After a two-year absence, the Rockstar Downhill finally made its long-awaited return to the Test of Metal festival on Sunday (June 16).
Two years of poor weather led to the event being cancelled in 2011 and 2012 but a sunny weekend opened the gates for downhill lovers.
Event organizer Dave Gillies said it was a welcome return.
I thought it was awesome out there today, he said. It's one of the best spectator events in Squamish and I think everyone had a great time watching and riding.
The approximately two-kilometre course saw a total of 28 riders take on the trails in Valleycliffe. Gillies said participants were bummed to not be able to strut their stuff the past two years.
People were definitely disappointed, he said. There's a lot of interest in this race from both riders and people just wanting to watch it. But we just can't do this race in the rain. It's truly one of the hardest courses out there.
Riders speeds were recorded with a radar gun in a downhill stretch near the spectator area. The top recorded speed saw a competitor shoot down the hill going 41 kilometres per hour.
One of those riders was Coun. Bryan Raiser, who dressed up in an Elvis Presley jumpsuit for the occasion. He said it was great to see the downhill event return.
It was a fantastic time as always, he said, noting he's participated in every single Rockstar Downhill race. It's a highlight of the Test of Metal weekend for me. It showcases riders and it showcases just what we have here in Squamish this is some of the world's best downhill and I'm not sure that many people even know it exists.
Gillies said the event will return, weather permitting, in 2014 and he hopes to see another packed field of competitors. Results were unavailable at press time. For more details on the event, visit www.testofmetal.com.
