- Spartan bills itself as an event of ‘pure primitive craziness.’ Photo by Tourism Squamish.
By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Oct. 27, 2012
Spartan Race organisers will donate money to the Squamish Trails Society to compensate for the damage the race did to a mossy area in the Smoke Bluffs Park.
The Burger and Fries connector trails is said to be the area affected by the Spartan Race as a result of race participants completing one of their challenges in that area.
As many as 1,200 people took part in the 12-km race held in Squamish on Sept. 22.
Spartan bills itself as the ‘world’s leading obstacle race’ series, an event of ‘pure primitive craziness.’
The damage to the moss was in a small area, but a full restoration might take considerable time.
Smoke Bluff members felt the mossy areas should have been bordered off, and demanded that organisers donate money to compensate for it.
The organisers have since offered to compensate the Squamish Trails Society for damage to the moss.
The compensation has yet to be determined.
Squamish Trails Society president Bob Brant said he received an email from Spartan Race organiser Dean Stanton, who offered to pay for the moss that was destroyed during the race.
“We will dedicate their donation to the multi-use trails,” Brant said.
The incident has led to calls for greater oversight over the park by members of the Smoke Bluffs parks committee.
Last year, the council passed the Smoke Bluffs Park Filming Guidelines, which requires film crews to hire guides while shooting in the park.
The guidelines were established after film crews had reportedly cut down trees and scrapped climbing bolts from the Smoke Bluffs Park.
Two film companies since last year have paid a guide to ensure they don’t damage the Park.
Spartan Race organiser Dean Stanton didn’t get back to the Reporter by press time.
District spokesperson Christina Moore said the district is currently seeking public input into a special events policy that would form the guidelines that event organisers would be required to follow.
“This would help ensure protection of the natural elements and infrastructure within Smoke Bluff Park,” Moore said.
Moore said the district has an advisory position on the Smoke Bluffs Committee, and the district would like to see a guidelines document developed.
