No matter how much fanfare accompanies the Test of Metal each year no one can take its survival for granted.
It's not for a lack of passionate volunteers, racers, sponsors and organizers, but for the vast yet volatile path on which the course carves across a landscape with a continuing future in forestry and development.
That's why in late 2008, Test of Metal Inc. established a committee to undertake the daunting task of gaining park status to protect the 67-kilometre course. Headed by longtime Test Pilot Richard MacKellar, the six-person committee set out to open the lines of communication with the many landowners while sounding a rallying cry to amass support, which quickly came in waves.
"I think there's a lot of support for this," said MacKellar. "Particularly when you think of 麻豆社国产being the outdoor recreation capital of Canada and the willingness of everybody associated with it to say 'how do we make 麻豆社国产something special and build on that reputation that the community has?'"
One of the committee's first actions was to develop the Protect the Test campaign. Test enthusiasts were invited to submit video, photographic and written testimonials on the race's importance to them as individuals and to the 麻豆社国产community as a whole. The reward was entry into future races.
Nearly 25 entries were posted on the group's website www.protectthetest.com. Some were from young riders like National Champion Lauren Rosser, while others were submitted by local mountain bike mainstays like Tantalus Bike Shop's Al Ross.
In a video submission, Ross refers to the crowd friendly section of Garibaldi Highlands' Rollercoaster as the mountain bike Tour de France.
"You come down and people are lined the whole way with cowbells ringing and cheering," said Ross.
"You can be in first place or you can be in 800th and it's the same reception you get. And it's unique. You can do a [] Canada Cup or a big race at the Canadian level and not see crowds like that. It's just inspiring."
Along with the Powerhouse Plunge, the area around Rollercoaster is one of the top priorities for protection because it is one of the most threatened, said MacKellar. The committee is focusing its attention on the areas most at risk. And the best way to preserve the trails is to highlight their value.
Put simply: where there is pending development, the value of having pristine trails nearby should increase the value of the surrounding lands. Where there is pending logging, the cooperative use of forests can only help companies get future projects through in a proven sustainable manner, said MacKellar.
"If done carefully and thoughtfully, I don't think it creates a mass conflict with other parts of the community," he said.
MacKellar points to the Great Bear Rainforest, which was protected in the 1990s with the cooperation of government, conservationists, First Nations, hunters and loggers, as an example of what is possible for the Test of Metal Sports Park.
