The MOMAR Blog is back! A server crash and problems with the install plus me being too busy to get it all fixed in a timely manner puts us months since the last entry. Now that it’s all fixed, I’ll do my best to keep this updated with interesting and informative blog posts on all things MOMAR and adventure sports.
In the blog lull, I have project managed the Surrey Canada Day and Surrey Fusion Fesitval events, also, we just had our second baby on July 7th. So, needless to say, my time since the Squamish MOMAR has been nothing short of busy. The Cumberland MOMAR is just around the corner too and I’m excited for what is always a great event. I have my scouting trip planned and we’ll see what kind of course route I can design this time.
That’s all for now, keep checking this blog, our Facebook, and Twitter pages for all the latest info!
Cheers,
Bryan Tasaka
Event Director
I would like to welcome Left Coast Naturals to the MOMAR team of sponsors! Left Coast Naturals is an Organic and Natural Food Manufacturer and Distributor in Burnaby, BC which has 3 brands that it manufactures under the names Skeet & Ike’s, Hippie Chips and Element Organics. They also distribute 25 other Packaged Organic/Natural Food Brands and are the largest Organic Bulk Commodities distributor in Western Canada.
For those racing Squamish, you can expect some special treats in your Gift Bag and someone will also walk away with a $100 gift basket too!
Look for Left Coast Naturals’ products at Nester’s in Squamish, Save-On-Foods in the Lower Mainland or Thrifty Foods on the Island. For other locations in your area, click here.
Now that the Olympics are over, I finally have the time to refocus on the upcoming season of the MOMAR. In my ‘real’ job, I was managing the Surrey 2010 Celebration Site so for the past three months things really became busy and all consuming. The MOMAR had to take a backseat so my apologies for the lack of blog entries.
Despite the Olympic, some MOMAR tasks have continued to progress. Squamish Course Director, Jen Segger, has a course planned out and it looks epic. Colin from the Squamish Rock Guides has posted his rappel clinic dates too. Also, we have landed a few more sponsors too! And it’s great to see registration off to a brisk pace too.
As you can probably tell from the lack of MOMAR blog entries, I have been busy with other things. With the Olympics less 50 days away, all my energy has been going into the management of the Surrey 2010 Celebration Site. However, the Christmas break has allowed me some time to get the 2010 MOMAR season up and running.
The dates and venues are now confirmed with a similar schedule to last year. Our season kicks of on May 22nd in Squamish and ends in Cumberland on September 25th.
Jen Segger is busy working on a new course design for Squamish that will include use of some brand new trails and of course the Chief! I have the course route pretty much figured out for Cumberland it’s going to be just as challenging and fun as the last edition.
Registration will open on January 1st at 9:00am. Tell your friends and great ready to sign up!
The adventure racing season begins on January 30th with the Surrey Quest — an Adventure Challenge for Right to Play. This a fun event for all levels of ability and fitness. The challenges are going to be going great and the prize list is awesome.
This is a City of Surrey event that is being produced by Toit Events (Turkey Trot, Chip’s Not Dead, Fall Classic, etc) so you can count on it being well organized and worth putting on your schedule. I’ll be there taking part too so I look forward going head to head against some fellow MOMAR racers!
You can get all the info at www.surreyquest.surrey.ca.
We are very excited to announce that the Mind Over Mountain Adventure Racing Series was named Western Canada’s “Best Adventure Race,” “Best Post-Race Party,” and “Best Event T-Shirt” for the second year in a row! Thank you to all the Get Out There readers who voted for us. I share this recognition with all my staff, volunteers, and racers who made the MOMAR part of their lives in 2009!
Be sure to check out the Jan/Feb issue of Get Out There Magazine on news stands today or view the online version.
I have just posted two new photos galleries onto the Photo page of the website. Caroline Falconer’s gallery was taken from the Trek at CP 6 and has many great shots of racers in fast action. The other gallery was taken by Dave Prothero who was at the start of the race for the kayak, then moved to the No 6 Mine Site for the bike transition. He also got some good shots in town. Thanks to you both, as well as, Tony Austin, Aimee Asselin, and Laura Comuzzi for coming out and taking some many great photos!!!
The annual Get Out There Magazine Readers’ Choice survey is now open and it needs your input. Last year, the MOMAR won for Best Adventure Race and Best Post Race Party. It was a nice honour to have that claim to ‘fame’ and we hope to repeat once again.
If you took part in the MOMAR and had a great time, PLEASE take a few minutes to complete the survey and vote for us in those categories!
Click here to vote! You can win prizes too!!!
It’s been a week since MOMAR Cumberland and in that time people have been sharing their race experiences all over the blogosphere. I’ve also had numerous emails from both racers and volunteers telling me what a great time they had. It’s so great hearing everyone’s stories especially those from the mid pack who are out there more for the experience rather than a podium finish. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to write these up; I love reading each one and hearing first hand how things went out on course.
I have posted all the blog reports that I have found so far on the Race Results page of site, but here they as well. Grab a coffee or a beer and enjoy the reads. Be sure to add your comments to the posts if you like them!
