This year on September 6 will be the 5th annual Tears & Gears event. It is a well organized, well run event that showcases the beautiful trails in the Fernie area.
It is organized by two local women, Abi Moore and Krista Turcasso, who are both not strangers to competition. It is an event largely supported by locals as well, seven per cent, ranging from fierce solo and team competitors to the not so fierce.
My purpose for this letter is to send out a plea to those who take great pride in pulling down course flagging and harassing participants. Please stop!
Your shenanigans have caused several paying participants to be disqualified because they went off course. You have caused great embarrassment to the organizers and volunteers when the course is deemed, ‘not clearly marked’.
Much time is put into clearly planning and marking the courses so that riders are safe and so they have fun. Disregard to this time and effort is unnecessary and childish.
We are quite fortunate to have such hard working volunteers and paid trail builders that carve out and maintain these beautiful trails every year. The least we could do is share them with grace.
Nicole Bush
Fernie, BC