麻豆社区

It may have been the first race of the season, but mountain biker Spencer Skerget was already in top form.

The Yukoner earned the win in the long-course Boogaloos event held Saturday afternoon at the Magnusson parking lot on Grey Mountain.

The annual race, put on by Bor茅ale Mountain Biking and the Contagious Mountain Bike Club, marks the start of the Yukon's mountain bike season. The route travels along some of the city's most scenic bike routes.

"I started the race off at a moderate pace to see what everybody else was doing,鈥� Skerget told the Star post-race.

"James Minifie passed me for a little while there, but then I鈥坢ade a move on one of the climbs and managed to stay in front for the rest for the race.鈥�

The win marked Skerget's first victory at the event. The 20-year-old finished in second the last two years.

The University of Victoria student represented the territory at the Canada Games last summer in Sherbrooke.

"I've been doing this race for quite a few years. It's a really fun time,鈥濃�圫kerget said of the Boogaloos race. "The course was awesome.

"It's such a great cycling community here, it's hard to pass up the chance to come out and hang out with all the people here.鈥�

Minifie, 36, placed second in the long course. Despite grabbing an early lead on the first hill climb, Minifie said Skerget attacked shortly after and was never spotted again.

"I love this one,鈥� he said of the Boogaloos event. "It's always the first hard effort after the winter.鈥�

Minifie's strategy?鈥�

"It's short, so you just go hard. You don't want to get trapped behind someone on the descents.鈥�

A Whitehorse resident by way of Fernie, Minifie said the Whitehorse trail network rivals that of the B.C. community.

"The Boogaloos is one of the better ones around,鈥� he said. "They're all good though.鈥�

Thane Phillips and Derek Crowe finished third and fourth in the long-course race, respectively.

The race courses were altered slightly from last year, rendering them somewhat shorter in distance. Racers were not timed this year either.

Eleven-year-old Victor Thibeault earned victory in the short course race.

Racing since he was five years old, Thibeault grabbed an early lead, he explained while gulping down a well-deserved burger post-race.

"It was a little bit bumpy at some parts, but the rest was pretty fun,鈥� he said of his experience.

The next generation of mountain bikers got the event started with the Run Bike World Cup Championships 鈥� a fun event that saw participants ride a short way into the woods and back. All participants were treated to ice cream for their efforts.

A barbecue and beer garden were also set up for the event.

The next major event on the Yukon mountain bike schedule is the 24 Hours of Light festival June 28 and 29.