Hardwood Ski and Bike will be the venue for 45 top male and female riders competing at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games.
“From a business point of view the visibility is going to be strong for us,” said Hardwood owner Jack Sasseville.
The facility has a brand new course for the athletes to race on.
“We started the trail last,” said Sasseville. “Probably close to $300,000 has been spent on the new trail.”
Former Canadian team member Andrew Watson has already tackled the new course and says it’s more than challenging.
“It's really come up in line with the world cup courses in Europe and abroad with lots of technical trail features like rocks, drops and logs,” said Watson.
Mountain biking made its Pan American Games debut in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in 1995. Since then, Canada has earned seven medals in the sport, including three gold.
At the Guadalajara 2011 Pan Am Games, Canada's Max Plaxton won silver, while Amanda Sin of Collingwood, ON, captured bronze. Canada's last gold was won by Catharine Pendrel at the Rio 2007 Pan Am Games. All medallists are still competing on the world stage.
As the sole Ontario facility with a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)-rated race course, Hardwood Ski and Bike has previously hosted Canada Cup and Ontario Cup events, as well as national championships.
Hardwood is currently hosting the 2014 Canadian XCO/XCE Mountain Bike Championships until July 20. The competition features some of Canada's best in the sport as well as riders from every level, with ages ranging from five to 60.
In order for mountain bikers to compete at their best, the Games will have satellite accommodation for athletes, located nearby at Horseshoe Valley Resort in Barrie. This village is in addition to the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletes' Village, located in downtown Toronto.
.
