Race season for the Whatcom World Cup began in Bellingham Wednesday. The Whatcom World Cup is a series of mountain bike races, hosted and run by the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition (WMBC) and Pacific Multisports, that take place on Wednesdays through the late spring and summer. This season will run until Saturday, Aug. 27.
The events are for all ages, beginning with 18 and under, followed by older age groups. The 18 and under races begin at 5 p.m. and adult races begin at 5:45 p.m. on the SST trail on Galbraith Mountain. Racers position themselves according to skill and speed at the starting line and enter the course every 30 seconds, however, racers may ask for more time if needed. The competition is scored by total time and is tracked by chips, provided by Pacific Multisport, and posted to the WMBC and Pacific Multisport websites.
Each race costs $15 to enter and a one-time $5 fee per season for a race plate. Racers must be a WMBC member to participate which annually costs $35 for an individual. Individuals can register for a race or become a member on the WMBC website. Season passes for the Whatcom World Cup are currently sold out.
Racers and spectators are encouraged to bike to the race if they live close by. The only people with vehicle access to the mountain will be sponsors and volunteers. Dogs must be kept on a leash and always attended to. If participants come across a downed rider, they must stop and check if the downed rider is uninjured before continuing. If the downed rider does need medical attention the participant should call 911 or wait for another participant to show up and assist by finding a race official. EMS will be strategically placed along the racecourse at each event.
The WMBC needs volunteers to help run the races and will also host post-race volunteer trail maintenance. For more information and updates on courses go to wmbcmtb.org.
