Insurance and Member Benefits

April 21, 2024

Event
Management

Team
Management

Brand Representation

Strategic Planning

Business
Development

About

pa·nache /pəˈnaSH,pəˈnäSH/

Dictionaries define panache as a grand or flamboyant manner, someone who acts with panache shows verve, style or flair. The history of cycling is littered with moments of panache and it is just those moments that touch us most and give us a spiritual, almost human connection to the greatest bike racers. You know panache when you see it. You remember when and where you were when you witnessed it. These are exploits that surprise us with their courage and daring. And the riders with panache are often spirited, charismatic individuals who embrace risk and enjoy probing the edges of what’s possible.

At Panache Cycling Sports, we connect you to that raw emotion, whether you are a participant, spectator, volunteer, community partner, or sponsor. We help create lasting meaningful connections by using cycling as the catalyst. Our platforms include events, teams, facilities, and brands.

As Principal Owner of PSC, Jon Watkin has devoted over 30 years to his passion of cycling as a commuter, competitor, volunteer, manager, and event director. He is the co-founder of the Wheelhouse Cycling Society and has served on the Cycling BC Board for 4 years. He started racing at the elite level in Europe from 1989 to 1992 and continued racing at the highest amateur level until 2001, where he transitioned to the role of racer organizer.

Since 2001, Jon took over the reigns of the iconic Bastion Square Grand Prix and gradually increased his event portfolio over the coming years. These include: The Times Colonist Cycling Festival; Sidney Twilight Grand Prix, Gary Lund Road Race, Mount Doug Hill Climb, and the Bear Mountain Hill Climb. Jon evolved his road events into a large scale multi-race format under the Robert Cameron Law Cycling Series name, which ran from 2010 to 2019 and featured a time trial on the waterfront of Victoria, a road race in Metchosin, and an iconic criterium around the BC Legislature . Throughout this time, the series participated as the venue for numerous provincial championships and spearheaded the careers of some of Canada's top cyclists. The final two years saw the event host the Canadian National Masters Cycling Championships.

Jon also founded the Bear Mountain Bike Festival from 2017 to 2019 which featured the UCI Bear Mountain Canada Cup XCO, a regional Enduro MTB race, Kids Activities, and Bike Expo.

In partnership with key stakeholders, Jon is a driving influence behind the planning and building of the new Jordie Lunn Bike Park, a $1.6million multi-use outdoor cycling facility located in the City of Langford.

Currently, Jon is the Event Director of the Burnt Bridge Classic Gravel Fondo and also the much anticipated Bear Crossing Grand Prix, which will host the 2021 Canadian National Cyclocross Championships. He also donates his time supporting high performance cycling development with the TaG Racing Cycling Team.