I just arrived home from the final MOMAR of the season. I’m too exhausted to write up the wrap report or get the results formatted and posted. However, the great Tony Austin, did send me a few great photos so I’ll leave it at that until tomorrow morning. Thanks to everyone from coming out and celebrating the end of our 10th season!!!
The race started with a kayak stage on Comox Lake. Team Helly Hansen VI I & II battle it out.
The fastest racer on the water was John Markez with a split time of 49:50.
Jeremy Grasby heading out of the CP 7 transition gives John Markez a high-five.
Kevin Hodder from Whistler rides Bucket of Blood.
Victorious Secrets Cute C's Dayna Egyed and Penny Rundle from Surrey work the Urban Nav Stage. Nice job on the custom made jerseys!
Curtis Sanders and Tanya Berg of team T-Dot on the techinical trail Off-Broadway
The winner, Jeremy Grasby from Cumberland, crosses the finish line in 4:28:30!
Results to be posted by Monday noon.
On September 15th, 2009 Coast Mountain Sports will launch its first ever online contest for a chance to win a Canadian Rockies Adventure Tour provided by Yamnuska Mountain Adventures.
Entries can be made online at www.coastmountain.com/contest from September 15 to October 27 by successfully completing the contest entry form. Customers also have a chance to gain additional entries using a unique numerical CODE found on their transaction receipt when making a purchase at Coast Mountain Sports during the contest period. This code is then entered into the corresponding field on the contest site.
The prize consists of a trip for two to Canmore, AB which includes return airfare to Calgary, ground transportation to and from Canmore, a six night stay at the Westridge Country Inn, a choice of outdoor pursuits including; hiking, scrambling or rock climbing all led by a professionally trained Yamnuska guide and a $500 Coast Mountain Sports Gift Card.
We are very excited to announce that Dave Norona will present his feature documentary “The Iditasport Impossible” as part of the MOMAR weekend in Cumberland.
In the year 2000, Kevin Vallely, Andy Sterns and Dave Norona attempted to Cross Country Ski from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska following the 1800km Iditarod Dog Sled Trail. For 33 day they fought their way through minus 65 degree temperatures, insane storms and pushed themselves further than they had ever before. The Iditasport Impossible film was mastered by Chris Wilberg of Barney and Oscar Films and captures the beauty of Alaska as well as it’s harsh winter environment.
I have seen this film and it is nothing short of inspiring. You will be amazed by their perseverance and dedication to the end goal. Seeing this film will be all the motivation you need to get you to the finish line at the MOMAR!
DATE: Thursday, September 24th & Friday, September 25th
TIME: 7:00pm & 9:00pm (doors 30 minutes prior to each show and no late admittance)
LOCATION: Reel Films @ Frelone’s, 2781 Dunsmuir Ave, Cumberland, BC
DURATION: 78 minutes film followed by a Question and Answer session with Dave Norona
TICKET PRICE: $15 + online ticket processing charge
All proceeds go to the Cumberland Community Forest Society. Tickets are very limited (35 per screening) and are sure to sell out quick.
BUY TICKETS ONLINE NOW:
7:00pm – Thursday, September 24th
9:00pm – Thursday, September 24th
7:00pm – Friday, September 25th
9:00pm – Friday, September 25th
* Please note that tickets will NOT be mailed out. Your name will be on a list at the door.
Maybe a better question, is “who isn’t?”
Here is the List of Registered Racers for Cumberland. I managed to squeeze a few more in to bring the number up to 350, but due to limits on the banquet room capacity, that’s it! Anyone who still wants to race, will remain on the waiting list pending another team dropping out. Racers, please check this list carefully to make sure we have the correct information.
We have racers coming from all over Canada and the USA, as well, as from England, Ireland, and Australia!
It’s great to see 40 teams signed up for the Sport Course too!
Four weeks to go!
Long time MOMAR volunteers and supporters, John Crosby, Thomas Howard, Clifford Cunningham and Tom Skinner have teamed up and are now the team producing the Mud Run Ride event. Formerly known as the Muddy Buddy and then the Mud ‘n Run, this is a super fun race in North Vancouver where you and a partner team up and run and ride over a 10km course. You only have one bike though so it’s a leapfrog concept.
I’ve done this race four times over the past five years and its always a great time especially at the end when you have to crawl under a cargo net and through a mud pit just before the finish line.
The race runs this Saturday, August 29th, at 10am from North Vancouver.
For more information and to register, go to www.mudrunride.com.
With just under six weeks before we are in Cumberland, BC, we are proud to announce the MOMAR is officially SOLD OUT! Oversold to be precise. More than 325 weekend warriors will do battle on the 30km or 50km course as they navigate from checkpoint to checkpoint on bike, kayak, and foot.
If you were planning on racing, but didn’t register, then you can email info@mindovermountain.com to be put on a waiting list.
We are also looking for volunteers and you can sign up via the volunteer page on the website. Space is limited here though too!
Thanks to everyone who signed up to be part of the biggest MOMAR in its 10 year history! It’s going to be one amazing weekend!
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The MOMAR Blog is back! A server crash and problems with the install plus me being too busy to get it all fixed in a timely manner puts us months since the last entry. Now that it’s all fixed, I’ll do my best to keep this updated with interesting and informative blog posts on all things MOMAR and adventure sports.
