Get ready for a hot race: the 2009 Mount Revelstoke Steamer

Cyclists in the 2008 Revelstoke Steamer lineup at the starting gate at the foot of Mount Revelstoke. About 90 racers participated last year. Organizer Brendan MacIntosh expects more than 100 will compete on Sept. 13 for $2,000 in prize money. Photo courtesy of Mike Welch Photography
Cyclists in the 2008 Revelstoke Steamer lineup at the starting gate at the foot of Mount Revelstoke. About 90 racers participated last year. Organizer Brendan MacIntosh expects more than 100 will compete on Sept. 13 for $2,000 in prize money. Photo courtesy of Michael Welch Photography

By David F. Rooney

The 27-kilometre-long road up Mount Revelstoke will be a smoking-hot stretch of tarmac on Sept. 13 when an expected 100 cyclists race upwards in the 2009 Mount Revelstoke Steamer.

“This is a higher and longer race than many of the others (in western Canada),” said Brendan MacIntosh of Flowt Bikes and Skis, one of two organizers of the annual event (the other is URRACA). “That makes it a real challenge.”

MacIntosh said the 2008 race brought out about 90 cyclists and he expects this year’s event will see 100 or more cyclists enroll in the Steamer. And why not? There will be $2,000 in prize money up for grabs for the men and women registered in the over-40 and under-40 categories. There’s also a kids category and while there will be prizes for children in the race it won’t be in the form of cash. There will also be some cool draw prizes.

Although he expects that “about two-thirds will be locals” the rest of the competitors will be from BC and Alberta, including Canadian Olympian Catherine Pendrel.

“The format of the race is an individual time trial, with riders leaving from the 0-km marker at 30 second intervals,” MacIntosh said.

Registration is available at karelo.com, or in Flowt Bikes and Skis after Sept. 1. Last year’s results are available at flowt.org. Photos of the event were taken by local photographer Mike Welch. You can seem more of his photos from the 2008 Steamer below. Mike’s website is michaelwelchphotography.com.

Rod Kessler gives it his all as he powers his way up Mount Revelstoke in the 2008 Mount Revelstoke Steamer. Photo courtesy of Mike Welch Photography
Rod Kessler gives it his all as he powers his way up Mount Revelstoke in the 2008 Mount Revelstoke Steamer. Photo courtesy of Michael Welch Photography
Olympian Catherine Pendrel races in the 2008 Mount Revelstoke Steamer. She is expected back for this year's race, which takes place on Sept. 13. Photo courtesy of Mike Welch Photography
Olympian Catherine Pendrel races in the 2008 Mount Revelstoke Steamer. She is expected back for this year's race, which takes place on Sept. 13. Photo courtesy of Michael Welch Photography
Adults are not the only racers in the Mount Revelstoke Steamer. Here Kellen Viznaugh and his sister Bronte have a little fun with young racer Shep Howatt at the 2008 edition of the race. Photo courtesy of Mike Welch Photography
Adults are not the only racers in the Mount Revelstoke Steamer. Here Kellen Viznaugh and his sister Bronte have a little fun with young racer Shep Howatt at the 2008 edition of the race. Photo courtesy of Michael Welch Photography

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