For 10 days, from July 22 to 30, Crankworx will make Whistler the epicentre of mountain biking, with the best riders from across Canada and B.C. taking on the top international riders in every kind of event imaginable; cross country, downhill, marathon downhill, super-D, trials, slopestyle, dirt jumping and more. More than $30,000 in cash prizes will be awarded over the course of the week, as well as the national downhill mountain bike title.
As in past festivals, Whistler will be well represented in most of the events.
On the men’s side, the local to catch is Tyler Morland, who is defending his national downhill title this Sunday. He recently set another new record at the Mt. 7 Psychosis, and is riding as well as ever.
Still, he knows it won’t be easy.
"There’s always pressure, when everyone wants to see you win again – at least I do," he joked. "But really, there are tons of up and comers these days that are super fast and skilled. Every year I want to get better, but so do they. They’re learning and so am I.
"I feel pretty good. I know the trail pretty well, although they’ve flagged a new top section which is pretty awesome, it’s really fast and open."
Morland also has the added "curse of wearing the ugliest jersey in the world when I’m at Canada Cups," he said, referring to the leader’s jersey given to the national champion.
Not that he’s blaming the jersey, but Morland has noticed that national downhill champions rarely repeat, but hopes to be able to pull it off with the home-course advantage.
"It makes a bit of a difference to be able to sleep at home, and to know the trails so well," he said.
If he wins Morland will also be guaranteed a spot on the national team for the UCI World Championships in New Zealand this September, which he says has been a goal this season.
"Winning the nationals would definitely meet the criteria for making the worlds, and I would love to go this year. We’ll see what happens."
Morland is sponsored by Cove Bikes, Sram, and Rock Shox, and also plans to race in the Air Downhill and Garbanzo Enduro at Crankworx.
Another strong local is Claire Buchar, who has been competing on the World Cup downhill circuit this summer. She’s pretty much guaranteed a spot on the national team as a result of the points she’s earned, but still wants to win the national title.
As well as making herself and her sponsors happy, Buchar wants a solid performance at home to get back into the groove she feels she lost after her first race at Vigo, Spain.
"I haven’t seen the course yet, but I’m feeling pretty confident now (after winning the Mt. 7 Pyschosis) and I’m feeling pretty good. I’m going to go out and try to win no matter what," she said.
"I think my technical skills are the strongest part of my riding, and jumping, but I’m learning how to race everything – it takes a lot of time and a lot of experience, but I’ve been enjoying the process of it, and learning.
"I’m not 100 per cent happy with my (World Cup) season. The first race went really well, but besides the result I had a really good feeling on the course. I haven’t really had that feeling again, and that’s where I want to be in my head before the start of every race.
"But I can’t complain about the season. It’s been pretty good and I’ve managed to stay pretty healthy. I am looking forward to Crankworx."
Because the Canadian Cycling Association no longer funds the top male and female downhill racers, after a new directive to only fund Olympic disciplines, Buchar is holding a fundraiser on Monday, July 24 along with fellow downhillers Brook Baker and Katrina Strand. Buchar is also looking to raise funds to race in the World Cup finals in Austria.
The venue for the fundraiser is the GLC, and $15 includes a chance at a prize draw, a silent auction, raffle and a performance by local Led Zepplin cover ban Whole Lotta Led. You can get tickets in advance at Evolution, or at the door for $20.
"We’re going to need all the support we can get from the community, friends and family," said Buchar. "It’s going to be a fun time. Instead of going around begging for money, we decided to throw a party and try to raise funds that way."
The prizes should be pretty good, as Buchar is sponsored by Specialized, Rock Shox, Avid, Truvativ, Sram, Evolution, Sombrio, Michelin, E13, Physique, Crank Bros., Dynamic Core Fitness, Whistler-Blackcomb, Utopia Goggles, Giro, Dakine and West Coast Freeride Guides.
Another local to watch is Jeff Beatty. Beatty finished fourth in last year’s Air Downhill behind World Cup stars Brian Lopes, Steve Peat and Nathan Rennie, then came back a few days later to finish sixth in the Air Downhill, one spot behind national champion Tyler Morland.
On the women’s side, there’s also Vancouver Danika Schroeter. Schroeter has finished second in the nationals for the past two years and says she is riding well.
"I still have mixed feelings about (the race) and how hard you can push yourself," she said. "I always think you perform your best when there’s no extra stress on things.
"It’s a little different this year. In the past my goal has been always to win or come last, because the first place rider would get some funding to the worlds, but since that funding isn’t there anymore the pressure is kind of off."
She is not overly familiar with the trail, but says it is a good mix of speed, jumps, rock faces, and technical sections.
"That way you have an overall rider winning, and not just the rider who’s best at jumps or pedals the fastest," said Schroeter.
Schroeter races for Cove, Sram and Rock Shox, and also plans to enter the Air Downhill and Garbanzo Enduro.
Other local names to watch for in the race events include Adam Billinghurst, Chris Dewar, Chad Onyschuk, Mike Jones, juniors Alex Prochazka and Tyler Allison, and local Brook Baker and Katrina Strand. In the Kokanee Slopestyle, local invited riders include event founder and course designer Richie Schley and Darren Berrecloth.
Cedric Gracia of France also lives in Whistler part-time and is competing in most events – Air Downhill, Nissan Biker X, Kokanee Slopestyle, and Garbanzo Enduro.
Events:
Saturday, July 22 – Canada Cup Cross Country.
There is still time to register for this race, which attracts the top cross-country riders from across Canada. The course is in Lost Lake Park on a mix of singletrack, doubletrack and roads.
Sunday, July 23 – Tim Hortons Canadian National Downhill
Registration is still open for this event, and the course is Fantastik Ski Run, Rock City, lower Joyride, Monkey Hands and the GLC Drop.
Tuesday, July 25 – Super D
This is essentially a downhill race with uphill sections, and should take an average of 20 minutes to complete. The course starts with a loop under the Garbanzo Chair, Easy Does It, Golden Triangle, World Cup Singletrack, a road climb, a section of Whistler Downhill, Bones, another climb to the B-Line entrance and then Monkey Hands to the GLC drop. Registration is still available.
Friday, July 28 – Nissan Biker X
Four riders at a time head down the Whistler Biker X course at the base of the mountain, with the top two from each heat moving on after each elimination round. Registration still available.
Saturday, July 29 – Kokanee Slopestyle, Trialsworx
This event includes 20 of the top freeriders in the world, as well as the best 10 of 100 qualifiers from Thursday. Riders are judged on line choice, air, use of the terrain, and style. The qualifier is sold out.
Trialsworx takes place during the day, with the top trials riders from North America competing on courses set up around the village. This event replaces the Test of Metal Trials as the Canadian stop on the North American tour.
Sunday, July 30 – Garbanzo Enduro Downhill, Kona Jump Jam
This is a downhill race from the top of the Garbanzo Chair to the base of Whistler Mountain, a vertical drop of over 1,100 metres. The top riders come in at around 15 minutes, depending on conditions. Registration is still available.
The Kona Jump Jam is by invite only, and will take place at the base of Whistler.
For more information on dates, times and training sessions, as well as registration, visit www.crankworx.com.
