Kabush, Pendrel show their metal

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More than 900 riders lined up to test themselves against the gruelling 67 kilometre course at the Test of Metal. Canada's pre-eminent mountain biker, Geoff Kabush won the event in a course record time of 2:29:25. On the women's side, Catharine Pendrel defended her championship with a winning time of 2:51:53.

This race featured every past male winner of the previous 14 races. It also featured 200 bagpipers in Squamish participating in the BC Legion Annual Highland Gathering who played "Scotland the Brave" as the riders left the starting chute.

This is the 15th running of the Test of Metal on the course in Squamish, and every year the race increases in popularity. This year it sold out the 800 available spots in less then 25 minutes.

Miller attributes the success of the race to an attitude among organizers that the event is more significant to the guy finishing 550th than it is for someone competing for the top five. "For most people, they're only competing with themselves to finish. We want all of those people to remember the event as special."

The forecast for rain and showers all weekend held off for the most part with only one downpour on Friday evening, and most events had record participation.

Friday evening saw hundreds of people on the streets in downtown Squamish enjoying bike-friendly events and entertainment from some local performers. The party atmosphere continued on Saturday night with the ska/surf band Brave New Waves entertaining a full house at the official Test of Metal after party at the Howe Sound Inn and Brew Pub.

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