Rain came down hard on Whistler all day, but even that couldn’t slow down Elly Hoskin and Elliot Jamieson, who both topped the Canadian Open Enduro Elite podiums, kicking off elite racing at Crankworx Whistler 2026.
Crankworx Whistler 2026 – Canadian Open Enduro
With the course only revealed a week out, riders got their first real look at Dark Crystal as a competition track – a community-favourite trail making its race debut. To support maintenance and revitalization efforts after the race, Crankworx Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb and festival partners provide additional resources to the trail building team.
Saturday’s training session set the tone: wet. Race day didn’t let up, with rain present from start to finish and temperatures dropping cold enough that officials made a call to slightly adjust the course due to fog and wind at the “Top of the World” zone, prioritizing safety for riders, volunteers, and crew across a demanding day. The course held 1,850m of descents and 1,200m of climbing through the full breadth of Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Bike Park in store for athletes.
Squamish’s Elly Hoskin remains unbeaten in this race since stepping into the Elite category, and she proved it again, dominating all five stages of the day to claim her third consecutive Canadian Open Enduro title. Hoskin put more than two and a half minutes into the field, a staggering margin on a day when conditions punished every mistake.
Julia Long held on for second, with fellow Canadian Madelyn Bonikowsky just six seconds back to round out the women’s podium.
Elliot Jamieson backed up last year’s win in style, laying down the fastest time on four of the day’s five stages to take the top step again. Fellow BC local and 2024 Canadian Open Enduro champion Jesse Melamed chased hard all day, finishing just 10 seconds back after a full day of racing. Current Enduro World Cup leader Lief Rodgers completed an all-Canadian men’s podium in third, proof of the depth Canada continues to bring to Enduro racing.
The final stage funneled riders down into the Whistler Boneyard, where a soaked but unbothered crowd of friends, family, and core mountain bike fans was waiting, braving the rain to celebrate the first elite champions crowned at Crankworx Whistler 2026.
Canadian Open Enduro podium at Crankworx Whistler 2026:
- Elliot Jamieson (CAN) 28:18.8 // Elly Hoskin (CAN) 33:52.8
- Jesse Melamed (CAN) 28:28.3 // Julia Long (CAN) 36:20.3
- Lief Rodgers (CAN) 29:00.5 // Madelyn Bonikowsky (CAN) 36:26.4
Full results: crankworx.com/results
The Canadian Open Enduro was just the opening act. Opening weekend also delivered two Kidsworx races -the B-Line DH and Enduro – and two adaptive aMTB races – the Tech DH and Flow DH – giving riders of every category a stage at Crankworx Whistler.
And there is so much more to come. Air DH on the legendary A-Line, Downhill racing at the OG CDN OPN DH and the Specialized Canadian Open DH, the Official Whip-Off World Championships presented by POC, the Dual Slalom, and the newest addition to the festival lineup: the Crabapple Hits World Championships, returning to one of Whistler Mountain Bike Park’s most popular sections.
Crankworx Whistler 2026 runs through August 2, and the biggest nights of the festival are still ahead. Want the best seat in the house for Rhapsody Slopestyle and the Specialized Canadian Open DH? VIP Passes are on sale now online and at the merch booth on-site – grab yours before they’re gone.
About Crankworx World Tour
Crankworx is the ultimate experience in mountain biking. Born in Whistler, B.C. in 2004, Crankworx has evolved into a multi-stop international festival series. The Crankworx World Tour brings together the best mountain bike athletes to compete in elite-level competitions in a variety of disciplines. Crankworx World Tour festivals also host races for amateurs, Kidsworx contests for young riders, participatory events, and celebrations of mountain bike culture, all while showcasing amazing destinations.
Official website: crankworx.com
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