Spiderwoman (islander Gabby Hoyos) and her all-woman Avengers team showed a Passport2Pain (P2P) cyclist the “superhero landing” at checkpoint #7, on Cove Road, during Vashon Island Rowing Club’s (VIRC) 10th annual Passport2Pain bike ride on Sept. 11.

VIRC celebrated a “Decade of Pain” during this year’s ride, which featured 300-plus riders navigating a selection of courses that tackled the island’s most challenging hills. This year’s contestants, dubbed Weenies, Weasels and Idiots, ranged in age from 9 to 78 and came from eight states to ride P2P, just a year after last year’s pandemic and wildfire smoke impacted the virtual event.

The net proceeds from the ride are still being tallied, but are expected to come in north of $40,000. Half of the funds will go to fleet maintenance and financial aid for junior rowers; the other half, by a vote of VIRC club members, will be split between the Vashon Community Food Bank, Vashon Youth & Family Services, and Vashon’s Interfaith Council for the Prevention of Homelessness.

— Jeff Hoyt, Vashon Island Rowing Club