AS I HAD my first run in with the dirty, white-knuckle world of downhill mountain biking, massive backhoes and bulldozers were constructing the arena on the face of Whistler that would soon be filled with riders, media and fans.
The scale of the terrain matches the caliber of the competition; the very best come to BC to tail-whip and in the 10 days of the festival, legends are born.
This has been a huge week for bike nuts, with the 98th Le Tour de France coming to a close on the same day as Crankworx is wrapping up. It looks like July is the unofficial bike lovers month. Fine by me seeing as I enjoy few things more than a good bike ride through Seattle on a summers day.
So what kind of bike nut are you? Trail heads and tail-whips or distance and speed?
Day 2 Dual Slalom Hightlights
Jeep Air Downhill – Women Pro Top 3
Interview with Paul Basagoita after his gnarly crash
Garbanzo Downhill Highlights – Day 5
Teva Best Trick Winners
Canadian Open Downhill – Women Pro Top 5
Red Bull Joyride Highlights – Day 9
2011 Giant Slalom – Men Pro Top 10
Jeep Air Downhill – Men Pro Top 10
RESULTS
Fat Tire Crit | Friday July 15
Winners: Brian Lopes and Katherine Short
Dual Slalom | Saturday July 16
Elimination Results | Pro Winners: Mitch Ropelato and Jill Kintner
Pro Men | Pro Women | Junior Men 16-18 | Senior Men 19-29 | Master Men 30+ | Boys 13-15
Canadian Open DH | Sunday July 17
Pro Men | Steve Smith 3:00.01
Pro Women | Rachel Atherton | 3:34.45
Garbanzo Downhill | Tuesday July 19
Pro Men | Sam Blenkinsop | 13:44.52
Pro Women | Claire Buchar | 16:06.68
Jeep Air Downhill Wednesday | July 20
Pro Men | Andrew Neethling | 4:13.34
Pro Women | Anne Caroline Chausson | 4:33.16
Ultimate Pumptrack | Thursday July 21
Winners: Mitch Ropelato and Jill Kintner
Teva Best Trick Showdown | Thursday July 21
Feature 1: Benny Philllips | 360 Double Downside Whip
Feature 2: Cam Zink | Front Flip
Giant Slalom | Friday July 22
Pro Men | Tomas Slavik | 1:20.25
Pro Women | Jill Kintner | 1:27.40
Redbull Joyride Finals | Saturday July 23
1st Brandon Semenuk | 2nd Cam Zink | 3rd Anthony Messere | 4th Greg Watts | 5th Geoff Gulevich
Sunday July 24 Stage Race
Results: Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | Overall
Pro Winners: Brian Lopes 25:42.74 and Anne Caro Chausson 28:55.00