The Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association has given the Cariboo an opportunity to deliver an epic, seven-day mountain biking tour giveaway.
Mountain Biking B.C., in partnership with the Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium, is offering a fully supported, one week trip from Aug. 3-11 to explore the region and its vast network of trails.
The trip includes ground transportation, accommodations, professional guides and $1,000 cash.
This is the first time in the giveaway’s three-year existence the Cariboo has been a part of the tour.
The grand prize tour will feature communities in the Cariboo and more, beginning with some high-country riding in Wells, followed up with some downtime at the ArtsWells Music Festival on the August long weekend.
Next, the tour moves on to Williams Lake for a three-day adventure to experience the epicentre of Cariboo mountain biking culture and home to some of the best free-ride and all-mountain trails in the province.
Then it’s off to 100 Mile House and The Hills Health Ranch for some wholesome cross-country riding, followed by an overnight wilderness biking adventure at the Tyax Wilderness Resort and Spa.
The final destination will be the world-famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park.
Justin Calof, Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium executive director, says the CMBC has been working with Pat Corbett and Steve Law since 2010 to try to “grow mountain biking” in the 100 Mile House area.
“The trails at 108 Mile, which start from The Hills Health Ranch and the 108 Mile Resort, are some of the best cross-country trails in the region.”
Last year, the CMBC completed comprehensive signage project, with the support The Hills.
“So it’s really accessible for riders and that’s kind of what we’ll be showcasing on the tour before they head down to the Coast.”
For the better part of two years, the CMBC has been aggressively marketing the region’s mountain biking appeal, he adds.
“We started our initiative in 2010, for the most part, when the website (www.ridethecariboo.ca) was launched. Last year, website traffic grew by more than 200 per cent. Generally, the word is out there that the Cariboo is a really strong destination.
“It sort of validates the consortium’s initiative and the investments from the Cariboo Beetle Action Coalition, the City of Williams Lake, the Cariboo Regional District and Northern Development Initiative Trust have made in mountain biking in the Cariboo. It’s starting to pay off and the recognition is coming and it’s drawing more people up here so that’s really validating.”
Calof CMBC members will travel along on the trip to help showcase the region.
To sign up for the contest, or for full contest details, visit www.mountainbikingbc.ca or Facebook at www.facebook.com/MountainBikingBC.
Entry deadline for the contest is June 15 when 10 finalists will be randomly chosen from all entries to tell them why they are the most deserving to win the prize. The winner will be announced June 28; entrants must be 19 years or older.