, via GPS on an up and down segment of the course.
Foreplay was the supposed reward, but I had
a bad line choice on one of the rock rolls like this one. I was rewarded with a torn rear tire casing
and a last place in my group. (Oh the
rider isn’t me BTW)
My reward for fixing my tire, but I should
have checked my brake pads, more on that later.
So onward and upward for the last
stage. King Kong, a 48 km epic though
the best and hardest trails in Whistler. The plan: Gondola to the Roundhouse,
ride over the peak down to the valley, up and down the Westside trails 3 times
and travel the length of Whistler to get to the beer in one piece
As stated earlier the last time Tony had a
race go over the peak it was snowing.
2006 Samurai
Better weather but the peak was cloudy.
Tony(the organizer) giving a pre race
briefing, and thanks to the racers and Trail Builders.
We all carried a flower to the trail
Business Time, and a tribute to Whistler Local Duncan McKenzie.
I became preoccupied with my own issues
when I reached the top of the Peak and realized that my front brake pads were
glazed over and near useless. After
descending to the valley below with only a rear brake, I was considering quitting
the race. But with a lot of climbing
ahead I made the best of it, and was rewarded.
At the top of Section 4, a gnarly descent in the trees, a course marshal
offered the pads off of his bike and I was excited to rip all the way to the
finish. 48km in 7hours, lot of the best and most technical trails I
have ever rode in my life.
Bikes and riders enjoying the after effects
of a good day out, and a well-deserved beer.
The gelato and beef brisket flowed like water, as well as the Phillips
beers.
I was done, and feeling like a king after
having a full on beat down with my bike all day.
If the 4 Aces ever comes around, I will be
there. One race for ages, and truly an epic
weekend.
