Spakwus steps up to take over BC XCM Provincial championships

Change follows cancellation of 2019 Stomp Classic in Kamloops

Terry McKall May 16, 2019

There’s been a notable late change to the B.C. XC Marathon calendar this year. Sp’akw’us Challenge will now host BC XCM provincial championships.

The change in venue for provincial championships follows the recent cancellation of the 2019 Stop Classic XCM in Kamloops. The Stomp Classic was scheduled to serve as the championship venue for 2019, as well as a BC Cup XCM event. Organizers were forced to make the late call to cancel the event.

Sp'awk'us Spakwus — Sandra Walter on her way to winning the 2018 Sp’akw’us 50 XCM.

Sp’akw’us Challenge, a two-day event in Squamish, has offered to step up and take on the event. The event last served as B.C. XCM provincial championships in 2017, making it an easier shift for race organizer Dwayne Kress to take on the added weight of a championship event on late notice. Sp’akw’us was already scheduled to be part of the BC Cup XCM series.

Racers can choose to race either Saturday’s Championship XCM Sp’akw’us 50 course, Sunday’s non-championship Sp’akw’us 35 short course, or to race both as a two-day stage race called the Sp’akw’us Challenge.

For more information on the Sp’akw’us weekend, read our profile of last year’s event. You can also read our race report on 2018 Sp’akw’us weekend, which included Canadian trail running legend and Squamish local Gary Robbins as a participant.

Sp'akw'us Spakwus — Leif Rodgers attacking on of the A-Line optional rock roll’s on Rupert during the 2018 Sp’akw’us 35

2019 BC Provincial XCM Championship Categories:

Junior Men (17 and 18 years old)
Junior Women (17 and 18 years old)

Elite Men
Elite Women

Masters 30-39 women
Masters 30-39 men
Masters 40+ women
Masters 40-49 Men
Masters 50+ Men

For registration and licensing information, see Cycling BC’s notice of the venue change.