| MOMAR Squamish: New Champions, New Trails and One Big Old Rock |
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| Sports | ||||||
| Written by Submitted | ||||||
| Tuesday, 25 May 2010 12:41 | ||||||
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There were new faces on the podium, and satisfied faces in the crowd following this year's Atmosphere Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race (MOMAR), held this past Saturday in Squamish. After five years of being a race favorite, John Markez finally won his first MOMAR title, completing the race in 4 hours and 14 minutes. "In 2009, Markez was leading the race at the halfway point when he crashed during the mountain bike stage, and ended up in the hospital with a gash to his leg," says Race Director Bryan Tasaka. "He ran a really clean race this year - it was great to see him come out on top." Trailing Markez by just over four minutes was the defending champion, Bart Jarmula of Revelstoke. Placing third overall and first in the team of two male category were teammates and former MOMAR champions, Gary Robbins of North Vancouver and Todd Nowack of Victoria. Line Augaitis of Vancouver topped the podium for female racers, finishing in 5 hours and 30 minutes. Trailing by only 1 minute and 27 seconds was North Vancouver's Lucy Eykamp, with defending female champ, Sarah Seads of Courtenay, coming in third at 5 hours and 42 seconds. Squamish's Shannon Collier Goetsch and Pamela Skeans were the first female team of two to cross the finish line, at 7 hours and 8 minutes. Michelle Steel and Shawn O'Toole of Ladysmith topped the team of two co-ed category, completing the race in 6 hours and 1 minute. First in the team of four male category and ninth overall were teammates Ryan Clozza and Barry Duplantis of Victoria, Jesse Wheeler of North Vancouver and Trevor Lang of Abbotsford, finishing in an impressive 5 hours and 16 minutes. Team Tag, You're It, consisting of Victoria's Ryan Clozza and Barry Duplantis, Jesse Wheeler of North Vancouver and Trevor Lang of Abbotsford, were first in the team of four co-ed category with a time of 6 hours and 46 minutes. The 50 km Enduro Course began with a 1 km run around Quest University, followed by a three part, 35 km mountain biking section. The ride began with a steep uphill climb on a logging road, followed by some technical, uphill single track. Racers were then sent down the thrilling Half Nelson, a 2.5 km downhill section, which was a new addition to the race and a definite highlight. "The jumps, berms and tabletops of this trail left many racers saying they had never had so much fun on a mountain bike," says Tasaka. Racers then traversed the Pseudo Tsugas and Powerhouse Plunge trails, arriving at an 8 km orienteering section where they had to bushwhack their way to find eight checkpoints. Racers then had to hike 600 meters up a granite monolith, the Stawamus Chief, followed by a 50 m rappel down a sheer cliff face. A waist-high river crossing through the frigid Mamquam River followed, ending with an urban run through downtown Squamish. The 30 km Sport Course was offered again this year with 24 registered teams. The Sport Course included many of the same elements as the Enduro Course, excluding the trek up and rappel down the Chief. Teammates Kevin Reynolds and Scott Simser of Vancouver came in first overall, finishing in 4 hours and 26 minutes, followed by North Vancouver's Matthew Peake and Jonathan Hawkes. Over $1500 was raised for the Make A Wish Foundation, MOMAR's official charity. A donation was also made to the Squamish Trail Society. Once again, a huge thank-you goes out to the Squamish community and landholders for supporting this event. The next MOMAR will be held in Cumberland, BC on September 25, 2010. For more information on racing, volunteering and MOMAR training clinics, check out www.mindovermountain.com/momar/ or call 1.866.9
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