The SCOTT Thursday Night Race Series made their 2015 debut on Thursday, July 2, inviting riders to take part in fun downhill mountain bike races at Fernie Alpine Resort (FAR).
Simone Bourassa and Darcy Neniska took top spots in the adult female and male categories respectively. Neniska finished with the overall fastest time, shooting across the finish line at two hours and 10 minutes. Bourassa’s top time for the ladies was two hours and 38 minutes.
Now in its thirteenth season, organizer Karen Pepper said that the series is a “fun, yet competitive, gravity-fed race series ... [that’s] a super fun evening for all ages.”
The opening race for the season had an excellent turn out, according to Pepper, with 41 competitors in five categories ranging in age from eight to 55.
Weekly draw prizes from sponsors SCOTT and Fox as well as a post-race social at Kelsey’s Restaurant followed the event.
Winners in the junior categories were Jacob Rosenegger in the kids male category (ages 8-12), JJ Goodison in the youth male division (ages 13-17) and Derek Bird who clocked in at two hours and 16 seconds for the 40+ group.
The course will vary every week. Entry is $5 and participants can register at the Adventure Centre by 6:30 p.m. on race day.
The Thursday night series sets bikers down FAR’s trails every week at 7 p.m.
An overall series champion will be crowned at the end of the summer once points are tallied from each race.