An Ode to Community Races

In the heart of Whistler, British Columbia, amidst the enchanting forests and glacier-fed creeks, lies an event that challenges your skills, pushes your physical limits and brings community together for a great cause: the Whistler Back Forty. For a few years, this event has been instrumental in raising funds for new trail construction and mountain bike programming for the Indigenous Life Sport Academy. It also offers a unique platform for friendly yet severely hardcore competition, bringing individuals together from all disciplines of riding who share the same passion for a challenge. What makes community races like the Back Forty so special, and why is it essential to keep them going?

The Back Forty was inspired by the NIMBY 50 race, which was a heinous cross country race in Pemberton, BC, that covered a lot of ground and was loaded with some of the world’s best single track. The last year for the NIMBY 50 was 2019, and in the spirit of continuing to provide opportunities for local racers to suffer and funds to be raised for important organizations, the Back Forty was created.

Quinn Lanzon is a Whistler local who is on WORCA’s Board of Directors and has been the brains behind this event for four successful years now. After the NIMBY’s last year, Quinn dreamt up the idea of a similar suffer fest of a race. The race course and format has been modified over the years and morphed into what it is now, which is comprised of three timed stages. It comes in at 28kms and just under 1,500m of elevation. Each stage has the climbs and descents timed, and the three times are tallied for your total. There is a bonus timed descent stage for fun prizes and bragging rights.

A summary from this year's race director, Kat Pohran, provides a perfect overview:

Stage 1 is long and not super tech.

Stage 2 is shorter and mostly uphill but surprisingly fun.

Stage 3 is mostly downhill but has a savage climb in the middle that makes it feel like the world is uphill.

So who the heck would want to race this? It’s certainly an odd format for a mountain bike race. A staged, technical cross country race with steep climbing that also requires incredible descending skills as black and double black diamond trails are the norm. Surprisingly, this race attracts a wide range of interest from riders on any and all types of bikes. It’s what makes it so interesting.

I happily played the role of support and cheerleader in 2022 and 2023 but was somehow way more interested in joining the fun for 2024 when I had the opportunity to test a smaller trail bike. Bike choice is a big topic of conversation for this race, because there are a lot of options. Ideally something light and fast, because the climbs are brutal and long, however you also want something comfortable to handle the technical descents, especially when you’re becoming increasingly exhausted as the stages go by. So what’s the perfect bike for this type of race?

There’s no wrong answer and the best bike is probably one you’re most comfortable on for a long day in the saddle. For the Back Forty, there were certainly a lot of short travel trail bikes in the 120-140mm travel range. Not everyone has a small bike though, like my friends Kirsty and Bronwyn, who raced it on their enduro trail bikes (a Transition Sentinel and a Yeti SB150). Kirsty absolutely hammered it and came third in the women's category... don't be fooled by her 170mm fork, she will blow by as you crawl up 27 switchbacks. She's a rad mom and my new hero. Certainly a more painful experience on a heavier, slacker bike but if it’s all you have and you’re keen to race, why the heck not! There is also a hardtail category with some absurd and humbling race times.

Bike choice is important to consider but then there’s various other decisions to make. Which tire combination is best - something faster but maybe sketchy on the descents? Or perhaps it’s best to suffer a bit more on the climbs with thicker tire casing for the comfort of knowing you won't puncture. And there were lots of punctures, which is not surprising if you’re familiar with the sharp shale rocks in Whistler.

Part of the fun with trying a new race discipline for me was the novelty: it was out of my comfort zone and I had to make so many new decisions before the race even started. I’ve raced many enduros, but the format is completely different. While I knew I was physically fit enough to complete a race like this, I had no idea how hard I would be able to go and I had difficulty gauging how long it would take to complete. I wasn’t sure which tires I should run, at what pressure, and how much to eat before, during and in between stages. Luckily some pre-race strategy talk with friends helped diffuse my nerves.

My main goal for the race was to be smooth & consistent, hopefully with no surprises. I’m happy to report I was successful & very proud of my accomplishments for the day (8th place in the women's category). I feel like I was on the perfect bike for my abilities - the Revel Rascal V2 that I recently reviewed. With 140/130mm travel this trail bike was fast on the ups and super capable for the descents. A few modifications like a smaller chainring and a bigger front rotor certain helped for the event. The weather was sunny and hot, the trails were tacky and I had no mechanicals - only one small tea pot fall on a slow technical corner. The most challenging part for me and I assume most riders was managing the heat as the day went on.

Part of my fascination with this race is the range of participants it attracts - from professional athletes to first timers, young kids to retirees, average Janes to rad moms & dads, all coming together to challenge themselves with a physically and mentally strenuous day on the bike. An event like this provides a chance to level the playing field and see how you stack up against, well, everyone. I raced the same course, under the same conditions as my friends, my partner, and Geoff Kabush. I can’t say that about any other event I’ve participated in.

We each have our own individual strengths and weaknesses and for a long course like this, you’re likely to have moments on both ends of the spectrum. It’s particularly interesting to see how your performance varies over the three stages, as some stages are more dominated by fitness and others are more focused on technical descents. Races like this test all of your skills as a rider.

These races also provide the opportunity for local businesses to sponsor and participate, volunteering their time, service, food and energy to support something great. They often highlight unique landscapes that can be overlooked and are an opportunity to showcase some less popular but equally stunning trails. They underscore the tremendous effort required to create and maintain local trails, emphasizing the importance of preserving and protecting them. These events also provide a chance to engage the next generation in meaningful conversations, inspiring them to get involved or take up the mantle when the time comes.

Community races are more than just sporting events; they are celebrations of connection, perseverance and collective work. They remind us of the impacts we can make as a whole, the joy of sharing experiences together and the importance of challenging yourself as an individual. As we navigate an increasingly tumultuous world, these races serve as anchors of tradition and unity, bringing people together who share a common passion.

So whether you are an average Joe or someone seeking their next challenge, consider signing up, volunteering or organizing a local event near you. Embrace the opportunity to give back, challenge your friends, challenge yourself, meet new people, celebrate achievements and contribute to the vibrant tapestry of local life. Community is everything and we can accomplish more together. I hope everyone has the opportunity to grow and have fun in their community.

Thank you to WORCA and everyone who made this event successful!