The Gravity Cup downhill mountain bike race has become the first major sporting event at Mount Sima to be cancelled following Tuesday's sudden closure.

The recreational site had served as a ski/snowboard hill through the winter for nearly 20 years.

In the past couple of years, it moved into summer operations with an adventure park and events like the Gravity Cup.

The hill's operators, the Great Northern Ski Society, decided to close the hill and begin dissolving its board following a vote by city council not to provide the requested $610,000 to keep the hill going amid significant financial problems

Council did vote, however, in favour of paying off the debt owed on the hill's chairlift.

Officials with host AFD Petroleum Ltd. announced Thursday "with great regret” that as a result of the closure, the July 20-21 race will not go ahead.

"Despite gallant efforts to make alternate plans with the co-operation of the Great Northern Ski Society, the closure of Mount Sima has impacted our ability to deliver the quality event that was highly anticipated by the racing community,” reads Thursday's statement.

"Our intent was to build upon last year's success, but without the integral component of the chairlift and comfortable chalet, attendees would not enjoy the same experience.”

Anyone registered for the event will receive a full refund.

Biking enthusiasts are also encouraged to register for the Gravity Cup that's set for Sept. 14-15 in Hinton, Alta., which was rescheduled from its original June dates due to rain. Details on the race are available at afdracing.ca.

The petroleum company thanked the more than 20 sponsors which had committed to the Whitehorse race, noting it's grateful for "their abundance of support, donations-in-kind and cash contributions.

"AFD Petroleum remains committed to serving the City of Whitehorse, Watson Lake and Dawson City, and looks forward to participating in other community events in the future.”

AFD spokesman Geoff Pendral could not be reached by press time for further comment.

While fallout from the hill's closure continues for groups like AFD, a number of residents are continuing to call on the city to take action toward having the hill reopened.

At Tuesday night's city council meeting, two people expressed their desire to see the hill reopen at least for the winter season.

Both Kris Pekarik, who also addressed council on the matter last week, and Laurie Henderson pointed out that despite having memberships with the ski society, the Sima Summit meetings were closed to them and others.

The sessions were held in May following the society's initial request to the city for funding.

The closed-door sessions were set up for stakeholders to come up with ideas for Sima's financial future.

While council has remained firm that it wants to see a community-based approach to Sima's issues, Henderson said she doesn't have a clear idea on what that means.

While she emailed the board earlier on the matter, she never got a response.

"I don't know how to help you; I don't know how to help the board,” she said.

She asked when there may be a venue for such a discussion, or whether she needs to book a meeting so there is some public discussion.

"Someone has to help,” Henderson said.

It's been pointed out by council members that until the board dissolves, the hill is still under the society's control.

Questioned by Coun. Betty Irwin on that, Pekarik noted she was speaking to a transitional role that is likely to happen with the dissolution of the board.

She pointed out with the decision to pay off the chairlift debt, provided the chairlift is titled to the city, shows the city is increasingly becoming an owner of the hill's assets.

Pekarik also suggested the city should look at securing the WildPlay adventure park structures because they were also publicly funded (though through federal funding).

Longtime businessman Rolf Hougen, whose son Craig serves as the society's president, has issued a call to city officials to take action as well.

He suggested in a letter to the Star this week that the city provide funding to Sima from its reserves to pay off creditors and make a 10-year funding agreement for the hill to give it an opportunity to mature and grow.

He also offered, if five other businesses are willing to join him, to secure funds to pay off the creditors.

See commentary, letters, pages 16-18.

By STEPHANIE WADDELL

Star Reporter