After the sufferfests of Crankzilla and the Garbanzo Downhill comes an event that Whistler has made its own, the Fox Air DH.
Lee Miller was on hand yet again to watch a stacked field duke it out down one of the most famous trails in the World, Whistler’s A-Line. This race was all about outright speed.
Stacey Kohut isn’t afraid to send his 4-wheeled rig! The Whistler local proving you can get out and ride no matter what.
A truly huge field took on and slayed the Fox Air Downhill today here in Whistler along arguably one of the most iconic trails in the world, A-Line. The entirely man-made course is a 4 minute flow-fest of big table tops and huge berms, many completely destroyed from a long hard summer of intense bike park action.
Easily the best sight on the mountain today, Martyn Ashton aboard his custom Canyon Sender. Absolute legend!
For some, it’s a chance to wow the crowds with huge whips, no-handers and a chance to run massive trains with your mates in a race run while for others it’s a battle against the clock with only scrubs on the agenda. Needless to say the race brings all worlds of mountain biking together with World Cup racers pitting their skills against dirt jumpers, freeriders and even four wheeled bikes.
It’s safe to say that some of the berms have seen better days after relentless abuse all summer.With a track designed around carrying speed over jumps and berms it should perhaps come as no surprise (although it was) that pump track expert and current King Of Crankworx leader Adrien Loron took the win in the men’s field, just over a second ahead of Sam Blenkinsop with 5 time Garbanzo champ Marcelo Gutierrez rounding off the podium another couple of seconds back.
Australian BMX superstar Caroline Buchanan just missing out on the podium by under a second today.
In the women’s event, not to be out done by Gutierrez’s 5-peat it was Jill Kintner who claimed her own 5 time win of the event with a 3 second margin over yesterday’s Garbanzo winner Tracey Hannah. Vaea Veerbeeck continued her impressive season taking the final spot on the women’s podium.
Ben Deakin couldn’t repeat his Rotorua Air DH victory in the Master Amateurs today, 8th place for the Deakinator.
Two huge berms caught more than a few people out today in the loose dusty conditions.
he legend that is Cedric Gracia mixing it up on track today, eventually coming home in 49th.
BC local and EWS rider Remi Gauvin railing berms down into 13th.
Tracey Hannah somehow still finding the energy after yesterday’s win on the monstrous Garbanzo DH to follow it up with a second place in the Air DH.
Extremely stylish Cody Kelley had one message whilst on his way to 6th today, Work less, ride more, can’t argue with that.
Finn Finnestone showing some serious style on his way to second in the 13-14 category…. that’s right, 13-14 years! Whistler producing perhaps ano
pump track expert Adrien Loron managed to squash every jump and rail every berm just that little bit better than everyone else this afternoon.
Not content with five Garbanzo wins on the bounce, Marcelo pushing hard to another podium albeit a couple of steps lower today.
Jack Moir hitting runs with fellow intense rider Nikolas Nestoroff earlier in practice, Jack managing a top ten while Nestoroff taking the top spot in the juniors yet again by just over 4 seconds.
Scrubbing’s the name of the game if you want to be on the top step come the end of finals.
Mikey Haderer once again leading a massive train down A-line, somewhere in the dust that followed were the likes of Josh Bryceland, Josh Lewis, Tyler McCaul, Eddie Masters and Phil Atwill.
Loron and Kintner now have healthy leads in the overall race to become King and Queen of Crankworx.
