Local mountain biker Dillon Morrison is climbing the ranks in the race world.
Morrison, who has been accepted to the Pacific Institue of Sports Training for next school year, competed recently in two big races and finished within his personal goals for both.
At the Mount Prevost race on May 19, which was a part of the Island Cup Downhill Series, Morrison finished sixth, even after crashing twice.
“The conditions were really sloppy and greasy,” he said.
“It was a pretty difficult race for the series and a really hard course to do well on. It basically came down to just staying on the bike.”
Morrison competed last weekend at Race the Ranch in Kamloops which was the first race of the season in the B.C. Cup series. He placed eighth in the U17 expert category which was within his personal goal of finishing in the top ten.
“It was definitely different from anything else I have ridden before,” said Morrison of the dusty, jump-filled hard packed clay terrain.
“It wasn’t a technical, tree-packed course like I’m used to. With the speed the terrain gave you, looking far ahead was a must because if you looked down it was over.”
The Grade 9 Parkland Secondary School student, who was recently sponsored by Cove Bikes out of North Vancouver, is now looking forward to a course he knows better when he races July 7 at Sunpeaks for the second race in the B.C. Cup series.