The ultimate event in mountain biking, the 2010 Kokanee Crankworx, will be taking place in Whistler August 7 – 15. This event is an annual favorite for many, and with good reason. There are a host of events, from the trick showdown to the Canadian Cheeserolling Championship. Coinciding with Crankworx is the Deraylor Music Festival.

When it comes to gravity-fueled mountain biking, no 9 days stand so authoritative as Whistler BC’s Kokanee Crankworx. On par with the clout of X-Games, Pipeline Masters, and the Hannenkahm, Crankworx is the definitive event when it comes to off-road bicycles going big, fast and down.

From air-infused downhills to dirt dominatrix dual slaloms, massive slopestyle stunts to epic enduros, for seven years running the venues at the Whistler Mountain Bike Park have served as a supercharged magnet for the world’s best gravity fueled mountain bike athletes. This year, Kokanee Crankworx promises to do what it’s become so famous for: blowing the past away with the future.

Kokanee Crankworx — © MyPlanet 360°

Tags: Crankworx
Categories: Biking, Events
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If you’re into climbing, the Squamish Mountain Festival – a 5 day celebration of climbing – is where you need to be. It will be running July 14 – 18, 2010

The festival films have been finalized and whether you like sticking to the wall or hanging from parachutes get ready for some mad flow. 18 films from 7 countries will be screened over 3 nights and 2 matinees at the Eagle Eye Theatre and the Squamish Adventure Centre.

Don’t miss out on some golden old-school footy (circa 1975) as Dave Nichol and Dave Vernon take on the classic Squamish aid route Sentry Box in style befitting the era; shaggy hair, painter pants and hammering pitons on the festival’s opening Oh Canada Climbing Night Wednesday, July 14.

Free soloing, BASE jumping, overhanging rock bastions and more fill the screen at the Big Wall Climbing Night Friday, July 16 as rock stars Alex Honnold and Dean Potter push themselves and the sport of free soloing to a whole new realm. Ever heard of BASE free soloing?… How else would Potter have gotten the idea to scale one of the most famous and deadly climbs in the entire world, the north face of the Eiger! Man vs Eiger will surely get your adrenalin pumping.

And what kind of Mountain Festival would this be if we didn’t thrown in some frosty peaks? Saturday, July 17th’s Alpine Climbing Night features Alastair Lee’s award winning mountaineering film The Asgard Project. You know you’re in for a gnarly ascent when the only way to get to the foot of the face is to skydive! Leo Houlding has his work cut out for him as he attempts to make the first free ascent of one of the most difficult big walls in the world, the daunting north face of Mt Asgard.

Matinee screenings will be held at the Squamish Adventure Centre Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18 at 1pm. They are free to attend!

The festival has:

1. Mountain Film Festival
2. Clinics and Workshops
3. Steep Shot Photo Contest
4. Parties and Nightlife
5. Trade Fair and Demo Gear
6. Free and Fun Events

Categories: Climbing, Events
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Photo by .WJF in the Outdoor Vancouver Flickr pool.

Not to be confused with the MEC Bike Fest I posted about yesterday, the North Shore BikeFest is taking place this weekend in North Vancouver:

Last year was the Resurrection, this year it’s the Resurgence of mountainbike racing and culture as the North Shore Bikefest returns.

The 2010 North Shore Bikefest celebrates outdoor recreation and cycling with tons of bike activities for the whole family. Demo bikes, Sprockids rides and races for kids of all ages, pump track, BMX course, ride & race clinics, group rides, trail building demos, and more at the Trek Family Zone!

Plus of course, the Lezyne Marathon XC dedicated to Richard Juryn returns on the most scenic of trails on the Shore. And the Specialized Smackdown BC Cup Downhill on the venerable Neds Atomic Dustbin.

Join Nedbin, Marython and Dirt Squirt for all the fun.

June 4–6, 2010
Inter River Park, North Vancouver

Click here for a Google Map of the location.

Tags: BikeFest,North Vancouver
Categories: Biking, Events
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Photo by .WJF in the Outdoor Vancouver Flickr pool.

MEC Bike Fest is coming to Vancouver and North Vancouver this month:

North Vancouver: Sunday, July 25 – Mahon Park
Vancouver: Saturday, June 12 – Creekside Park

Here is the event description for Vancouver:

BikeFest gathers community in celebration of cycling Co-op retailer organizes June 12 event to encourage more people to cycle Vancouver – Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) will host the city’s second annual BikeFest at Creekside Park. This is a free, family-oriented urban cycling event developed to celebrate the benefits, culture, and growth of cycling in Canada.

WHEN: Saturday June 12, 10:00am – 4:00pm. Performances all day.
WHERE: Creekside Park is located next to the TELUS World of Science.
WHO WILL BE THERE: BikeFest will play host to a variety of bike shops, advocacy groups, cycling teams, fitness clubs, charities, and non-profits.
WHAT: There’s going to be a highly interactive exhibition area, ‘how-to’ clinics, along with first class bike-related performances throughout the day.

Event Highlights

• Free Clinics & Workshops
• Stunt Demo Performances
• Guided Bike Rides
• Entertainers
• Test Ride Bikes
• Kids activities & prizes
• Charity Bike Drop

WHY: MEC’s core purpose is to encourage Canadians to be active and to enjoy the benefits of self-propelled wilderness-oriented recreation. To serve that mandate, MEC wants to help grow the cycling community by throwing a community friendly festival that celebrates everything to do with bikes. More information about BikeFest is available online at www.mec.ca/bikefest.

Tags: Bike Fest,MEC
Categories: Biking, Events
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Last week I posted about the upcoming MEC Paddlefest, which is an annual celebration of canoeing and kayaking.

Taking place Sunday, June 20 at Jericho Beach, Paddlefest will feature dryland presentations, water clinics, speakers, a wide variety of exhibitors, and new this year, a paddleswap!

In promotion of Paddlefest, MEC is offering a contest where you can win a spot in the clinic of your choice:

• Guided Tours
• Intro to Kayaking
• Bracing & Edging
• Towing
• Basic Rescue
• Intro to Rolling
• Surf Ski / Paddling Fitness
• Kids Kayaking
• Stand Up Paddle Surfing

To enter the contest you can do the following:

1. Post a kayaking or canoeing photo in the Outdoor Vancouver Flickr group (1 entry)
2. Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
3. Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

Win a free pass for a @MEC Paddlefest clinic of your choice from @karlwoll http://ow.ly/1NcfZ

Do all 3 for a maximum of 3 entries. Winner will be drawn at noon, May 27th. Good luck!

Visit the Paddlefest website for details on vendors, clinics, and speakers.

Tags: MEC,Paddlefest
Categories: Contests, Events
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