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Going big in the Boneyard for the second year in a row |
For the second year in a row, the two-wheeled insanity known as Crankworx rolled into Whistler for four days of big stars, big air, and big spills. There were events every day from August 3 to 7 - the Air DH, the 4X races, the Garbanzo downhill - but the event most people equate with Crankworx is Slopestyle.
For the uninitiated, Slopestyle is a head-to-head competition on the lower slopes of the Whistler Bike Park. Riders navigate through a series of man-made structures, jumps, and obstacles, throwing tricks whenever and wherever possible, in an attempt to wow the judges. The four riders with the highest score at the end of the day take home one of those giant cheques with their name on it, and some serious bragging rights.
Looking up the hill at the Slopestyle course - fans started lining the barriers
an hour before start time ||
Photo: Stuart Kernaghan
The man to beat at Slopestyle ’05 was Darren Berrecloth. The B.C. native had already won two big-air contests this year at Saalbach, Austria, and more recently, at Monster Park in West Virginia.
Being odds-on favourite didn’t mean that Bearclaw was going to have an easy time, though. The competition was stiff, and the biggest names in the freeride / DJ / park world were there: Zink, McCaul, Pritzel, Schley, Gracia, Watson, and on, and on, and on. Just like last year, the Slopestyle ball got rolling on Friday night. There were 32 qualifiers, including nsmb’s own Ryan Newman, vying for five qualifying spots. These five qualifiers would join the 19 invited riders. At the end of evening, the five who made the cut were Jamie Goldman (U.S.A) in first, Niels Windfeldt (Norway) in second, Trond Hanson (Norway) third, Carlo Dieckmann (Germany) fourth, and Joscha Forstreuter (Germany) rounding out the group in fifth. Newman placed a respectable 21st. The Slopestyle course was open for practice on Saturday, and there was no shortage of riders scoping lines on the sun-baked mountain. Course designer, competitor, and the unofficial face of freeriding Richie Schley took the foundation he had to work with in the Whistler Bike Park Boneyard and let his imagination run wild. |
 Bearclaw. What else is there to say? || Photo: Malcolm McLaws |
There were elements from last year’s event, like the box, the road gap, and the wall ride, as well as a big double jump near the end of the course and assorted dirt and wooden kickers littering the mountain. But there were also plenty of tasty new treats littering the landscape. One of the first riders encountered was the Octopus, a wooden structure that featured an aerial teeter-totter, ramps, skinnies, small gaps, and kickers. All in one structure.
Wade Simmons throwing an X-up off the teeter on the Octopus ||
Photo: Cam McRae
Then there was the quarter pipe, a sizeable wooden structure with a flat deck on the top. Below that was a giant stump sticking straight up out of the course. And then the C-wall, a massive curved wall that had been built on top of a dirt mound. That dirt sloped down to the flat ground several feet below it, but there was also a long skinny that led up to the top edge of the C-wall. Finally, there was the Giro trailer, a semi-tractor trailer parked above the finish line. Riders got up onto the top of the trailer by launching off a dirt booter. How they got off the back side was up to them. The landing was anywhere from about 15’ to 20’, depending on how fast the riders came off the trailer.
And like the rest of the course, which hadn’t seen rain in weeks, the landing was hard as concrete.
The booter leading up to the Giro trailer - not quite the right shape to gap
that sucker ||
Photo: Cam McRae
Joining the five qualifiers were a who’s who of the two-wheeled set – Paul Basagoitia, Timo Pritzel, Kyle Strait, Cameron McCaul, Richie Schley, Cedric Gracia, Darren Berrecloth, Thomas Vanderham, Wade Simmons, Robbie Bourdon, John Cowan, Aaron Chase, Gareth Dyer, Carlin Dunne, Randy Spangler, David Watson, Geoff Gulevich, and Jordi Lunn. Kirk Vories was invited, but decided not to ride; French rider Pierre-Edouard Ferry took his spot. There were plenty of Canadians on the list, as well as a solid representation of riders from the other side of the 49th parallel.
