The drier, the better. This seems to be the mantra of Australian downhill racers Troy Brosnan (AUS) and Tracey Hannah (AUS). They each took the wins in their respective elite fields at today’s Crankworx-closing Canadian Open Downhill presented by iXS, while also each besting their times from last year. Brosnan crossed the finish line in 2:45.37, compared to last year’s 2:46.04, while Hannah clocked a time of 3:16.27, faster than last year’s 3:17.85. After 2017’s race Brosnan had said the track was the driest he’d ever seen it. And this year? Troy Brosnan Troy Brosnan: Somehow it’s beaten it. The…
Author: Tomasz Profic
Nicholi Rogatkin (USA) stomped his way into the mountain bike history books in front of a crowd of over 35,000 fans at Crankworx Whistler today. His win at Red Bull Joyride marks his third this season. And with that, he becomes the first rider ever to claim the Triple Crown of Slopestyle. Nicholi Rogatkin Nicholi Rogatkin: I feel absolutely honoured to even have the opportunity to win this award today. To take it home. I’m absolutely speechless. I just have to thank everyone for believing in me that this was possible, because honestly it’s a feat that a lot of…
As Danielle Beecroft (AUS) was getting ready to drop in off the start gate in the gold medal matchup of the 100% Dual Slalom Whistler, she wasn’t thinking about the fact that her longtime hero was beside her. She also didn’t know that her opponent, Jill Kintner (USA), had won the Whistler event the past five years in a row. She just concentrated on doing what she came there to do. Jill Kintner vs Danielle Beercroft Danielle Beercroft: I just told myself: “I know what to do. Just do what you’ve done all day. Have fun.” I wasn’t even nervous.…
For many, it was the race to end the season – the race the season’s battles had been building toward. But for Caroline Buchanan (AUS), returning to the event she won a year ago was also her return to competition. Tonight’s RockShox Ultimate Pump Track Challenge at Crankworx Whistler was her first race of the season. Jill Kintner vs Caroline Buchanan Caroline Buchanan: It’s pretty surreal. I came to this event with pretty low expectations. I wanted to just get through the first. I told myself that any result would be a bonus, and that’s kind of the mindset I…
“I think I should win today, it would be a good birthday present.” These were the fighting words now 19-year-old Whistler local Finn Iles (CAN) told himself before dropping in to today’s Fox Air Downhill at Crankworx Whistler. Sam Blenkinsop “And I did, so I’m pretty pleased with how it went. Good day.” Iles’ final time of 3:58.06 pushed him ahead of Magnus Manson (CAN), who was sporting the Canadian flag on his sleeve earned from his recent Canadian National Downhill Championship win, who crossed the line in 4:00.35. Kelowna’s Bas van Steenbergen (CAN), who won the event two years…
Crossing the finish line after 12:46.84 of full-gas racing, Sam Hill (AUS) bested a field of some of the world’s fastest men, reclaimed a throne that was last his 11 years ago, and set down a challenge for Crankworx Whistler 2019. Sam Hill Sam Hill: I won it quite a few times before Marcelo [Gutierrez Villegas] came along. I haven’t been here to race him. He was definitely the number one guy to beat here. I just wanted to have fun and wasn’t sure where i’d gauge myself really, but I’m happy to come down in first. It’s a familiar…
A punishing 1,548 meter descent on the last stage of the day would claim more than a few victims today in the CamelBak Canadian Open Enduro presented by Specialized at Crankworx Whistler – notably the exhausted- and devastated-looking Richie Rude (USA), sweat dripping from his face, who rolled into the finish corral with a flat – but not Martin Maes (BEL). Martin Maes Martin Maes: It’s amazing. I think two or three years ago I was leading before the last stage. It’s kind of redemption for me. It just feels amazing. I’m super stoked. On top of the absolution of…
It was some simple, yet effective, words that propelled Tomas Lemoine (FRA), a man known for his stylish skills on a bike and the power of his pedal strokes, to the top of a podium he’s never been on before at Crankworx Whistler. Cam Zink vs Kyle Strait Going into the final matchup for the Gold in the Clif Dual Speed & Style presented by Muc-Off, Lemoine trailed Greg Watts (USA), whose speed earned him the win in the pair’s first. The Frenchman said he knew it was time to lay everything on the line. Tomas Lemoine: I was like…
Albania through last couple of years has been becoming more and more widely known as a tourist destination. This small country offers the best possible combination of landscape – mountains meet there sea. We must admit that it is a very spectacular combination, because rarely we can find mountains exceeding 2000 m above sea level growing straight from the sea. Adding to this amazing variety of terrain, and it’s wilderness mountains I immediately thought that it can also be an interesting cycling destination. Me with my wife are writing blog about Balkans, and we are quite frequent in Albania recently…
The Enduro World Series is back on Whistler’s iconic trails for one of the most anticipated races of the year, the Canadian Open Enduro presented by Specialized. The sixth round of the series will form the opening weekend of mountain biking’s biggest festival, Crankworx, and will be a single day of racing on some of the world’s most famous trails. And whilst this may be the series’ sixth visit to the venue, there are still plenty of surprises in store for the 350 riders competing in this Sunday’s race. Justin Leov The course compromises five stages featuring an incredible 3682…
Continuing on with the highly publicized XQUARONE EX with R3ACT 2Play suspension platform, Polygon is excited to release what will surely be one of the most talked about DH bikes this year. The looks may be polarizing and the unique design gives skeptics plenty of fuel, but the reality is that long before we announced this bike to the masses, it has been proven against the clock by some of the best riders in the world. But, XQUARONE DH series isn’t only made as a pure racing downhill bikes, we designed this bike to do more than just race the…
One week before the pros take to the dirt during the Downhill World Cup in Canada, it was the time for the young guns of the sport to shine during the “Kona Rookies Games” at the MTB-Festival Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. Felix Schumann The first weekend in August annually takes young talented riders to the Kona Rookie Festival in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis and over the last five years the event has already become a beloved tradition. By focusing solely on younger riders and rookies in general, the Rookie Festival especially addresses families and what venue could better suit this purpose than the family-friendly village in…
The countdown is on. August 10-19, the best riders in the world from multiple disciplines will roll in to mountain bike mecca and step up to the plate at Crankworx Whistler, hungry for the feeling of Whistler’s famed dirt underfoot on legendary tracks, thirsty for a taste of the season’s last bottles of victory champagne, and on-the-hunt for good times on two wheels at the biggest festival of its kind. Emil Johansson One week out, rider lists have been set, giving us a glimpse of what’s to come as Crankworx Whistler launches for its 15th year. Over the 10 days…
The 2019 Bike collection by Dainese enters the world of urban commuting with AWA Black, a dedicated line evolved from the AWA “All Weather Activity” technological platform, launched by the Vicenza-based brand in 2017. The gravity world meanwhile benefits from the new Dainese Enduro Knee Guard, a latest-generation hybrid knee guard. The HG collection also gets an update, with a series ofnew colors. AWA Black is the new Dainese Bike line designed to tackle the daily challenge of traffic whatever the weather conditions. It retains high technological content and combines it with a sober look, suitable for all types of…