ONE DOWN!!

In less time than it takes to bake a frozen pizza, all 800 spots in the 2011 Test of Metal race were gobbled up on Saturday (Jan. 1).




It took 23 minutes for the race to completely sell out, breaking last year’s record time by one minute and thirty seconds.



Race director Cliff Miller was pleased with how swiftly the 800 spots went.



“It was fantastic,” he said. “We have a brand new record and I was a little surprised that they went so fast.”



Miller and the organizing group behind the race were stationed at the Howe Sound Brew Pub on Saturday (Jan. 1) to track the entries pouring in and he said it was fun to see how well received the race was.



“Everybody was really happy with the way the registration went,” he said, adding that he hasn’t yet perused through the entry list to see the makeup of the riders participating for the 2011 race.



Registration for the race began at 6 p.m. and the popularity of the Test of Metal was proven after the early-bird locals only registration sold out in 187 minutes on Dec. 1. This year’s race is scheduled to take place on June 18.



The race, which has been running on its current course since 1996, attracts mountain bikers from around the world and has become the most anticipated event on the B.C. mountain biking calendar. The 67-kilometre course features over 1200 metres of climbing and 35 kilometres of single-track racing.



Last year’s race attracted riders from as far away as Switzerland and Hong Kong. A total of 64 racers came from outside of Canada and almost a quarter of the Canadian entrants were from outside the Lower Mainland.



Past participants include Canadian Olympians Alison Sydor, Geoff Kabush, and Seamus McGrath, as well as notable celebrities like Vancouver Canucks’ icon Trevor Linden.



Miller also praised the work of the more than 300 volunteers who help make the race thrive.



“This race wouldn’t happen without all of our wonderful volunteers,” he said. “All the volunteers and the people in Squamish help make this event so great.”



Miller added that the next major focus for the mountain biking community in Squamish is on the Orecrusher, which is the first race in the Hell of a Series bike races. Taking place on May 14, the Orecrusher kicks off the series and is a lap race through the trails of the Cheekye Fan. Registration for the Orecrusher opens in March.