The competition was scheduled to get underway at 6 on Saturday night, and anticipation was building during the day. The crowds in the village were thick, and the lift lines were huge. People had come from all over the place to see the spectacle that is Slopestyle, and after last year’s impressive inaugural event, they were expecting a good show. It was hot all day, with temperatures in the low 30s. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, leaving the sun unimpeded in its mission to cook everyone on the hill. The wind had been quiet during the day, but it started to pick up as the competition was about to get underway. There were even small dust devils meandering across parts of the Boneyard as riders were scoping out their first runs. But the breeze didn’t seem to have much of an effect on the lines they were eyeing up, and thankfully, it died down before the first rider took off. Judging for the event wasn’t overly complicated. A panel of four judges, which included Scott Hart of Decline mag and former Rocky rider Tarek Rasouli, each gave the rider a mark out of 10 for each run, for a total score out of 40. The high score in the Friday qualifiers was a 32 from Jamie Goldman. Riders had two runs to make their way to the top of the heap, but could opt out of the second run if they felt the score from their first was high enough. |
 The groms were out watching the show || Photo: Stuart Kernaghan |
One noticeable difference for this year’s competition was a massive TV screen down at the base of the Fitzsimmons chair, with a live broadcast of what was happening on the course. Spectators could either see the action flash by them or watch it on the big screen from almost anywhere on the hill, so it didn’t necessarily matter where on the course you planted yourself.
The announcers were also noticeably better than last year, and definitely knew what they were talking about – in spite of some questionable pronunciations of riders’ names. Combine the big screen with an accurate play-by-play of the hits and the experience was accessible to everyone, regardless of how much you knew about the riders, the course, or the tricks.
Bearclaw was the obvious favourite coming into Slopestyle, and the announcers weren’t letting anyone forget the fact that he’d come out on top in the two previous competitions this summer. The crowd was primed and expecting something special, but the question was, could the riders deliver? It didn’t take long to find out.
The competition started off with the five qualifiers leading the charge. Trond Hanson got the ball rolling with an impressive first run, but his fellow countryman Niels Windfeldt didn’t have quite as much luck and stacked after launching a tail whip off the quarter pipe. First aid staff came out to make sure Niels was all right, and once the carnage was cleared, it was game on.
Niels whipping it out on the quarter pipe ||
Photo: Cam McRae
Cameron Zink threw things in to high gear right away with a back flip nac nac and a 360 off the trailer. His comment at the bottom of the hill? “The spin off the drop came kind of easy” after the backflip. Fair enough. The gauntlet had been thrown. You were going to have to go big if you wanted to be in the running for a podium position. Back flips, 360s, and tail whips were the price of admission to this show, and if you weren’t willing to throw down, then you might as well pack up your gear and head home.
Zink spinning all the way 'round off the trailer, much to the delight of the
crowd ||
Photo: Cam McRae
 Red velour is seldom seen in the Boneyard. Is this the start of a new fashion trend? Rider - Jordi Lunn|| Photo: Cam McRae |
The comp wasn’t all about style on the jumps. Jordie Lunn added a touch of class with his red velour track suit, but unfortunately, that didn’t do much to improve his run. And there-in lay the problem with this year’s event. Runs that were, for all intents and purposes, impressive by most peoples’ standards and far above what the average rider could pull off, were just average. If you weren’t going huge, if you weren’t combining tricks, if you weren’t throwing down as soon as your wheels entered the course, you were basically SOL. An off day, or even an off run, could kill you. |
Geoff Gulevich was the first rider to hit the infamous road gap that caused him so much grief last year, and landed it without any problems. A 360 off the double before the trailer was followed by a no-hander off of it. Watson also hit the gap and then threw a one-hander off the kicker beside the box. His landing on the trailer was sketchy, but he recovered by the end and was able to launch off without any problems.
Some big-name riders seemed to out of their comfort zone with the course. Maybe it was heat of the day. Or maybe it was the pressure of competition. Whatever the reason, they weren’t part of the show. They were there, riding, but for some reason, they weren’t wowing the right people - the judges. Randy Spangler and Carlin Dunne pulled a few nice moves but they both fell into that trap. And they weren’t the only ones.
Aaron Chase was one of a number of riders who railed the inside of
the C-wall ||
Photo: Cam McRae
There were plenty of riders who brought their A game, though. Aaron Chase threw an alley oop off the quarter pipe, followed by a no-hander off the jumps into the C-wall and a back flip on the hip above the trailer. John Cowan was going hard for an old(er) guy, but luck wasn’t with him. After sketching out on a 360 right by the judges’ tower, he got back on, launched a backflip and another 360. Unfortunately, he over-rotated the last jump and came down hard.
Robbie Bourdon was riding Slopestyle this year after sitting out the competition last year with a busted arm, and got people’s attention with a backflip attempt off the kicker just below the box.
