Mind Over Mountain Adventure Racing

The thing about adventure racing is that you really never know who’s going to win. The fastest and most experienced racers can make a mistakes anywhere on the course that could cost them the race. This is what happened to a few of Canada’s best racers at last Saturday’s Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race in Sechelt.

Racers prepared for the start of the inaugral MOMAR in Sechelt. Look at all the SRS Wing Blade Paddles! (Photo by Paul German)

A total of 140 racers coming from as far as Ontario, Oregon, and Washington State participated in the gueling 45 km multi-sport race that had racers kayak, mountain bike, and trek in the area of Sechelt Inlet. The field was the most competitive that that MOMAR has ever seen. All of the top racers were there to give it a go.

Stuck in the mud at Snake Bay. (Photo by Bryan Tasaka)

The race started with a 7km kayak from Porpoise Bay Provincial Park to Snake Bay’s mudflats. The tide was low and racers had to move swiftly or their feet would sink fast into the mud. The next stage was a 10km trek that required racers to find four control points in any order. Dave Norona, one of Canada’s best adventure racers and multiple MOMAR champion, was the first to finish the kayak, but a serious navigational mistake on the trek put him back 10 spots.

“I was going down these steep gullies and bushwacking through some crazy stuff” says Norona. “When I came out onto the road I saw Annie (Kvick) and Team Frontrunners and I knew I had lost my lead.”

Racers trek through a recent cutblock on their way to CP 3. (Photo by Paul German)

Norona’s error put a group of racers including Team Helly Hansen 1 (Denis Fontaine and Cheryl Beatty), the local Team Alpha Adventures and solo racer Normon Thibault in the lead pack. Thibault lead this pack but on his way back to the kayak, but he made a wrong turn heading back to the kayak at CP 8 and this error cost him at least five minutes.

One of the first mystery events required racers to pick up two pieces of garbage around the Snake Bay area. There were a few interesting items returned and one bag of garbage was filled up. Aimee Dunn and Kirsta Powell pose with trash. (Photo by Bryan Tasaka)

The wind was picking up in the Sechelt Inlet which made for a tough paddle back to Porpoise Bay. “Because of the wind, the paddle stage was the longest we have ever had in a MOMAR race” says Race Director, Bryan Tasaka, "luckily the Halfmoon Bay Coast Guard Auxiliary and a few local volunteer boaters were on hand to provide water safety."

A 20 km mountain bike stage was next. This stage had racers riding the infamous Slick Rock and Jeckyll and Hyde trails. Racers had to climb over 900m for the day. Team Helly Hansen 1, Dave Howells, and Team Alpha Adventures were the first three teams at the bike transition area. However, Thibault and Norona were battling back hard and Thibault took the lead on the climb with Norona right behind him.

Frontrunners' Normon Thibault hammering the bike stage. (Photo by Paul German)

Thibault made a wrong turn heading to Checkpoint 13 and Norona rode right past it too. Both racers had to back track to get the checkpoint but surprisingly they held onto the lead. The final stage of the course had racers flying down Dusty Road (Thibault reported his top speed at 81km/hr) and turning into the campsite for a final 300 metre run to the finish.

Thibault was the first racer into the campsite but instead of stopping and dropping his bike, he continued to ride right past the volunteer course marshal. Apparently, he thought she said ‘go straight’ instead of ‘stop’ and this cost him the race. Norona was right on his tail but he was able to stop and make the right turn into the campsite for the final run to the finish line and capture his sixth MOMAR overall title. Oh the DRAMA!

It was one of the most exciting finishes the MOMAR has seen. Usually the top racers are really spread out coming into the finish line but this time they all came in within minutes of each other. Thibault had the race pretty much wrapped up and his one mistake at the end was costly – but that’s adventure racing for you.

Coed 2 winners: (L-R) 2nd Bryan's Cousin; 1st Team Helly Hansen; 3rd Where's the Bear. (Photo by Caroline Depatie)

Team Helly Hansen 1 was the first team to cross the line followed by Team Alpha Adventures. Annie Kvick captured another solo female title. Team Frontrunners (Stefan Jakobson and John Loewen) won the team of two male. Swift and Sexy (Kimberly George and Karla Gallagher) won the team of two female. Team Helly Hansen 2 was the fastest team of four coed and Team 8 Boobs in a Boat was the top team of four female.

