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An all-new kind of big air showed its face at Whistler |
Photos by David Ferguson, Jay Sinclair, and Stuart Kernaghan
There are times when you know you're watching history unfold in front of your eyes. Everyone who was at the Whistler Bike Park on July 24, 2004, to see the Crankworx Slopestyle Expression Session, if they knew anything about mountain biking, knew they were witness to the birth of a new era of riding.
Slopestyle as a spectacle of man and bike was almost frightening because of what the riders were attempting, but it was awe-inspiring at the same time. It was something that words can only begin to describe. Photographs provide a two-dimensional window into the beauty and the pain, but even then they only capture a moment. Together, the two provide a glimpse into what unfolded on that warm Saturday night in the shadow of the Fitzsimmons chair.
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The competition began on Friday evening with a qualifying round. There were 18 riders competing for four spots, meaning that everyone was going hard from the start. Not over-the-top hard, but definitely trying to impress the judges with some of their best moves. Two of the riders vying for a chance to play with the big names were the Ryans from nsmb's freeride team - Newman and AIRprentice winner Schnepf. Qualifying went smoothly, with each of the guys showing what they had to offer. There was a good attitude on the hill, and riders were supportive of one another. |
 The AIRprentice flying over the double || Photo: David Ferguson |
At the end of the evening, the list had been narrowed down to Paul Basagoitia from Nevada, followed by Ryder Kasprick from Nanoose Bay on the Island, Whistler local Cory Derpak, and another Island rider, Jordie Lunn.
 Ryan Newman airing it out off the hip jump || Photo: David Ferguson |
nsmb's Ryan Newman came in fifth after two very solid runs, missing a spot in the comp by one-tenth of a point. Friday also saw organizers give Mike Kinrade a last-minute spot in the line-up with the other pre-qualified athletes. That list included all the pros you'd expect to see for this type of competition: Aaron Chase, Cameron McCaul, Cameron Zink, Cedric Gracia, Eric Porter, Gareth Dyer, Jeff Lenosky, Joe Schwartz, John Cowan, Kurt Voreis, Kyle Ritchie, Kyle Strait, Matt Hunter, Randy Spangler, Richie Schley, Kyle Ebbett, Thomas Vanderham, Timo Pritzel, Tyler Klassen, and Wade Simmons. |
It was a lot of talent to have on the hill at one time, and the crowd was hoping to see some sick tricks. They wouldn't be disappointed.
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A couple of people you might expect to see on that list were sitting it out. Robbie Bourdon had a broken arm. Danger Dan and Berrecloth were judging. Geoff Gulevich was sidelined with wrist and ankle fractures sustained while sessioning the massive road gap on the course. |
 The judges hard at work (that's Berrecloth taking notes) || Photo: David Ferguson |
 Some fans got right into the show || Photo: Stuart Kernaghan |
That was all to change on Saturday, however. After the afternoon's main event - the Garbanzo Downhill - was over, it was time for Slopestyle to get underway. The first rider took off just after 6 p.m. in conditions that were pretty close to perfect. The sun was still high enough in the sky for the photogs and film crews to get good shots, the temperature was warm but not stifling, the tunes were cranked, and the crowd was pumped. And the riders were ready to put on a show. |
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Whistler local and freeride darling Richie Schley designed the Boneyard course, and he didn't take any prisoners when dreaming up this wood and dirt extravaganza. Long before the competition began, people were talking about what was being built on the hill. You could hear it while you were waiting to load on the chair, or on the ride up the hill. And they were saying that it was crazy. |
 Man-made mountain-side insanity || Photo: Stuart Kernaghan |
The stunts were completely different than what had been seen in the park before, the gaps were huge, and the drops were, well, jaw-dropping.
Riders took off from the gate and had their choice of two lines, left or right, and they could cross from one side to the course to the other if they wanted. Most riders stuck to one side once they'd committed, though.
 Wade Simmons dropping off the teeter || Photo: David Ferguson |
To the right, there was a small ramp than led to a double dirt jump. Hit the double and you'd find yourself starring down at the aerial teeter totter. This piece of craziness featured a wooden step-up onto a teeter that riders had ride along and then drop off of, onto a dirt tranny. Beside the teeter was a little hip jump, and in the centre of the course was a snowboard rail they could manual. Competitors generally opted for either the hip jump or the teeter, hoping they would score higher. |