The view from above the box, at the start of Robbie's takeoff ||
Photo: Cam McRae
That didn’t go so well, though, and he bounced off the ground hard enough to elicit a sharp intake of breath from the crowd. Medics carried Robbie off the course, and his day was over.
And then from the front. Bourdo just before impact.
|| Photo:Malcolm McLaws
The 30-plus age group was well-represented in this year’s competition, and they were showing the kids how to get it done. It wasn’t just old-school riding, though. The dogs had learned new tricks. Wade Simmons threw an X-up off the road gap, followed by a no-hander off the kicker below the box. He spotted a new line on top of the C-wall, and ride it out along the top edge, North Shore-skinny style.
Not your standard skinny, but Wade rides it like he's at home on the Shore ||
Photo: Cam McRae
All of that was finished off by a 360 off the hip just before the trailer. Apparently, someone told him that he’d have to step it up this year with more than big airs if he was going to keep the kids on their toes.
Wade throwing a 360 above the trailer. Who knew? || Photo: Stuart Kernaghan
Fellow Rocky rider Thomas Vanderham also hit the road gap, throwing a no-hander, a can-can off the big double, and another no-hander off the trailer. All of a sudden, things were getting interesting.
 Bearclaw spinning off the box || Photo: Malcolm McLaws |
And then it was Bearclaw’s turn. From the way the announcers kept hyping him, you’d think that Jesus himself was about to throw down large. But it was only the Qualicum Beach, B.C. resident. Who just happened to have won the last two big-air / big jump competitions. But still a mere mortal. Bearclaw was content to let his riding speak for itself, and he didn’t waste much time before he let the whole crowd know he meant business. A Superman seat grab off the Octopus, a huge air of the quarter pipe, a 360 off the box, and an X-up off the double before the trailer spoke volumes. |
Cedric Gracia was next with a new move, bailing out part-way along the ladder to the road gap to hit the double beside the landing and into the kicker below the box. From there, he went straight over to rip the C-wall and finished off on the course with a 360 on the hip before the trailer. At this point in the competition, I took a moment to reflect on what was happening. Riders were going bigger than last year, but they were also doing different tricks than last year. What was amazing in ’04 had almost become common-place in ’05. More than that, though, riders who in the past haven’t been known for pulling tricks –the old-school freeriders who were known for riding skinnies or hitting big drops –were now having to pull flips, whips, and grabs to keep up with the new-school contingent. It was a bit of an odd sight, to say the least. |
 Perennial crowd favourite and ladies man, Cedric Gracia || Photo: Malcolm McLaws |
Course designer Richie Schley was next with a no-hander off the road gap, a three-pointer off the big booter, and a one-footer off the trailer. Which wasn’t bad for a guy who is 36 years old.
Richie Schley, going handless over the road gap || Photo: Cam McRae
And then it was time for the young guns to ride.
Cam McCaul followed Richie, and was sending it from the get-go. He threw a back flip high above the quarter pipe, followed by a bar spin on one of the smaller dirt jumps, a 360 off the hip below the trailer, and a no-foot can off the trailer. That impressive run earned him the high score of the night thus far –a 33.9.
Cam McCaul throwing a sweet back flip on one of the mid-course dirt jumps
||
Photo: Cam McRae
Kyle Strait ’s run started out well with a bar spin off the top edge of the quarter pipe and a sweet tail whip, but he ejected off the big double before the trailer and stacked rather harshly. Perhaps all that extra hair from his specially groomed mullet was weighing him down. |
 Kyle Strait throwing a tail whip on his SX Trail - no big bike for him or Bearclaw || Photo: Malcolm McLaws |
Now this doesn't look pretty. Kyle and bike part company. || Photo: Peter Mozola
Timo Pritzel, winner of last year’s ugliest crash award, started out well but stacked on the road gap and had to be helped off the course by first aid personnel. His day was over, unfortunately. There seems to be something about this course and Timo that just don’t work well together. Maybe next year will be better.
The last rider to hit the course was 2004 winner Paul Basagoitia. Paul has exploded onto the scene since last year’s comp, getting himself some big name sponsors and riding his ass off all over the world. He hadn’t been able to duplicate that Slopestyle victory from last year at this year's comps, however, and you would have been a fool to think that he wasn’t in the running for top spot again.
Paul pulled a 360 off the top of the quarter pipe before chucking a backflip and a tail whip – all before the trailer. It was definitely an impressive run, but was it good enough?
Want to know how the second run went?
And who won?
Check out part 2!
