For Bellingham mountain bikers looking to get their weekly fix of competition, the Whatcom World Cup race series provides just that. Since 2019, the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition has hosted a nine-week long spring race series on Galbraith Mountain, offering mountain bikers of all ages and skill levels a chance to compete.
Races kick off at 5:00 p.m. every Wednesday from May 6 to July 1, making it an ideal mid-week outlet for riders looking to get together after work or school, according to James Pulse, the trails and programs director for WMBC.
“To be able to put it on during the middle of the week is pretty unique, and it’s a testament to just how cool Galbraith is,” Pulse said. “Having that right in our backyard allows us to do things that a lot of other communities don't do.”
The series follows a downhill race format, with racers competing in a single run on mostly downhill trails. Riders are timed using chips provided by Pacific Multisports that activate when crossing the start and finish lines, offering an efficient and accurate method for mountain bike race timing, according to Pulse.
Riders accumulate points throughout the series, with their top seven finishes being combined for their overall score. Pulse said despite the competition aspect, the race is designed to be, more than anything, a community event.
“These are really meant to be community-based races, and it’s more so for bragging rights with your friends and things like that. It's really not meant to be all that competitive,” Pulse said.
Galbraith Mountain has over 70 miles of single-track mountain bike trails, providing WMBC a variety of course options to choose from.
“We try to make sure that we're providing fun trails across the mountain, so that way it's a little bit different vibe each week. Some of them are a little bit more flowy, some are a little bit more technical, some are a little steeper, some are a little less steep. So it gives people a different feel each week,” Pulse said.
In addition to the standard full-suspension mountain bike category, there are categories for riders who prefer different styles, such as hardtail and E-bike. E-bikes are much like traditional full suspension mountain bikes, but have an integrated electric motor system that assists while pedaling, primarily on uphill climbs. The hardtail category is for mountain bikes with no rear suspension.
On May 13, after a fresh drizzle of rain, the trails were refreshed after several weeks of dry weather. Robert Orlick, who had just finished competing in the E-bike class in his first Whatcom World Cup, said, “It was pretty sloppy, but the grip was probably better than when it was dusty a couple of days ago.”
Orlick said one benefit of racing in the E-bike category is allowing him to easily ride his bike from his home in Sudden Valley to the trails to save energy for the race. Certain courses also have uphill sections where riders on E-bikes tend to outperform others.
“People on E-bikes have a pretty distinct advantage when they're going uphill,” Pulse said. “To give people (on E-bikes) the ability to participate, but also keep things fair for everybody else that's participating, we have that as a separate category.”
The mist was clearing over the rolling hills and evergreen trees as the last riders crossed the finish line. Pop-up tents and bikes of all kinds lined the dirt road while racers and spectators relaxed and enjoyed hot dogs, beer and the scenic views of Galbraith Mountain.
“There's always a really awesome spread of food up there for folks. Each sponsor kind of comes up with their own menu and it's always a pretty awesome feast up there for the racers,” Pulse said.
To Whatcom World Cup competitors, the event is bigger than any single race. The event brings riders together each Wednesday to share a love for the sport and the vibrant biking community that surrounds it, according to Matt Overby, a rider experience representative for Transition Bike Co.
“The atmosphere around the environment is seriously rad. You’ve got people racing in costumes, lining up for their very first race, and battling it out for the overall title,” Overby wrote in an email. “The Whatcom World Cup brings the Bellingham riding community together to ride hard, hang out and have a good time in the woods.”
Zander Ulmer (he/him) is a sports and recreation senior reporter for The Front this quarter. He is in his third year at Western, majoring in visual journalism. When he is not reporting, you can find him skiing up at Mount Baker or kayaking down the Nooksack River. You can reach him at zanderulmer.thefront@gmail.com.
