Racers ready to shred

Photo: Contributed

Elite mountain bike racers will compete for thousands of dollars in prize money at Silver Star Mountain Resort this weekend.

The BC Cup Downhill Series Race takes place Saturday and Sunday. Close to 250 racers are expected on the mountain.

“The Silver Star race is definitely one I look forward to each year,” said Max Scharf, winner of the 2014 Silver Star B.C. Cup expert junior men category. “The course is awesome, and the spectators are always good for a laugh.”

The course is on Dag’s Downhill – known as Silver Star’s most technical double black diamond trail.

“Dag’s Downhill is the perfect trail for this race,” said Ian Galbraith, summer business manager at Silver Star. “It has steep descents, rock gardens and tight turns to help make this one of the best B.C. Cup stops on the circuit.”

On Saturday, entrants will be training on the mountain and taking part in timed practice and seeding runs.

At 5:15 p.m., the hugely entertaining Dunbar Cycles Whip-off Competition begins, followed by an evening Biker Bash party.

On Sunday, practice runs go all morning, with the main event kicking off at noon.

For non-racers, the rest of the bike park’s cross-country and downhill trails will be open.