The Sunshine Coast was well represented by Team Alpha Adventures and Sechlet’s Malcolm Bryson and Brian Fornier who raced solo placing 7th and 8th respectively in their category. Halfmoon Bay was represnted by Team Where’s Dave (Marilyn Downey, Lorina Bates, Dave Bates, and Dan Horn).

Jake McGillivary won the Spirit Award for dressing up in a SuperJake outfit and wearing red underwear (on the outside). Honerable mention goes to Girls in the Hood for their rendition of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, and to the Dirt Divas. Jake won a paddle tour for two with Alpha Adventures (the company not the team...). (Photos by Paul German)

The race finished at the newly developed Bayside Campground where As You Like it Catering put on a great gourmet banquet salmon BBQ for all the racers and volunteers. We gave out awards and tons of draw prizes and Roddy and Jarom played one great set after another. Not even the heavy rain could put a damper on the MOMAR afterparty! The photos below tell just a part of the story. Additional evening highlights included Norona drinking 3/4s of a cup of Hammer Gel, N'Sync showing up at the afterparty, and the many mini bike races on the Marin Cruiser Bikes (who didn't ride them that night?). The night ended with a Neil Diamond's "Hands, touching hands..." (bottom right photo). Oh the good times! Can't wait for next year!

The Party! Dave Norona gets the dancing started; Team Frontrunners 2 (John Loewen & Stefan Jakobsen) proudly dispay their 1st Place plaques and all the beer they drank; Jakobsen and Loewen after consuming all the beer; Your race management team; groups photos; the dancing didn't stop! (Photos by Bryan Tasaka)

FINAL RESULTS (pdf)

Click here for Race Photos

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KUDOS!!!

It takes so many phenominal people and companies to put on a race of this magnitude. A BIG THANK YOU goes out to the following:

* SUNSHINE COAST: BIG thanks goes out to everyone on the Sunshine Coast for welcoming us into your community! What a great time it was and we can't wait to come back next year!

* RACERS: Of course, it wouldn't be a race without all 140 of you. Special thanks to those that made the trip from as far as Ontario, Oregon, and Washington State!

* SPONSORS:
Presenting: SISU
Gold: Frontrunners, Reckless Cycles
Media: The Zone @ 91.3, Vancouver Island Newsgroup, 100.3 the Q!
Silver: Helly Hansen, Marin Bikes, Simon River Sports, Bow-Mel Crysler, Budget Car & Truck Rental, Seaward Kayaks,
Bronze: Hammer Gel, Vancouver Island Brewery,
Community: Old Victoria Water Co., Madrone Environmental Services,

* LANDHOLDERS: Sechelt Indian Band, District of Sechelt, Interfor, Canfor, A&A Trading, Ministry of Forests, Terminal Forest Products, Bayside Campground, and Porpoise Bay Provincial Park. Thanks for letting us run the race on your property!

* SAFETY TEAM: Coast Guard Auxiliary, Timonda Emergency Services, Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue, and the Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Society. You guys are an invaluable asset to ensuring swift response to an injured or lost racer!

* KAYAK OUTFITTERS: Alpha Adventures, Pedals and Paddles, Halfmoon Bay Kayaks, Sunshine Kayaking, Porpoise Bay Charters, and Seaward/Island Outdoor Centre, . What a huge service you provide to the racers by bringing boats down to the race start!

* PRE-RACE BIKE INSPECTION TEAM: On the Edge, Reckless Cycles, Urban Lemming, The Realm, Dodge City Cycles, and Iguana Cycles (extra thanks to On the Edge for doing the Friday Night inspection too!)

* HEAD VOLUNTEERS: Lisa Wolff, Aimee Dunn, Wanda Miller, Tim Mitchell, Kate Cole, Sue Duxbury, Jamie and Sarah Mani, and Bill Rimmer-- you guys did a fantastic job of organizing your area and your team!

* THE ENTIRE VOLUNTEER TEAM: To EVERYONE who lifted a finger to help with this race, on behalf of the racers and management team we THANK YOU for coming out and helping make the first MOMAR on the Mainland a HUGE SUCCESS!!!

Thanks again and we'll see you at the next one!

Bryan Tasaka
Race Director

FINAL RESULTS (pdf)

Click here for Race Photos