Western Open In Pictures by sexley

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and SE Racing have scheduled the Western Open for August 6th & 7th, 2011. Last summer KHMR was the host of the BC Cup finals and set a staggering precedent for future circuit downhill races. The re-worked Pioneer race course proved sporty to experienced racers and thrilled spectators. Moving forward with the momentum of last year’s unique event, the 2011 race will embody similar elements including the same overall course, a Hard Tail category to start things off, great sponsor and expo area, Saturday night party and live band. The addition of increased media coverage, demo bikes from the Specialized All Ride tour and more celebratory events in the plaza hosted by Brett Tippie will make this BC Cup not just a race, but an event not to be missed.

Western Open photo essay by Clayton Racicot

1.866.SKI.KICK for information or www.western-open.com

Registration's open Friday 4:30 till 6pm and Saturday 10 till 3pm

8:30am All volunteers to meet in the day lodge. Tons of SWAG to all that help out

Timing helpers, first aid, registration and course marshals are all needed

Uummm, how are we going to run this huge root section?

Ok, so when you go flying over the bars put your hands out like this!

On hill camping is permitted in the upper lot..sorry no showers

DJ will be spinning the latest sounds all day long to get the racers pumped

Loeka has donated tons of prizes to look after all the lady racers

Top section rock drop to hard right turn to steep chute

Learn to Race group getting ready to go session the course

The expo and pit area will be rocking all weekend long

Live band late Saturday afternoon "The Matt Blais Connection"

Lindsey Voreis is running a ladies only skill clinic all day Sat. Sign up on www.CCNbikes.com

Sat at 1pm is the kids race hosted by Tara Llanes.. sign up now for free on www.CCNbikes.com

Racer coming into the finish in full view of the expo and pit area

Brett Tippie will be the weekends MC and have a ton of stuff to give away. Be sure to say Hi

Racer goes through the steep chute in the top section of the course

How many lines do see? This racer chooses the direct approach

The course is taped wide so you can pick your line

Then hit it!

Bryson getting schooled at the Saturday night break dance party

Racer in the start gate and five minutes away from the finish line

Hard tail pride! Hard tail racers will start off the day of racing on Sunday

$500.00 up for grabs for 1st place Men's and Ladies Elite

Fastest two racers will take home a new dive watch from Freestyle

Holly Feniak(15) versus Cierra Smith(15) should be a great battle for the top step!!

Cory Leclerc at the end of a run. Painful BUT a ton of fun !

Jeff Hunter, 2010 Elite 1st place winner taking home the cash

Jamie Hill, 2010 Elite 1st place winner gets a shower in the rain

2010 Elite podium...who will be on the top step in 2011??

1.866.SKI.KICK or www.western-open.com for more information

Author Info:

sexley

Member since Jul 20, 2007
57 articles

17 Comments

sweeneyrider (Jul 25, 2011 at 10:43)

That track looks sick! Do you think they could cut that mountain out of the ground and stick outside my house?

HOJJJ (Jul 25, 2011 at 10:53)

Not before I do it myself

aflo661 (Jul 25, 2011 at 19:33)

I already tooks it.

kburtonw (Jul 25, 2011 at 17:09)

Im helping out with First Aid for the saturday and sunday, Should be sweet

Isolated-T-Storms (Jul 25, 2011 at 18:46)

You should have a lot of business.

aflo661 (Jul 25, 2011 at 19:32)

Yes the profits shall be sweet.

metalandrew (Jul 26, 2011 at 12:29)

I'm stoked to volunteer at this. get out to K-HO lets party!

finning (Jul 13, 2011 at 7:56)

need cowbells again

sexley FL (Jul 13, 2011 at 8:19)

Oohhh we got em! (Hint: Ask tippie for one)

TheBlazer (Jul 25, 2011 at 15:17)

Really hoping for no snow this year!

Marc33 (Jul 25, 2011 at 23:04)

Marshaling this year, so pumped

etiennecelery (Jul 25, 2011 at 9:50)

That watch should be really worth it...

poozank (Jul 25, 2011 at 10:21)

for the hard tail class there is a guy with a totem, a totem on a hardtail seems ridiculous

brule (Jul 25, 2011 at 11:10)

Poozank - some of us have ridden Boxxers etc on HTs for various reasons - freeride HTs used to be a classification of bikes and there are many riders like Doug (in the picture) that still rock em.

jonjonj0nnyjon (Jul 25, 2011 at 15:45)

Mine has a dorado on it!

T-Dubya (Jul 27, 2011 at 21:56)

The hard tail guy shown is my hubby Shane.

(BTW he took the Totem off my Bullit as it wasn't my fave...don't know where that fork is now...)

lightningskull (Jul 26, 2011 at 5:50)

there I am volunteer in the middle!