From one extreme to another, our weather dictates what outdoor activities are possibilities and which ones have to wait for the big melt.
Last year in Prince George, when the city was still buried in snow in mid-May, motocross riders were spinning their tires in anticipation of when spring would finally come. Not this year.
The city has been virtually snow-free for about a month already and that's allowed riders to get out on their machines much earlier than usual. The early spring should help Prince George riders who will be in Kamloops this weekend for the season-opening Interior Motorcycle Association races. The two-day event starts Saturday.
"They've been riding in Kamloops for probably (two months)," said Rob Jose, president of the Interior Motorcycle Association. "This is the best year I can remember for getting our kids started riding in Prince George."
The IMA Spring Series resumes next weekend in Quesnel. Races are planned for Kamloops, May 8-9; Pemberton, June 12-13; and Prince George, June 19-20. The Prince George stop, at Blackwater Motorcycle Park, is the first of two provincial qualifying events. Provincial placings will be sorted out on Labour Day weekend, Sept. 4-5 in Kamloops. Another Prince George race will be held Sept. 18-19. Last year's Blackwater races brought close to 200 riders to the city.
The IMA has 13 race dates and riders' final point totals will be based on their best results in 11 events, which compensates riders who have to miss one race weekend.
National events on the calendar include Kamloops (June 5-6), Edmonton (June 12-13), Calgary (June 19-20) and Raymond, Alta. (July 3-5).
