In 2016 the Singletrack 6 (ST6) mountain bike race will be coming to Fernie for two stages on July 23 and 24. The ST6 is the recreation and rebranding of the TransRockies Challenge, an event that Fernie hosted for 12 consecutive years and deserves some credit for placing Fernie on the world mountain bike stage.
The ST6 is a 6-day adventure showcasing the best riding in a variety of mountain bike communities. The first ST6 toured the Northern Rockies with stages in Canmore, Invermere, Golden and Revelstoke. This past summer the ST6 visited Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton. The 2016 ST6 will leave Fernie and continue on in the Kootenays with stages in Cranbrook, Kimberley and will finish in Golden.
The Fernie TransRockies Society (FTS) will be helping organize Fernie’s involvement in the ST6. The FTS was formed in 2002 to support Fernie’s involvement with the TransRockies Challenge. The FTS is a group of local riders whose goal is to help develop Fernie’s destination mountain biking. They achieve this by hosting events that raise monies to support trial maintenance and development, develop local racers and inspire youth, and promote Fernie as mountain biking destination. “It’s great to have the ST6 coming to Fernie, the event brings international riders and a high caliber of racing,” said Dan Savage, FTS Director.
The FTS also organizes the Fernie 3, an all-mountain three-day classic mountain bike stage race. This year’s Fernie 3 is being held on the Canada Day weekend. The Fernie 3 organizers work to offer events for all riders including a one-day option, U16 and the Kids’ Bike Rally for U9. In 2015 the Fernie 3 raised $8000 for trails.
The FTS looks forward to working with the events supporters and community stakeholders in coming months to help make these events a success for everyone.