winter track racing

Burnaby Velodrome hosts Largest North American Professional Six Day Race since 1970's

by Glenn Barr
December 27, 2007

Burnaby Velodrome

BURNABY, BC, CANADA- A field of 24 professional cyclists will take to the steep wood boards of the Burnaby Velodrome on New Years Eve to kick off six nights of intense racing action at the Burnaby Six Day track race. Last years champion team of Tuft and Bell (Symmetrics Cycling) will return to defend their title from a very impressive field of American and Canadian riders. Racing starts at 7pm each night, December 31st through January 5th. Modelled after European Six Day races, the Burnaby Six Day will feature live bands, infield entertainment, and exciting racing.

We will cover the event daily! Click through for more...


 

Pro / Elite Start List
1. Svein Tuft (Symmetrics) / Zach Bell (Symmetrics)
2. Colby Pearce (Cody Racing) / Mike Friedman (Slipstream Sports)
3. Kirk O'Bee (Healthnet) / Kenny Williams (Cody Racing)
4. Christian Meier (Symmetrics) / Cody O'Reilly (Successful Living)
5. Brad Huff (Slipstream Sports) / Brian Crosby (Major League Cycling)
6. Dave McCook (ProMan Cycling) / Roman Kilun (ProMan Cycling)
7. Kevin Suhr (Cody Racing) / Ryan Luttrell (Cody Racing)
8. Cody Campbell (Symmetrics) / Mark MacDonald (BiciSport)
9. Daniel Holloway (US National) / Iggy Silva (US National)
10. Max Vives (Calyon Litespeed) / Charlie Vives (Calyon Litespeed)
11. Will Goodfellow (Calyon Litespeed/Martin Swiss) / Mike Norton (Calyon Litespeed/Martin Swiss)
12. Ryan Mackenzie (Trek/VW) / Martin Gilbert (Kelly Benefits)

Past Winners
2007 Svein Tuft / Zach Bell (Symmetrics)

Race results, pictures, and video will be posted nightly on the Burnaby Six Day website: BurnabySixDay.com

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Burnaby Velodrome Fall Challenge a Huge Success

by Glenn Barr
November 14, 2007

The first major event of the winter track racing season has concluded at the Burnaby Velodrome. With a record high of over 80 racers throughout all categories including women and new racers, it was an enormous success. The A category turned into an epic battle between two heavyweights, Kenny Williams and Kirk O'Bee. Williams ended the weekend on top, with another US rider, Dan Harm, rounding out the podium. In the A sprints it was Matt Chater taking the match sprints over Ontario transplant Jamie Shankland, and also taking the Keirin in a nail-biting final.

The B group was filled to capacity with over twenty riders lining up at the rail on the tight 200 meter track. dEVo rider Jason Manning seemed to have never-ending leg speed in his quest for the overall title, but his weekend ended early with a crash in the keirin final on Saturday night. The battle was left to heavy hitters Stuart Lynn, Iona Wynter-Parks, Tony Zackery and Mandy Poitras.  Zackery took the sprint Omnium over Alberta sensation Monique "Supersonique" Sullivan, with Manning coming in third.

The C category was dominated early by Mike Sidic, but an epic fight was put forth by another dEVo phenom Curt "The Hurt" Jung. Sidic ended the weekend with new jerseys for both the sprint and endurance Omnium.

Organizers would like to thank all volunteers, racers, and spectators who came out and enjoyed the spectacular racing this weekend.  Also a special thanks to our sponsors: Pedal Magazine, Karma Metal Works, Saeco Coffee Machine, Kicking Horse Coffee, La Bicicletta, Popeye's Supplements, Super Champion Bike Shop and ATAC Sportswear.

Here are some clips of the action:

Keirin Quals - Heat 1 - Shankland, Lawrence, McCorkell, McLaughry

Keirin Quals - Heat 2 - Barr, Chater, Haspel, Waterman

Keirin Finals

Jen Triplett heads us north for the first big event of the winter

Burnaby is a short track and it's smart to run a small gear to save your legs with high leg speed. I did not heed this advice - running a larger gear than most and paying for it as the night went on. I had the power to sprint, but the slow steady grind of trying to keep my cadence up started to burn matches I didn't have.
Continue reading...

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Burnaby Velodrome Fall Challenge

Racing Starts this Friday Night!

Excitement is peaking as racers wait in anticipation for the kick-off of the winter racing schedule under the 'Dome in Burnaby.  The Burnaby Velodrome Club is proud to present the Fall Challenge, set to kick off this Friday night.  Racing promises to be action-packed as there are over fifty racers already registered.

New Event Announced
Derny races Burnaby style!  We are excited to introduce our own version of derny races.  Instead of each rider being paced by a motorized bike, a category A rider will be paired with a category B rider or Woman rider and act as the pace bike.  Guaranteed to be exciting!

Want to Watch?
The Burnaby Velodrome offers the best value for your money for spectators.  Come watch some of the fastest riders in North America speed around a 200 meter wood track with 48 degree banking at speeds in excess of 60km/h!  Racing starts at 7pm on Friday night and goes all day Saturday and Sunday.  Admission is by donation, so come on out and enjoy a beverage of your choice while watching some seriously fast bike racing.

