02/22/2023
On Friday, Coast Mountain Trail Running (CMTR) co-founders Gary Robbins and Geoff Langford sent out a statement on behalf of the entire race organizing team that thanked the resort municipality and the local tourism board.
"Our time in Whistler has come to an end," it said.
The group organizes trail races on Vancouver's North Shore and B.C.'s Sea to Sky corridor.
"We will not be pursuing any further events within the township going forward," the statement said.
"After six successful editions of the race, it has become crystal clear that there is simply no path forward for us to produce races of this magnitude along the alpine terrain within the confines of Whistler."
Though events were put on pause during the pandemic, Ellie Greenwood, an ultra-marathoner, online running coach and former 100-kilometre world champion, said the WAM events attracted competitors from all over the world.
Greenwood said it offered a rare opportunity to race in the Fitzimmons Range, where Whistler Mountain is the most famous summit and home of the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort owned by American company Vail Resorts.
"Obviously Whistler is an iconic destination," she said in an interview. "The trail running community was super excited. I really felt the momentum was just getting going."
Greenwood ran past editions of the 25-kilometre WAM race and also worked as a volunteer. The weekend included an ascent race, as well as 25-, 50-, and 100-kilometre races and a 160-kilometre race, all spread across three days.
The event also hosted a "triple whammy," where contestants run an ascent race on Friday, a 25-kilometre race on Saturday and a 50-kilometre race on Sunday.
