Photo by Alex McCuaig - Racers at the Battle Creek Showdown hit the first climb of the nine-kilometre loop outside of Elkwater Saturday.

By Alex McCuaig

Battle Creek Showdown

Showdown in the Hills

Aug 24, 2019 | 5:22 PM

Elkwater, AB – It was a four-hour gruelling trek up and down the Cypress Hills Saturday for the 120 racers who took part in the sixth annual Battle Creek Showdown mountain bike race.

And it was a bit of a journey for Devon, Alberta-based Stewart Hutchings who took up cycling after retiring from the Edmonton police in 1990 and who continues to race into his 70s.

Hutchings said this is his first time racing in the Cypress Hills but he expects his Devon Bicycle Association team will be returning.

“We had two of our girls race down here last year and, of course, they brought back the good news of the trails and how impressed they were with the set up so we have now brought down four racers, two pit crew and we’re looking at bringing more down,” said Hutchings.

Medicine Hat-based racer Cameron McCarty said the mountain bike scene in the area has taken off in the last few years.

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“Years ago there were some rouge trails here that some builders would build,” said McCarty. “But in the last few years – five years – it’s just exploded into 80 kilometres-plus of trails out here and every weekend a parking lot full of riders.”

Race organizers say the event has grown every year since its start, though, consideration is being given to capping the event at 120 riders.