Cross on the Rock 2026. Season #20
Newsletter #5 – We head to Port Alberni – Whiskey Throttle CX
Warm Ups:
- Every year we have it the Port Alberni race is SO FUN! Don’t be scared of the hump and stop in Cathedral Grove if you have to….but you do NOT want to miss this race!
- Tycho did an interview in FRENCH for Radio Canada on the 20th year of Cross on the Rock. If you understand french….check it out HERE!
- SOCKS have (Finally) arrived!! We will have them for pick up at Port Alberni and the last 2 races of the year. There are still some to buy (I think we might be sold out of the smallest sizes)……Christmas is coming!
- We are trying to send Derek Steel to the WORLD CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS in Italy. Check out more information below.
- Tripleshot Cross Fondo was last weekend and the photos and stories were top level! If you have never done that event you should put it on your list for next fall. It is a true “event”!
- PUMPKIN CROSS happens NEXT weekend in the lower mainland and Barry sent us the following note:
I am offering a 20% discount to anyone who lives on the Island and has done a COTR race in 2026. Pumpkin Cross is on November 1 so doesn’t conflict with any of your races. Could you get this information out to your riders. The comp code is: norm Full information in my tech guide at www.localride.ca.
1. Whiskey Throttle CX
Pre-Registration only. Registration closes at 6:00pm the night before each race. IF you are late…..it is not too late. Just e-mail the race director and be prepared with bribes/reparations/an “offering”.HERE IS THE REGISTRATION LINK
2026 – No License required!
PORT ALBERNI IS BACK!!
New Venue – WHISKEY THROTTLE CX!
Location: AVMX Cold Creek Motocross park – 3150 Milligan Road, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 8T5, Canada
– 2.5 hour drive from Victoria
– 1 hour drive from Nanaimo
– 1.5 hour drive from Duncan
– 1 hour drive from Cumberland
Parking: (SEE THE MAP) There will be row parking. As you enter the motocross track, cross the bridge. Once you see the track there will be parking on the left-hand side; follow the signs. Park closely.
Registration: If you need to pick up your race number, or switch your category. It will be located near the start line.
Washrooms will be porta-potties, located across from the registration hut.
Team Tents: All team tents will go at the top of the parking area, near the cement blocks. If you have a team tent get there early and park at the top *NOT at the tents but in the closest parking. (See the attached map.)
The pits: Located near the team tents/DJ booth.
Course: Dirt, singletrack, MUD, tractor pull, woodchips, sprinklers, and gravel! It is a slow course *Singlespeeders gear down ;)* Flowy, sticky, heavy. Port Alberni spirit is huge on this one!
Live DJ’s!!! DJ OZ, DJ Hammy, and DJ Goon – each bringing their own unique style to the venue. I’ve heard rumours of a B2B set!
Camping: There is “dry” camping available at the Mototrack if needed. Please reach out info@jumpingslug.com and we will connect the dots.
Food Trucks: Ro’s and Surta foods will be providing the good eats this year!
Beer gardens: Twin City Brewing from Port Alberni will be back! Serving up their delicious beer! Make sure to support local and have a cold one while cheering on the race.
Prizing: Prizing will be provided by The Jumping Slug Bike Shop, Godfather Garage, Eleven Speed Coffee, V.I. Soaring center, Trek, Twin City Brewing, Bomber Boulders and our series sponsor Muc Off.
Huge draw prize for one lucky racer at the end of the day! (Must be there to win the prize)
This is THE race of the season, you won’t want to miss it!!
Love the Slugs <3
2. Muc Off Cup – Review
Thank you all for coming out and racing! It’s always great to see the mainlanders coming over for the Muc Off Cup; also, there seem to be more clubs represented than ever before. We had a great day for the races and for the most part, everything went incredibly smoothly. We are happy to report that the injured racer will be ok but won’t be racing for the rest of the season. A huge thank you to the racers who stopped to help and to Medix.
Big thanks to the setup crew; the course was impressive! The Muc Off Cup is one of our most challenging and most loved courses. Thank you the City of Nanaimo for their continued support. Thank you to everyone who pitched in to help tear down. It was speedy!!
Thank you to Pete Creighton and his crew Jamie and Peter for mechanical assistance; there wasn’t much to pressure wash this year. Thank you again to Pete, HLC and Muc Off for the great prizes. They help make our race the best it can be.
I remember when Norm started organizing cross races, it began simply with a few friends and grew to become an important part of the cycling community. Thanks for 20 years of hard work. I don’t think any of us can understand the amount of behind-the-scenes work you put in.
