By Elli Kohnert
North Thompson Star/Journal
The 2013 North Face Dirty Feet Cross Country MTB Marathon was held at Sun Peaks on July 21. The North Face Dirty Feet is a trail racing events company based in the Okanagan. The races they organize take the competitors over a variety of terrain, including rocks, roots, logs, and up and down ski hills.
Barriere resident, Alex McDonald, competed in this race, and shared his experience with the Star/Journal.
“It was a steep trail, very narrow, and had lots of debris and rock; I did not like that very much, said McDonald.
Despite his dislike of the terrain in the race, McDonald managed to keep his focus and won the first place spot for the 20 km version of the race (there is also a 40 km and a 60 km race the same day). Part of the course included a 7 km uphill run which he completed in 1.13 minutes.
McDonald says he has been involved in sports with his mom since he was about two years old. And from then on, nothing could stop him from his passion for sport.
“I started training seriously once I was in high school,” said the young man, “Then I got into competition when I was in grade seven, playing soccer and downhill skiing.
McDonlad says his training coach insists that he complete a certain number of hours every week, which he does; spending many hours biking on a new, top of the line cross country bike.
McDonald’s mom, Tammy, says her son worked all summer doing yard work, including working for the District of Barriere, to pay for this special bike, along with a little bit of financial help from his parents.
What does this young athlete have planned for the future?
“I want to do more off season biking,” says McDonald, “That helps for training to do the serious skiing competitions later.”
When asked if he thinks he has a positive influence on the youth in the community, his reply was “I might... if they see me biking and training around here they may get interested in sports too”.