ch 31. 29300 Justin Beddall Contributing Writer ANDREW Shandro is riding a new to work this year. The protessional dovenhill mountan bike racer trom North Vancouver bas signed a one vear deal to ride for the new Ford Devined team this season “The unique thing about this is that we're all Canadian riders said Shandro of the team sponsored by Ford Canada and € Devinei. a small Quebeo- based bike manufacturer. “We'll all be travelling together and com peting in the North American World Cup events, the NORBA (National, Ort Road Mountain Biking Association s and nwo oor three C anadian National Series Tay For Shandro, the new spon: sorsoip deal couldn't have come ata better ume. Last December his two-year deal with the K2 Racing ream ended when the company dropped its racing program- and for riders on the pro cir- P cuit, having a sponsor is nearly SPORTING LIFE as important as crossing the finish line. “There are quite a few bike companies out there, but it’s soll difficult to find a sponsor,” he said. “That's the tough thing about bikes for a iing, your contract comes up and vou wonder if you're going to have a job the next vear. There just isn’t much money for pros in the industry.” Now the 28-year-old racer can focus on crossing the tinish line first — something he’s very familiar with. Last season Shandro was the Canadian downhill champion. In 1998, he put quarter-inch screws in his tires and competed on snow at the Winter X Games in Crested Butte, Colo. He won the gold medal in the men’s dual downhill event and took home $5,160 in prize money. [In February, Shandro was one of the 30 riders invited to compete in the snow mountain biking event at the X Games in Mount Snow, Vt. Although he failed to capture a2 medal, he was once again in the media spouight. spite his hectic racing schedule, Shandro has tound the time to appear in several extreme mountain-biking videos and go on riding assignments for various mountain-bike publication keeps vou busy, but you get to go to some awesome places,” he said. He’s also been on the cover of Bike Maazine, which is the mountain biker’ Rolling Store. He said that growing up riding the challenging tails on the North Shore was the perteet training ground for a career as a pro mountain biker. “The North Shore has the most technical trails in ‘the world. you nde just doesn’t seem as difficult. [vs deti- ” said Shandro, who lives and trains in North Vancouver during the off-season. Shandro won his first Super Cup race in Monte Saint Anne, hee when he was in his late teens, “T Knew at 19 that 1 could do it, so it Was just a matter of getting some good results and get- ting a sponsor,” he said. fn his first full season as a professional he only earned $9,000. iro is one of the few Canadian downhill nders earning nt living on the mountain-bike cire The pro racing tour begins in April, and Shandro will be on the road until mid : September This season the Ford: Devingi team will ico, Belyium, Germany, England, rance, Italy, Sp: ny Aust a, Switzerland, Australia, Canada and the United States. But he’s not complain: ing about the grinding travel schedule. ider myself very forrunate to be able to ride my bike for a living,” he said. s equivalent of a musician vetting on the cover of NEWS photo Mike Wakefield NORTH Vancouver mountain bike racer Andrew Shandro has a new ride for 2000. The 28-year-old defending Canadian downhill champion is riding for Ford Canada and Cycles Devinci this year. sun, clouds and springing ahead WEEKEND WEATHER TIDES AT PT, ATKINSON SUNRISE/SUNSET Today: high 13 near water (to 18 inland). sunny/cioudy periods: 10°. probability of pre- cipitation Saturday: fow 4, high 13 near water (to 16 inland), sunny/cloudy periods: p.o 9. n/a Saturday. 4.3m high & 03°50 2.7 miow @ 1000 . 3.6 m high Sunday: fow 5. high near 13, mix ot sun and _ cloud: 40% p.0.p. 1.6 m low @ 21:30 Asot Dam. Thurs :inod! 9 Sunday 43m high @ 04°20 LOCAL MOUNTAINS 2.4m low @ 10°30 Cypress Bowl: 289 cm base 38m high @ 16.06 Grouse Mountain: 452 cm average 16 mlow @ 22 15 Mount Seymour: 385 cm base Today 055118 43 Saturday 0549/48 45 Sunday 05 4616.46 MOON PHASES. new April 4: tst ta Apr it. full Apa 1 Tat it i/4 April 26 TIME CHANGE Daylight saving time begins Suniay at 2 am Set clocks ahead one hour. Standard time returns Oct. 29 -_ ¢ “a CANON. ; SKIBOARDS Whither the Weather? See the News Sunday cus feature on page three April 2. DESTIN. ‘A TION: AY 21550 Marine Drive North Vancouver: