Roughly 15,000 spectators are expected to crowd the base of Whistler Mountain on Saturday night as the world's top freeriders push their limits in the fifth annual Monster Energy Slopestyle - the crown jewel of the Crankworx festival, as well as the first freeride contest of its kind.
But while the slopestyle is the main attraction this weekend, it's just one of many worthy events taking place in the second half of Crankworx.
VW Trick Showdown - Thursday, Aug. 13
The Volkswagen Trick Showdown is returning for a second year, after thousands turned out last year to watch a mix of pro and amateur riders session some of the most interesting obstacles in the Boneyard at the base of Whistler in 2008.
This year there is $3,000 of prize money up for grabs, with the riders themselves judging the contest. As well, announcer Brad Ewan will give out $1,000 in cash over the course of the evening to reward riders.
There are two sessions lasting 45 minutes and up to 24 invited riders can take part. The first session gets underway at 5:30 p.m. and the second at 6:30 p.m. After the contest the final selection for Saturday's slopestyle will be announced.
Like everything at Crankworx the event is free to spectators but if you can't be there you can catch the live webcast at www.go211.com.
Giant Slalom - Friday, Aug. 14
Sponsored by Giant Bicycles, the Giant Slalom is also returning for a second year. The format is similar to the dual slalom, with two riders going head to head on two runs of a course and the fastest riders advancing through the brackets to the finals. The Double Vision course is a lot longer than the dual slalom, and has much bigger jumps, berms, and other features.
Both pro and amateur riders can take part, with the pro riders competing for $6,500 in prize money.
The amateur finals get underway at 3 p.m. and runs until 5:30 p.m., with the pro riders riding from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Canadian Open Enduro - Saturday, Aug. 15
This is a new event for Crankworx and is similar to a super D race where riders go uphill as well as down on the way to the finish. Designed for a bike with five inches of travel in front and back, the course starts at the top of Garbanzo and includes 3,800 vertical feet of descending as well as up to 500 feet of climbing.
The proposed course takes riders around the Chic Pea to Orange Peel road and Original Sin, up Bear Cub to the upper section of No Joke, Freight Train and Wild Card, more No Joke, a climb up In Deep to Little Alders and up Expressway to Containers. From there the course winds down Duffman to the Golden Triangle, back up to Easy Does It, down Crabapple ski run, Samurai Pizza Cat and Main and Olympic roads to the exit of Smoke and Mirrors. Riders then traverse the ski run, then go down the old Whistler Downhill to Autobahn and the exit to Joyride before climbing back up Main Road to the final descent down Double Vision.
The course will be marked for training on Friday. Amateurs race from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the pros from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The prize money is significant with $6,500 up for grabs. The top prize for men is $2,250, and for women is $1,000.
Canadian Cheese Rolling Championships - Saturday, Aug. 15
Bikes won't be the only wheels ripping downhill on Saturday, as the Canadian Cheese Rolling Championships return for a second year.
Modelled after the event in Gloucestershire, England, which has been running for more than 200 years on Cooper's Hill, the Canadian Cheese Rolling Championships take place at Base II on Blackcomb on a steep grass slope.
All of the online spots have already been snapped up but another 50 spots will be available on Saturday.
The racers will run down the course in heats, chasing two 11-pound wheels of cheese from Natural Pastures Cheese Company, with only the top chasers reaching the final. The top male and female in the final - the first to the cheese - will get to keep the cheese as well as earn a season pass for Whistler Blackcomb.
Helmets are mandatory, and other protective gear like knee and elbow padding is strongly recommended. Few racers made it down unscathed last year, and the top female cheese racer twisted her ankle at the finish.
For more information visit www.canadiancheeserolling.ca.
Monster Energy Slopestyle - Saturday, Aug. 14
After five years of pushing the envelope this event is probably the biggest in Whistler, with huge crowds coming out to see the best freeriders in the sport of mountain biking.
A total of 18 riders were given invites to the contest, of which 10 have already qualified for the finals. As well, six additional riders were selected from Crankworx Colorado, the Claymore Challenge, 26 Trix, Quashqai and Goat Style, while one wild card will be handed out to an up and coming rider. As well, six riders will advance from the VW Best Trick contest on Thursday, and the Slopestyle Qualifiers Expression Session.
The list of confirmed riders includes Whistler's Brandon Semenuk, as well as past slopestyle winners Adreu Lacondeguy, Cam McCaul, Ben Boyko and Paul Basagoitia.
A total of $30,000 in prize money is up for grabs, including $15,000 for the winner.
The event takes place in the Boneyard at the base of Whistler on a series of jumps, wooden obstacles and other features designed by freeride legend John Cowan. Some features were built specifically for this event.
On Thursday the Expression Session will pick six riders to join the 10 pre-qualified riders in the final on Saturday. On Saturday, athletes will get two runs with only the best run counting, and the top six riders will advance to a one-run super final.
The Aug. 13 events run during the VW Trick Showdown, with the first round at 5:30 p.m. and the second at 6:30 p.m.
The Aug. 15 finals get underway at 5:30 p.m., with the super finals taking place just after 7 p.m.
Canadian Open DH - Sunday, Aug. 16
The last event of Crankworx, the Canadian Open is a classic downhill race similar to a World Cup downhill event. The course includes sections of Joy Ride, a speed section down the Fitzsimmons Chair lift line, lower Joyride and Monkey Hands, with a new feature at the finish. Each athlete gets just one run with the amateur riders on the course at 11:30 a.m. and the pros racing at 3 p.m. for $6,200 in prize money.
Online registration is still available for the Canadian Open Enduro and the Canadian Open Downhill events. Spots may also be available for the Giant Slalom on race day.
