MUC OFF – Cross on the Rock 2023.
Newsletter #3 – Getting ready for SUPER October

SEASON #17 is underway!!
The Mid Summer Menno race raised $2600 to KidSport.  Thank you to everyone that came out and supported this event!
Each event has local sponsors that support that one event but the series will not run without the amazing series sponsors that we have. Our title sponsor is MUC OFF.  We also have support from Eleven Speed Coffee, Island Cycles, Study Build, Riverway Dental, Hotel Zed, Frontrunners, Rock City Cycles and Goodr.  Please support our local as well as series sponsors when ever you have a chance.1. Coal Cross Wrap Up.
PHOTOS from Patrick LINK from Coal Cross

Norm’s Notes.

  • FYI results are posted live through the day on webscorer and then after the event moved to www.crossontherock.com
  • My bike has still not been washed.  It is still dusty!
  • So many racers in the OPEN men and Masters/Intermediate women’s categories!!
  • Come on Launch…….racers bring your friends out to try cross!
  • Tycho’s drink stand saved my life
  • 100+ races and we have never seen anything like Tim’s quad whirly whirl.  It was amazing!
  • So great to see everyone out!!  The racing was HOT!
  • Seemed like there were a lot of mechanical issues.  Coal Cross last year was ranked one of the tamest races of all time…..this year not so much!
  • Some new faces at the front of the races!  Always great to see!!

Notes from the Race Director Tom

The opening round of COTR was a great success from our end. A special thanks to Brett and Sinead Whitehead, Beth Pechter, Sonja Hanelt, Nataile Wright, Allison Mathers, Scott McGregor, Phil, Sam & Nico Schum, Dan Lehton, Chuck Ashton, Mark Purcell, Gray Tunnah, Erica Spizawka, Alex Smith, Gavin MacPhail, Dominique McGrady, Loki Motai, and everyone who helped with course tear down after the last race. A big thanks to Tim Roberts for designing and implementing the quad whirly whirl, or as some have coined it, “The Tim’s Drive Thru”.
I hope I didn’t miss anyone, but this event brings out so many amazing community volunteers, and I hope you all realize how your positive attitudes are contagious and improve the attitudes and lives of others.
A huge thanks to our Coal Cross event sponsors as well: Biblio Taco, Blue Toque Sports, Easton/RaceFace, and Trail Bicycles. Please thank these awesome sponsors by ordering a delicious burrito, buying some pre-owned outdoor gear, buying a wheelset or bike parts, and taking your bike in for service with them… all at the same time.
Highlights for me: watching Gray Tunnah hop the barriers, watching the Masters Women’s field fighting each other for gummy worm hand-ups, seeing Drew and Joele out racing again.
Lowlights: Cumberland kids tampering with the course overnight, getting beat by kids who were just being born when I was 22.
See you in Qualicum!

2. Cross on the Commons – Qualicum Beach PREVIEW!!
We have an early preview for you for Race #2 of the 2023 season!  Qualicum Beach is ready for us!!

Registration is OPEN and you can register up to 6:00pm the night before the race.

Location:  Qualicum Beach Civic Centre, 747 Jones St.

Parking:  At the Civic Centre, Skateboard Park or on Jones St.

Registration:  Near the kids playground and the Team Tent area

Team Tents:  Same as last couple of years.  Parallel to the paved path that separates lower and middle playing fields.  (NO team tents at the Skateboard parking lot)  Drop your tent/gear off then park in the lot at the end of Park Rd.  Do not spike tent supports within 1 metre of the paved path due to buried irrigation.

Course Description:  Similar to last year’s race but with a couple of new kinks.  Race start near the most northerly (lower) playing field and run slightly uphill towards the kid’s playground.  A clockwise direction on the same grass, same BMX, same goat path, same forested sections.  Sadly, not the same sand!  Will the ‘logsticals’ be back?  Hot/dry or wet/muddy??  Come and find out.

Washrooms:  Situated in a standalone building adjacent to the paved path.  QB calls it the Fieldhouse and it’s very close to the Registration/Team Tent area.

NOTE #1:  Bike wash over at the civic centre, side facing the skateboard park.

NOTE #2:  The Dude’s Dogs (CASH ONLY) food truck will be onsite for your dining pleasure.

SEASON #17 COTR Schedule

September 10th. Season opener in Cumberland at Coal Cross.  Make it a double header with the Dodge X Off Road triathlon on the Saturday.
October 1st. Cross on the Commons in Qualicum.
October 9th. Nanaimo. Bowen park.
October 15th should be the Cross fondo.  If you have not done it.  You SHOULD do it!
October 22nd. Grand Opening of the Langford Bike Park Club house AND the Broad Street Cycles GP at the Jordie Lunn Bike Park.
October 29th. Hot Crossed Bunnies at Beban Park in Nanaimo
November 12th. CoweX series final at the Cowichan Fair Grounds!!

OTHER CYCLOCROSS of importance for 2023
Nanaimo Cross Practices  return for the first time since 2019 with the help of Rock City Cycling and Airhouse.  Thursday nights at 6:00pm at Beban Park near the center of the park where we start the Hot Crossed Bunnies race.  For future sites keep your eye on the COTR Socials and Rock City Cycles Socials.

Victoria Cross Club  The BEST practice is practice races!  The longest running cyclocross events on Vancouver Island, BC and maybe Canada.  Check out this article written last year.  The “practices” stat next week and are on Wednesday Nights.  Check out their site here.

Cowichan Cross Practices.  We have HEARD that their are some practices happening mid island with the Dirt Groms but we will try to get confirmation.  Every Tuesday a spy at the Cowichan SD office sends up video of people practicing at the field beside their office.  So there is something going on!

Comox Valley Cross Practices  Wednesday nights in the Valley.  Here is the FB page

Provincial Championships. The Thrashers bike club will be putting this event on the THIRD (This is the update) weekend in November in the lower mainland.  This is the weekend between the COTR finals and the National Championships in Victoria.  Perfect time to dial in your fitness.  HOPEFULLY Cycling Canada has modified the nationals call up so that the provincials in each province contributes to call up at Nationals like it should.

Cyclocross National Championships are going to be November 24-25-26 We have now heard that they WILL return to Saanich.

Parting Shot

Newsletter #3 – Getting ready for SUPER October