With the advent of the 5th NIMBYFifty technical marathon XC race this weekend, we asked co-founder Dean Linnell what to get excited about…
What’s new?
This year we’ve decided to have a “Lite” version. Check out the blog post here. We’ve also added some new singletrack on the “back half” of the course which will add a bit more climbing to the course because, hey, why not more pain?!
How many racers?
The usual 400 racers and we typically don’t sell out until closer to the date so there’s still time to get registered.
Has it found its groove now that you’re 5 years in?
We like to keep tweaking and adding bits and pieces each year to keep things fresh but generally speaking, I think we’ve really found our groove with the consistent venue and setup at North Arm Farm as well.
What impact is the cult of enduro having on your race?
On one level our race is very similar to enduro style riding but on another level it’s a much tougher event than any enduro race. Enduro races favour the down sections and put less emphasis on climbing time but to be fast in the NIMBY Fifty you have to be a pretty special athlete who can climb like the wind and then keep your head together enough to be able to blast the downhill sections with enough skill to not kill yourself. Putting the up and down together is a tough thing for a lot of people to master and that’s what makes our course so special. Our opinion is that at the end of the day it’s all just mountain biking isn’t it?
Now that you have some momentum and some track record, what would you say are the tangible benefits to Pemberton from this event?
I think it’s just another feather in Pemberton’s cap as a true world-class mountain biking destination. Each year come springtime you can see how many cars are in town with bikes on the roof. It’s not all because of the NIMBY Fifty but we’re definitely fuelling the fire for sure.
How much do you love biking? What’s Pemberton’s best bike-related claims to fame? Or best mtb assets?
Russ, Terry and I are super passionate about all kinds of riding and that even includes road. However, just the sheer amount of bike-crazy folks who live in Pemby is a joy to behold. At the annual spring PVTA trail day close to 70 people showed up for pancakes, coffee and a solid day of giving back with some trail maintenance. That’s a huge number for such a small community. I think the North Shore trail day was only that many people and there’s a much higher population in the lower mainland. That’s pretty cool.
The Wellness Almanac 