Crankworx Day 1 Vid

Date Aug 8, 2010

What a start to the 8 great days of mountain biking that we call Crankworx. It rained just enough in the morning to make the course tacky but still keep the crowds at capacity. This year we have added Mason Mashon as a second host to balance out the Tippie factor but as you will see that is no easy task. As well as the dual slalom we checked out the the block party in skiers plaza where they showed Freeride Entertainment’s New World Disorder I in its entirety. If day 1 is any indication of how amazing Kokanee Crankworx is going to be this year we are in for an amazing show.

GEE ATHERTON CAPTURES DUAL SLALOM AT KOKANEE CRANKWORX 2010
Hometown Favourite Micayla Gatto Takes First Place For Pro Women

WHISTLER, BC August 7, 2010 – Kokanee Crankworx 2010 is officially on with the Dual Slalom in the bag and the Block Party kicking off with the first bash of this nine-day celebration of all things mountain bike. With big-time contender Brian Lopes out in the first heat of the Pro Men semi-finals due to a crash, Gee Atherton managed to fend off up and coming young guns Troy Brosnan and Mitch Ropelato to secure the Dual Slalom win.

It was Great Britain’s Atherton versus 18 year-old American Mitch Ropelato in the finals and things were looking to go Ropelato’s way with a holeshot in the first run. After gaining that short lead, they were side by side when Ropelato lost his head and crashed, letting Atherton gain the advantage going into the second run of the finals.

“I was playing calm, cool and collected,” says Atherton, after his win. “It is quite unexpected, but I am feeling really stoked. You have to stay calm and have fun. I really enjoyed that.”

For the Pro Women, Micayla Gatto from Vancouver’s North Shore kept the Dual Slalom title on Canadian soil. In each of the two runs in the final, France’s Emmeline Ragot got the holeshot but Gatto was able to consistently pull the advantage with power and quick turns to take the lead and stand at the top of the podium.

Now in its fourth season at Kokanee Crankworx, the Dual Slalom is a crowd favourite and despite cool weather and a few light showers, hundreds of fans lined the gated course and watched from the big screen in Whistler Village. The dual slalom head-to-head format featured 107 riders in the pro and amateur categories pumping through a course riddled with rhythm sections, a mogul field, tight berms, jumps and drops.

In the Pro Men category, Gee Atherton (GBR) took first place, Mitch Ropelato (USA) took second place, Mick Hannah (AUS) took third and Troy Brosnan (AUS) took fourth.

In the Pro Women category, Micayla Gatto (CAD) finished first, Emmeline Ragot (FRA) finished second, Jill Kintner (USA) finished third and Melissa Buhl (USA) finished fourth.

Click here for full event results

Living Legend Anne-Caroline Chausson Takes First Place
WHISTLER, BC, August 8, 2010 – Chris Kovarik (AUS) maintained a blistering pace in today’s Monster Energy Garbanzo DH to take home first with a time of 13:22.99, knocking last year’s winner Justin Leov (NZL) into second place with a time of 13:29.85. Dry course conditions for the first time in the event’s history allowed Kovarik to shave off over 22 seconds from Leov’s 2009 winning time.

“I got second place last year and this year I wanted to go for number one,” says Kovarik. “You have to stand up, man up and pedal.”

On the women’s side there were no surprises with Anne-Caroline Chausson dominating on course. Described as one of the best downhillers alive, and the first person to win a Gold medal in BMX at the Beijing Summer Olympic Games, the women in the field knew Chausson was going to be a force to be reckoned with. Despite the fact she was coming off a hiatus from riding and hadn’t ridden in Whistler for five years, Chausson took home first place with a time of 15:59.42, more than 18 seconds faster than second place racer Miranda Miller (CAN).

“I did a practice run with Anne-Caroline and I thought to myself, ‘there is no way anyone is going to go faster than her,” says American racer Leigh Donovan. “I was set to race right before her and sure enough down the course I could hear her behind me! I pulled over and let her pass; I knew she was going to win today.”

There were 320 athletes in the pro and amateur categories taking to the 12km long course, and with a huge variety of terrain to cover and race times clocking in around three times longer than a traditional downhill race, the Monster Energy Garbanzo DH is an epic that tests skill, encourages stamina and rewards smooth riding.

Chris Kovarik (AUS), grabbed first with a time of 13:22.99; second place was Justin Leov (NZL), with a time of 13:29.85 and third place went to Sam Blenkinsop (NZL), with a time of 13:39.35.

The top rider in the women’s category was Anne-Caroline Chausson, with a time of 15:59.42; Miranda Miller (CAN) took second place with a time of 16:17.94 and Fionn Griffiths (GBR), took third place with a time of 16:23.63.

Click here for full event results

With the Monster Energy Garbanzo DH wrapped, Kokanee Crankworx 2010 rolls into Monday with the village wide Bike Expo and Demo Zone for all to enjoy. That night Maxx Fish will play host to Pecha Kucha, open minds with an eccentric mix of Whistler locals presenting stories and photos. Tickets are available at the door and at Hot Buns Bakery for $7.

Every event at Kokanee Crankworx will be webcast live, the full schedule can be found at www.crankworx.com/webcast. Daily on-demand video highlights will also ensure everyone stays up to date with all the happenings at the biggest freeride mountain bike festival in the world.