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Smith takes Crankworx Triple Crown

Winning Sunday’s Canadian Men’s Open DH gives him third Whistler title

There was little doubt who the Crankworx king, queen and prince would be this weekend as Crankworx wound down.

After winning the Canadian Open Downhill (DH), the Air DH on Wednesday and the Garbonzo DH last Sunday Steve Smith was crowned the king of the festival. Casey Brown was named the queen based on her wins in the Canadian Open Women’s DH and the Garbanzo DH.

Whistler’s Jack Iles, 15, was named the Crankworx prince for his string of victories in the Whistler Bike Park.

For the second Sunday in a row, Smith thrilled fans along the course and assembled at the finish line. As was the case last Sunday at the Garbonazo DH, Smith was the last competitor down the course. He beat Mick Hannah of Australia, who finished second, and Andrew Neethling of South Africa in third place.

The more than 100 professionals who raced ahead of Smith and the amateurs who raced earlier in the day chewed up the course before Smith laid down the final run of the day. Interviewed at the finish he described the course as a “loose” track.

“I was quite nervous after winning the two I didn’t expect to win,” Smith said. “It put a lot of pressure.”

Smith set the Crankworx bar high by being the first rider to win all three of the festival’s major DH events. He earned $10,000 for winning the Canadian Open DH and that pay cheque followed earnings of $2,500 from the Garbanzo DH and another $2,500 for taking top spot at the Air DH.

Casey Brown of Revelstoke took her second major Crankworx win by racing faster than Whistler’s Claire Buchar for the second Sunday in a row. Squamish’s Lauren Rosser was the third fastest competitor in the Canadian Open Women’s DH.

Check Thursday’s Pique for more Crankworx coverage.