FINAL REMINDER FOR RACERS:
There will be no day-of registration.  Please visit Karelo.com to sign up.  If there are any issues you must contact race organizers before the registration deadline.  Billeting is available for out of town racers.  Full race schedule and race bible can be found at BurnabyVelodrome.ca Fall Challenge.

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One Track Mind

Jennifer Triplett Reflects on the Track Season That Was
and Previews That Which Will Be

by Jennifer Triplett
October 19, 2007

Velodrome

It's been a week since Elite Track Nationals and I still find myself waking up in the morning dreaming of the pursuit. For all of you non-trackies out there - the pursuit is the simplest form of track racing. For women, it's an all out three kilometer time trial. Sarah Hammer, the current US World Champion, can clock in at over 31 mph, average. But she's super human. I've heard you don't truly know what you're doing in the pursuit until you put in at least 100 efforts, and I'm well below that. But who's counting?

There's something about competition, maybe it's the natural high you get from having your heart beat out of your chest and lack of oxygen, that makes you yearn for more. It quickly helps you forget how much blood, sweat and tears go into training for such a short event and all of the days you spent recovering on the couch, unable to muster up enough energy to do the dishes. With the end of nationals, comes the beginning of the "off-season." The dark months begin and no sign of high intensity is in sight. Funny though, since I'm not riding but a fraction of what I did before, I suddenly have more energy to actually do the dishes, and other ignored tasks. And just when I'm ready to start settling in to a nice long, wet winter with fenders and blinky lights, Burnaby, B.C. starts to heat up its racing.

Someone actually thought about the environment they're located in and built an indoor track. Leave it to the Canadians! It's a fish bowl of a track - 200m in circumference and steep, with 47 degree banking. It requires a minimum of 15 mph average or you slide down and meet Mr. Tweezer. Note to first time Burnaby venturers: make sure you wear long fingered gloves. It's a bummer to have to tweeze out splinters with splintered fingers.

The track season at Marymoor is long over - but the actual world cup circuit is just beginning. Someone decided to make track a winter sport, and if you have access to an indoor track, or reliably good weather, then perfect. If not, well then you'll be putting in some time at the Canadian border en route to a domed 'drome.

Burnaby typically holds three track events throughout the winter in addition to their Friday night racing. The first one of the season is November 9-11, 2007. Competition should be incredible, especially for the women. Several ladies are in hard core training mode getting ready for the upcoming Sydney world cup. Kele Murdin, Iona Wynter-Park, Mandy Portalis, just to name a few, will be in attendance. That makes for one of the stronger women's field to date. It'll be interesting to compare my off the couch fitness, but it's all for fun. It is winter after all and I'd much rather substitute a weekend of dry intensity than another one in the wet and cold, riding slow and shivering in the rain.

I'll let you know just how badly my heart wants to beat out of my chest afterward.
Until then, happy pedaling.

Velodrome

Jennifer Triplett started racing in 2005 as a means to get back in shape and express her competitive urge. Since childhood, Jennifer has played mutilple group and individual sports - from volleyball, basketball, to track and field. While attending WWU, she started boxing and was a Washington state Welterweight champion in 2001. Her coached moved and she found herself looking for a new sport to fulfill her time when a friend suggested bike commuting. After completing many recreational rides (STP in a day, RSVP, etc), she found she was passing most men and decided to try racing. Now Jennifer competes with the Category 3 men on the track as a Cat 2 trackie and is a Cat 2 road racer. She aspires to push her self to the limits and is focusing on the pursuit for 2008.

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Marymoor Velo Assoc. Board Meeting Recap

by Milky Barile
October 16th, 2007

What's up all you winter trackies? I know you're all longing for track season even though it just ended. with US Nationals a week ago. On a side note: Congratulations to all the NW riders that went down to the ADT Center in LA and raced with the nation's best. Kenny Williams, Adrian Hegevary, Wesley Pierce, Dan Harm, Kele Murdin, and Jennifer Triplett amoung others I'm sure, all raced their butts off and came up with some pretty good results.

Anyways, we met at the Lyon's Den in Bothell last night to discuss the goings on for the future of Mayrmoor Velodrome. Good news as we are almost ready to break ground on the new facility that will house a food vendor, announcer stand, bike storage and more. For more info go to Velodrome.org and check it out. Other topics on the agenda were the 2008 Track to the Future Auction to help support the MVA. The event will take place March 22nd 2008 at the Mercer Island Community Center. Many vendors have taken interest in this event but they could still use any donations for auction items. So if you have any connections and feel like helping, out please do so. For contact and other information, go to Velodrome.org.

Keep checking back for more updates on the building process, track class dates, auction information, etc. It's going to be a busy winter while we're getting ready for next season. And remember: volunteers are always needed and appreciated.

A special thanks goes to Harley Sheffield for all the hard work he has put in to the whole organization. See you out there racing next year! 

Marymoore Velodrome Assosciation