Most human beings on Earth would not want to attempt the punishing Garbanzo Downhill (DH). Many of those who do feel like sleeping for a week afterwards.
Not Richie Rude. Instead, Richie Rude struck Air DH gold roughly 24 hours after triumphing on Garbanzo.
Only two men pulled within three seconds of the enduro maestro's benchmark (4:15.719). Tyler Waite of New Zealand raised eyebrows with a silver-medal worthy outing (4:18.509) and Squamish's Dane Jewett clawed to his second bronze of the festival (4:18.817).
"Definitely was a hard day," Rude said. "Arms are definitely cooked after Garbo, but still could pedal a bit. Started this practice pretty slow, but just had to work into it and find the flow on A-Line…it's all about staying low on jumps and carrying a lot of speed through the berms. Luckily, on this track you can keep a pretty high average speed. Works well for a racetrack, but it's scary at times, hitting the big holes and overshooting jumps."
Last year's RockShox Canadian Open DH champ, Jenna Hastings, claimed victory over her fellow pro women (4:43.461). Taylor Ostgaard eked out a runner-up result (4:47.747) over Amy Morrison (4:47.776), while an untimely dropped chain held Georgia Astle in fourth (4:49.260).
Midway through proceedings, Anneke Beerten entered the Boneyard. In tow was an entourage of female riders commemorating her retirement after a devastating traffic incident left her with a traumatic brain injury. Beerten grew emotional during a finish corral interview as hundreds of onlookers clapped and cheered.
"Anneke won Queen of Crankworx the first year it ever came to my hometown, Rotorua, and I wasn't there [in 2015] unfortunately," revealed Hastings. "I met her a couple days ago. She said: 'I haven't met you before' and I said: 'no, you have met me before. I was just a child.' We took a picture together, so it is cool to see one of the people I used to look up to now closing out her career. It is just really inspiring."
Regarding her own performance, Hastings admitted to feeling sick mere hours before go time. She napped, then steeled herself to give maximum effort and took care of business.
Closing a chapter
For those unaware, Beerten was driving her pickup truck in August 2020 when another motorist ran a red light and barreled into her driver's side door. Soon to follow were a litany of ailments: nausea, vertigo, memory loss, headaches, insomnia and more. Despite the best efforts of medical specialists, the loyalty of sponsors and her own resilience in rehab, Beerten was forced to retire approximately one year post-accident.
The Dutch standout built a resume many would be envious of: three World Championships in four-cross and two more in BMX, the first-ever Queen of Crankworx throne and, in 2019, a Crankworx World Tour Spirit Award for community engagement and all-round generosity to the sport of mountain biking.
"We always hope that we inspire the next generation or whoever comes into the sport, and hearing that [others look up to me] is such a fulfillment, right?" Beerten said. "Knowing that you pass things along to other riders in the sport is so cool. Grateful for all of those people that helped me get back here today to do one final run and then find some closure. It couldn't have been any better…this was just perfect."
Upon reaching the top of A-Line on Tuesday afternoon, Beerten learned to her surprise that several others (including Red Bull Rampage champ Robin Goomes, Harriet Burbidge-Smith and Casey Brown) had decided to ride a party lap down with her—foregoing their own medal chances.
"During my first Crankworx in 2014, I met Anneke," recalled Astle. "I was racing [Enduro World Series] and she was a fully Specialized-sponsored rider, such an icon. I had goosebumps when I saw her at the top and gave her a big hug, because it's really special to see her back."
Two-time Queen Caroline Buchanan, who placed seventh in Air DH, had this to say: "Anneke is someone I've had some really close rivalries and competitive battles with, and ultimately she's inspired me. She's inspired so many girls, and for me to have battled against her in four-cross as well as Crankworx as well as BMX, we share a similar path."
'Not letting it get to my head'
Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed a key absence from the start list: Jill Kintner. The Seattle native is dominance personified when it comes to Air DH, with 10 of her 45 Crankworx gold medals earned on A-Line. She still hasn't been beaten, however, a practice crash left the three-time World Champion unable to raise her arm.
"Been a wild ride, happy to have racked up a good record over the years, and hopefully made a positive impact," Kintner wrote on social media. "It was pretty hectic out there, people everywhere. I got distracted for a sec and went over a high speed berm."
Astle too had a date with dirt in practice, which she attributes to miscalibrating her equipment after the rigors of Garbanzo. She made adjustments, but then her bike chain failed early in her Air DH foray and she felt that precious seconds were left on track.
"Before I lost my chain, after the crash, I was kind of like: 'okay, I'm just going to be conservative and smooth,'" Astle said. "Once I dropped my chain, I was like: 'alright, now you just have to hit every single berm the best you've ever hit a berm, because you can't pedal out of it.' I had to tap into a new gear yesterday for Garbo and today…so I'm just proud of myself for not letting it get to my head."
Also remaining calm is Buchanan, who is up to 621 season points—just 13 behind Sabina Košárková for no. 2 overall. Košárková has yet to move the needle in Whistler after placing 15th on A-Line, and Jordy Scott managed eighth to keep her lead with 836 points. Buchanan isn't focused on the Queen title this year, but does want to finish as top female slalom athlete (which she's in position to do).
Bonked, dead…but alive
Ryan Gilchrist couldn't replicate his Air DH win from 2024 as an ill-timed mechanical problem knocked him down into 62nd place (7:11.579). He stays atop the King rankings with 984 points, but has left the door open for Jackson Frew (779) and Tegan Cruz (761) to make late-season moves.
Cruz punched into fourth (4:19.361), grinding through a venue he described as slippery, soft and rocky. Not far behind in fifth was Frew (4:20.444).
Meanwhile, Jewett narrowly avoided sliding out moments into his attempt. He was by no means flawless, but did enough to reach the podium. "It's just constant jumps and pumping, so you literally have to use every muscle and everything out of your body to go for it," he said. "I was just so bonked and dead at the bottom, but stoked I kept alive not to crash.
"I don't really [prepare for Air DH]. I used to do BMX…so that definitely helps, and I went down to my trail bike for extra speed. For this event, I didn't think I was going to get close to [bronze] so it's a big win for me. Especially being a first-year elite, I'm stoked that I can be this close to the top boys."
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