Whistler Report #15
Another long week of Crankworx events and mayhem has come on gone and there were certainly many highlights. Gee riding fast and confident and winning both the Dual Slalom and Canadian Open and taking the King title. Nico Vouilloz rolled in to take a 5th in the Garbo DH and 2nd in the Open Enduro. Anne-Caroline Chausson decimating the women after 5 years off a downhill bike was certainly a treat too.
Kelly McGarry is literally the biggest man in slopestyle, and he threw giant size tricks to match it. Here he throws a tuck no-hander while backflipping the big gap during the VW Trick Showdown.
Heckler’s rock was a spectacle of epic proportions as well, but in the end what I remember most is riding up the chairlift at about 5:30 on Sunday afternoon, when the awards were over and all of the sudden I turned to Seb and said, “Hey, do you notice that?” “Notice what?” he asked back. “Exactly, nothing.” It was dead silent. No amplified music echoing from the village. No Brads over-hyping anything and everything. No chanting from the beer and high fructose fuelled gaggle at Heckler’s rock, or chattering and rattling of bikes down the Canadian Open course. Just silence. And it was amazing.
Norco’s Sam Dueck was two-tricking his way all over the slopestyle course too.
As fun as Crankworx is, it also starts to get to you after a week of in-your-face marketing, music and voices booming over loud speakers, the screaming fans. Aside from a Friday afternoon romp through the park by myself on a brand spanking new demo Cove Shocker (thanks AT, it ruled!), I found myself lured out of the park to get my riding fix, and that riding definitely delivered the mental break I needed from the mayhem.
Bryn Atkinson kept it low and fast in the Air DH.
On Saturday Richie’s Rally, aka Flankworx, went off on Whistler’s westside trails. No chairlifts here, it was all leg power that got us up to the Flank trail 3 times over the course of a few hours. A group of about 30 of us showed up to take part in this inaugural event put on by Richie Schley and Grant Lamont, with legends of the sport like Wade Simmons, Cody Swansborough, Paddy Kaye, Derek Westerlund, Dre Hestler, and Leslie Tomlinson joined by the usual suspects of Whistler’s local scene. While there was definitely a competition going on, the vibe was low key and it felt like we were out for a chill ride with our bros.
Really, the vast majority of guys in the Air DH should be following this guy’s lead if you know you realistically aren’t going to win, entertain us!
The climbs weren’t timed so it was nice to take it easy on the way up. The downs were timed, but believe me when I say they were definitely not all down! This race was more super d than any super d or enduro I’ve seen, and the times certainly reflected that. Ariel Lindsley of Santa Cruz bested all the locals with a blistering 29m17s combined time over the races 3 courses. I guess those pre-rides with Grant and Richie paid off! The Dingo Matty Ryan slid into 2nd with a 29m25s, and 4 Queens winner Dylan Wolsky, fresh off an 11th in Pro Men in the Garbo DH was 3rd with a 30m47s. For the ladies it was Sylvie Allen winning with a 35m43s, Brook Baker in 2nd at 37m34s, and Katrina Strand had a 39m40s to round out the podium.
Richie Schley rides a rock roll on Cheap Thrills during the second stage of the Vertical Challenge. Richie finished 5th on the day, proving he’s more than a free-hucker!
A swim in Alpha lake post race with a fun group of people, followed by the apres at the Whistler Brewing Company in Function Junction was a great way to end a really fun event. It was really good to go out and ride the best of the westside trails in a really unique format. I definitely agree with Grant when he says that he sees this event growing in the next few years. While there were a few hiccups along the way I think that next year they’ll apply everything they learned to make it an even better experience. Keep an eye on richieschley.com for full results and photos from the event. Thanks to everyone for such a fun race, I’ll definitely be back for more next year!
Jill Kintner pumped up the jam and took it to Micayla Gatto to get her revenge for her Dual Slalom loss, taking the inaugural Pumptrack Challenge victory.
With a theme for the weekend apparently set, and most people probably waking up with hangovers following Saturday night’s post slopestyle festivities, Seb, Ariel, Abby and myself met early to get a good ride in before the Canadian Open. As we were still amped on the previous day’s valley trails, we decided to put together a little loop using a new climb that’s recently been built. Hey Bud into the new Yummy Numby climb had us at the top of Foreplay (end of Comfortably Numb) fairly quick, although not without some sweaty effort as new climbs tend to be. It definitely had some inspiration from NIMBY/Middle Earth I’d say and it’s definitely not a walk in the park. But it does the job, and I think as it wears in it will get better and better.
Not only did racers in Sunday’s Canadian Open have to deal with a lose, dusty, completely blown out course, the fans were not to be left out of the mix. Imagine trying to concentrate on the course with this crowd all up in your face!
The descent of Foreplay was loose and awesome like always and in no time we were diving into Lost Lake cooling off. Not satisfied with just that for the day, we reconvened post Canadian Open, hopped on the now quiet lifts and boogied our way up to Ride Don’t Slide. I always love going up to that trail with folks that haven’t ridden it. The amazement most have at that trail always makes me smile. And it’s hard to not be really giddy when everyone starts hooting and hollering and slapping high fives during the short stops for everyone to catch up. A quick blast down Big Timber had us sitting on Dusty’s patio in no time enjoying a much deserved cold beverage as we watched the sun dip behind Sproatt and put out the lights on another Crankworx.
Giving the masses what they want, a good show and sweet whips. Kona’s Joe Smith definitely got the crowd fired up with this big whipper during Sunday’s Canadian Open.
With the end of summer starting to linger in our periphery, I’ve gotten bit by the bug to do all the trails that I haven’t yet ridden this year. The snow’s finally retreating in the high alpine and I needed to check out a re-route that was put in by the legendary Tom Pro in the fall. To give keeners and those that can decipher clues a chance to hit it before I spill the beans fully, let’s just say that this old school classic had a new entrance built last fall, and it’s completely changed this trail for the better. It was always a struggle to know whether to go big or small bike. Big bike definitely suited the entrance which was really steep, and really eroded, but the last 2/3 of the trail was definitely little bike suited. With the reroute, this isn’t an issue anymore, bring your little bike and prepare to have a blast! Carlos and I were back and forth on whether to give it a go last night. In the end we went for it and wow, it did not disappoint. It’s not an easy trail to get to, but the payoff is huge! Next week I’ll spill the beans and throw out some props, I would today, but that would make it to easy to figure out what I’m talking about!
Golden light during golden hour, deep in the old growth of Whistler. Carlos Zavarce savours it.
It’s been really good to get out and about in the Valley over the past week. Take some time to go ride something you haven’t yet this season, go somewhere new. Summer’s going to be over before we know it and the last thing you want is to be regretting the rides you didn’t do once the snow starts flying again! Thanks to everyone at Crankworx for another great year, and thanks to all of the trail builders out there building new trails, and maintaining old ones. You’re work is amazing and I know I really appreciate it! Cheers!
For anyone keen on some more Crankworx photos, here’s some links to my public Facebook Albums, hope you enjoy them.
Garbanzo DH Air DH and VW Trick Showdown Slopestyle and Canadian Open
Is your take on Crankworx anything like Todd’s? Were you up there soaking it in? Did you ride Richie’s Rally? Confess here…
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