Local Sports

The Month of Pain may be an unofficial nickname for September, but given the selection of events next month it's entirely appropriate. Sept.

In Whistler, there is no shortage of steep, technical lines to choose from, with hardcore freeride descents etched into the terrain on both sides of the valley - or mountain pass, if you want to get technical with the geography.

Although pump tracks have gained a lot of traction in recent years, pump track competitions are still a rarity in the bike world.

The Double Vision course at the base of Whistler Mountain provided the venue for the Crankworx Giant Slalom, presented by Giant, on Friday night - a high-speed slalom competition on a course featuring large jumps, berms and technical rhythm sections.

The 2010 Crankworx freeride mountain bike festival unfolded over nine days of competitions, ranging from downhill races to slalom events, drawing top-ranked riders from around the globe.

Canadian Open wraps festival schedule

Only a handful of pro athletes can be said to own an event as thoroughly as California's Brian Lopes owns the Crankworx Air Downhill. On Wednesday, Aug. 11, Lopes won his fifth Air DH in a row, ripping down A-Line in four minutes 15.69 seconds.

The Whistler Saints Football Club is recruiting for the 2010 season. The team will hold it's first regular practice on Monday, Aug. 9 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Meadow Park. All kids are welcome to come out and practice.

Strong, bold and a bit nutty - the Canadian Cheese Rolling Festival returns Saturday, Aug. 14 to the Upper Village on Blackcomb. Cheese rolling is a downhill race where contestants run after a giant 11-pound wheel of Canadian cheese.

French riders dominated the podium at both the men's and women's Canadian Open Enduro races this week during Kokanee Crankworx. In the men's race, Remy Absalon both used and battled gravity to outpace the other racers and take home gold on Tuesday.