It was a successful weekend for Sea to Sky athletes at the Coast Gravity Park BC Cup event, with eight riders prevailing in eight different age categories.
Lucas Cruz suffered a foot injury in late July that forced him to miss out on Crankworx, but he's back in the saddle with a two-minute, 11.21 second run. That was fast enough for gold in the elite men's field. Gabriel Neron found the speed for silver (2:12.86) and Patrick Laffey checked in for bronze (2:13.67).
Only three ladies dropped in for the elite women's race, and Gracey Hemstreet was fastest of them all (2:37.32) ahead of Emilie Soleil-Patterson (2:48.49) and Ainhoa Ijurko (2:50.48).
Sophi Lawrence emerged on top in the junior women's bracket (2:44.75). She was joined on the podium by Kate McKenzie (2:46.16) and Rebecca Beaton (2:47.35). It continues to be a great year for Beaton, who finished second at the Canadian Open Downhill and mentors other Spud Valley teens with the Girls on Wheels (GOW) program.
Among U17 expert men, Anthony Shelly continued his winning ways (2:15.43) besting Mateo Quist (2:16.76) and Austin Makson (2:17.94). Mason Cruickshanks (2:22.38) and Jack McCredie (2:22.65) were fifth and sixth.
Cami Bragg rolled to victory in the U17 women's division (2:36.64), months after a dual slalom win, an air DH silver and a pump track bronze at Crankworx. At 14 years old, Bragg was the fastest female of the day in any age bracket. Tayte Proulx-Royds wound up second (2:38.89) and Megan Bedard was third (2:42.80).
Will Taylor (2:25.96) and Patrick Tarling (2:26.81) rode to a one-two finish in the junior sport men's category. Both young men helped Beaton launch Pemberton Secondary School (PSS) to another consecutive provincials banner earlier this spring. Liam Fillinger grabbed bronze (2:28.10).
Local athletes swept the age 13-14 races as well. Sebastien Harrisson locked up gold among boys (2:27.70) over Hendrik Lorenz (2:30.19) and Emmett Guy (2:30.23).
Caileigh Koppang prevailed for the girls (2:48.04), adding to Crankworx silver medals in downhill and dual slalom and a host of other regional circuit wins from this season. Arleigh Kemp wound up second (2:50.20) and Luella Jones came third (2:51.61).
Although he didn't win, Sean MacLeod earned bronze in the U17 sport men's contest (2:26.15) by edging out Jack Hague (2:26.60). Jacob Quist found himself fourth among junior expert men (2:19.44).
Full results are available here.
