11/22/2008

Cedric and Sabrina take AIR DH Slopestyle Qualifying Friday at 2:00 - Mountain Cross at 5:30

Day two of Crankworx and already it's going off.  It's become almost normal to see Steve Peat riding up the chair or to have Brian Lopes pass you on A-Line.  Kind of like playing shinny and having Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux skate onto the pond.  I've never seen such electricity in Whistler and things are going to continue ramping up today with the Slopestyle qualifier and the Mountain Cross this afternoon.

Cedric Gracia makes it a 2fer winning the AIR DH two years running. Here he is making the A-Line rock drop look like a curb. Photo ~ Cam McRae

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Cedric defended his AIR DH title with a time of 4:15.61 down A-Line.  Brian Lopes (4:16.35) was second and Steve Peat (4:16.45) rounded out the top 3.  A world class podium to be sure.  Sabrina Jonnier (4:41.78) took the women's title followed by Jenn Ashton (4:47.33) and Fionn Griffiths (4:47.57).

At this point it looks like 7 riders of 24 will make it through the qualifier to the big show because there are quite a few injured pros.  Tyler Klassen is on that casualty list; he was lake jumping and he somehow managed to slice a tendon (in his arm I believe) on one of his rotors. 

Cam Zink is injured but he's looking to compete and Paul Basagoitia is here to defend his title.  Last year Berrecloth was injured and he's owned almost every Slopestyle since.  He took Adidas in Saalbach, Monster Park last year immediately after returning from injury and then defended that title this year.  He looks to be the man to beat.

The qualifier could be as heated as the final this year.  It was very difficult for even some well-known riders to get into the comp and there is a long waiting list of riders hoping to make it into the big show.  A few will be relieved if they stay on the list though because the course is burly.

Random back flips - moves that were rare a year ago have become fairly common. Slopestyle has exploded in the last year. Photo Cam McRae

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