After a slow beginning to his season, he notched up a win at the TranRockies in the inaugural solo event. Next, he won the Alberta Provincial XC in Hinton, and now he’s come second in the US Marathon Final over the weekend. That’d be Jasper’s born and bred, Cory Wallace.

The young hopeful headed down the west coast towards Soda Springs in California where he competed in the last of the National Ultra Endurance 100 mile series.

In a race that followed the trails of gold and silver miners of the 1850’s, Wallace went into battle against what he called, “the most identifiable mountain biker in America”  Tinker Juarez - due in part to his dreadlocks, but also his Olympic and world cup race experience.

With Juarez the only man faster than Wallace on race day, the Jasperite was happy with second place.

“Finishing 2nd was a wicked day for me,” he wrote on his blog.

Wallace will be heading back north for another two races this weekend. On Saturday he competes in the Cheakamus Challenge and Sunday he’ll be in Kananaskis to defend his title at the Bow 80 MX.

Wallace wasn’t the only Jasperite racing over the weekend, with Loni Klettl back on her road bike competing in the Provincial Hill Climb in Banff.

Klettl raced up  Mount Norquay Road, which is 4.8 km in length and includes seven switch backs.

Despite taking out the provincial championship for XC in Hinton, Klettl crossed the line third just 42 seconds behind first place in the open womens category.