Thanks to Sip and Smash for the good eats and continued support.
Great job Rock City team!
Corey and Sean
Norm’s Notes
- I always have a bit more involvement with this race as it is one of our “Home” races as well as organized by my home bike shop and team. So when it goes well and the course adjustments/tweaks are well received it is extra special.
- I want to give a special thanks and a huge shout to all the people that helped with the in-race accident with Dave Sousa. It is impossible to monitor every meter of a 3k course so when everyone sprang into action it was bang on what needed to happen. We had people almost immediately checking on him while Jack Piket directed racers to slow down, no passing and stay right. Tycho ran as fast as he could to HQ to inform Medix who were apparently already moving. Sean, Tycho, Jack and others came back to the crash site and made sure everything was functioning and Dave was taken care of.
Dave wanted to extend his gratitude to EVERYONE involved. He felt very well cared for and taken care of.
Again thank you to everyone and it is a great reminder to all of us on how to take care of our community of racers!
- The NAKED Show and Shine was super cool so thanks to Sam for bringing that together. I hope everyone had a chance to check out some of the hand made beautiful bikes that Sam has built. The TALL bike was also a HUGE hit!!
- Hannah Simms finally did a COTR race! Highlight!!
- Some great EXTRA prized from Pete at HLC bike! The EVOC bike bag won by Finlay…..what a great prize!!
3. Weekly Training
If you have a weekly training session let us know about it.
So many practices going on!!
Up Island: @trailbicycles Club has their practices on Wednesday.
Nanaimo: @rockcitycyclesnanaimo practices at 5:30 on Wednesday this week. They are meeting at Diver Lake Park.
Greater Victoria a few options:
a) Cross Club is the racy one. Also on Wednesdays BUT not every Wednesday.
b) When Cross club is not happening or if you want to add something on a THURSDAY night @bluebridgeracing has their CX after dark rides on October 22 and November 5th. They will have demo lights from Full On Lighting as well.
Cross is here! 🔥 Come celebrate the start of the season with us by riding in the woods at night! We’re hosting a series of group rides leaving from the shop. Expect 1.5 to 2hrs of fun, with a sprinkle of technical single track. We will have an A and B group depending on how many people come out, so please let your friends know! @fullonlighting with be out riding with us with some demos – let us know if you’re in need of some lights for the ride; more details to come. Route will be posted at the start of the week. Meeting at the @oakbaybikes parking lot at 6pm
c) @uviccycling Cedar Hill Corners are done for the season. Great to have another training option in Victoria this year. Nice work U Vic Cycling!
If there is any other practices happening (@buttcatracing @cycletherapybikes ) let us know and we will promo them.
4. Derek (Titanium) Steel
Derek Steel has done 124 Cross on the Rock races!! 124!!!! We are trying to send him to a different cross race. The WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS in Italy. At 83 he has a serious chance for a podium. Help him out!
There is go fund me page for Derek. Be a part of his world championship bid! Be a part of history!!
Check out this shot from Derek at the 2013 World Masters Champs where he placed 4th. Those are not fat carbon spokes. That is Kentucky MUD. If you were there…..you will know how savage it was.
Remaining Series Races:
October
October 25th we will be heading to Port Alberni (Race #5) and praying for MUD. New Venue Alert! We will be at our 4th venue in the Alberni Valley at the Alberni Moto Cross center.
November
Our past research as shown that a race after a Saturday Halloween is NOT great. So no race on November 1st! NO TIME CHANGE…..which might compress the set up for….
Race #6 on November 8th will be the Blue Bridge Cross , Jordie Lunn Bike Park. Langford!! A perfect spot for a potential bike shop challenge so think of who you might have on your team if you work at a bike shop.
AND Hot Crossed Bunnies on November 15 to finish off our 20th season. We will be having a PARTY at Beban park and finishing the year off with a NAKED Bikes Bike Frame!! Hand made by Sam Whittingham.
Thanks to our series sponsors:
MUC OFF Coastal Community Credit Union Naked Bike
Frontrunners – Nanaimo Riverway Dental Eleven Speed Coffee for the coveted Last Not Lapped!
Rock City Cycles Re/MAX Camosun (Single Speed Beer) Cycles West
Parting Shot
When the Canadian XCO Champ, COTR Alumni and World Cup star shows up to race AND brings a bag of extra team kit…..the best kind of feeding frenzy follows!!
Thanks Emilly!
See everyone at Whiskey Throttle CX on Sunday!
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