WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID

What People Have Said

Here are some quotes from e-mails received from GearJammer racers over the past couple of years.  Feel free to e-mail us to contribute your own quote!
 

A volunteer's story...
Posted by Pat Gilbert (webmaster) on Jul 28 2009
WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID >>

 

Saturday, July 25, 2009 marked the seventh annual cross country bike race called the GearJammer. As a volunteer I awoke to my alarm clock playing Mountain FM radio. I looked out my window to see blue skies, a large sun, and anticipated a hot day ahead. After having a quick shower, breakfast, and getting things ready for the day volunteering as a Course Marshall, I grabbed my bike and headed for Nester's Market.

Brad Walkey was smiling away as I rode up to the Nester's Market. After a brief conversation with him, receiving a lunch, t-shirt, etc. I was on my way to Alice Lake. Right across the street at Squamish Elementary school was a shuttle service to the lake. A great idea since the finish line is at Rose Park. This was an amazing opportunity for me as I got to meet some of my fellow volunteers! They were nothing less than classy, kind, and really nice people! So after a little time, I boarded a shuttle with my bike in tow and was off to Alice Lake.

Quite the action was taking place at the lake when I arrived at 9:30am. There was registration taking place, riders and their supporters everywhere, and volunteers as well as Gear Heads making sure things were running smoothly. One of the things I did right away was help unload bikes and then made conversation with as many people as I could. I find doing this allows others to get to say what is on their mind before the race starts and let out any nerves that might be building up.

Time went by until it was about 10:30am and so it was time for me to get on my own bike and ride to where I was marshalling on the course. I volunteered to be at the Tracks from Hell as it is a nice shaded area, but also a swampy and muddy area full of mosquitoes. Nothing a little OFF can take care of. A year before in the sixth annual GearJammer, Judy Roberts asked me to marshall in this spot because they needed a strong guy to help people if they were to lose control on the Tracks from Hell. Last year proved to be smooth with no one going in or needing help. However, this year was different. More different than I realized it would be too.

As I waited for the first racers to arrive, usually the Elites, I munched down on some much needed Sharkies and a Nature Valley Crunch Bar. Finally the first of many approached the tracks and made their way across. To them they made it look way to easy, and I was so glad when the two of the first three were none other than locals, Dwayne Kress and Mo Lawrence, respectively.

So as time and more riders passed by I found a girl who would stop and start walking her bike across the tracks. I suggested she lift the bike up on its rear tire and walk it in front of her, but she insisted to keep it beside her. This young woman probably in her twenties ignored my suggestion only to fall into the swamp and get in it knee-high. Luckily she was able to get herself out and make it to the other end of the tracks. (I saw her later in the day only to find out she DNF'd because her front tire was flat and she did not have an opportunity to fix it.)

I am guessing about two hundred and thirty racers had passed the Tracks from Hell when eventually a man with the brightest yellow bike helmet, red jersey, and black shorts approached the tracks. He started to ride the tracks when he realized he was going a little too fast, lost control, and veered off the tracks to the right-hand side. It was a scary moment indeed especially when seeing the whole "wipe-out" occur. This man's front tire went right in, allowing the man's momentum take him head first over the handlebars where it wound up having the man weighing on his "noggin" in the swamp with his bike above him (his shoes were still clipped in) until he finally flipped over on to his front again. I thought for sure he had broken his neck or a collar-bone with a crash like that.

Wincing in pain and discomfort, I ran to the man and disconnected his bike from his shoes. I look at the beginning of the tracks to see another male racer had stopped to allow me to get the man who had just crashed the attention he needed. Luckily the rider was okay and just needed to take a little time to catch his breath, collect his bike, make it back on the tracks, and walk his bike to the other end and mount, carrying on with the race. I was a little unsure if the man was okay, but knew he would be in alright hands in case because of marshals along the course as well as first aid.

So finally, the male rider in the yellow jersey was able to begin his ride across the Tracks from Hell and as he got closer I was surprised to see who it was. None other than THE Curtis Roberts. Like what were the chances of that! He saw the man ahead of him getting aid in the swamp at the Tracks from Hell. I did not think this was such a good thing as I did not know if I handled the situation as best as I could, etc. However, my mind was put at ease when Curtis pipes up "I am going to start a rumour about you." And with a smile on his face he rode away leaving me confident in my role as a Marshall at the Tracks from Hell.

The race ends, the finish line area is cleaned up, and it is time for a great volley party in the Highlands. The hot weather begins to cool and winds as well as dark thunderous clouds erupt. Lightning flashes begin very frequently to the wow's of fellow volunteers. A storm was brewing, and before we knew it the storm was already here. Heavy rains, thunder, and a lightning show took over the party into the evening, but did not ruin the high spirits and fun of the attendees. After a solid day as well as a fun day, the Gear Jammer was another huge success, making us look forward to next year. Curtis Roberts completed the race he designed, Judy Roberts was so passionate and cared for the racers and everyone else alike, Jo Sykes was a stellar Organizer, Sean Daly stepped up big time to be a hero, Brad Walkey was a class-act, and finally Cliff and Darlene played amazing hosts, even after their hardwood floor took a beating.

Mike Enders,
Course Marshal,
GearJammer 2009

Last changed: Jul 28 2009 at 9:22 PM

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