In less than four months the snow covered ski trails at Hardwood Ski and Bike will be home to the Pan Am Games mountain bike events.
The site has been in the planning stage to host the events since late 2012, and so far, everything has progressed as anticipated. Officials say that's because most of the work for the games was completed last summer with almost $300,000 invested into the trail.
“The trail is 95 per cent done,” says Jack Sasseville of Hardwood Ski and Bike. “What we want to do this spring is what's called grubbing, which is to take the lower branches and leaves off from the trees, which will allow spectators, who are in the centre of the open field to look up and see the riders in the trees.”
On July 12, Hardwood will welcome approximately 100 Pan Am athletes and coaches and thousands of others.
In order to better organize traffic, a number of area roads are expected to be closed around the event and spectators will park offsite for free at the Oro Worlds Fairgrounds on the Seventh Line. A shuttle service will be offered from there.
“I think people should realize is that Canadians are the favourites in this event, so when they come out and watch, they're going to have a chance to see Canadians win medals.”
