It’s Monday Morning and the rain has come. Whistler has been very dry, so this moisture is giving the trails a much needed perk up. There are no events today, but tomorrow is Women’s Worx and it would be great if the rain stayed away for that event. So far, we have seen the youthful riders come out on top of the experienced riders. Kyle Strait over Brian Lopes in the Dual Slalom, for example. Or, Miranda Miller on top of the Pro Women’s Garbanzo DH. However, there were expected results. Jill Kintner showed why she is one of the most talented gate racers on the planet, by winning the Dual Slalom handily. Sam Hill was on the Garbanzo Podium. Crankworx is proving to be the best bike event on the planet.
Dual Slalom Results:
In the Pro Men category, Kyle Strait took first place, Brian Lopes took second place, Johannes Fischbach took third and Neko Mullaly took fourth.
In the Pro Women category, Jill Kinter finished first, Fionn Griffiths finished second, Micayla Gatto finished third and Melissa Buhl finished fourth.
Life started to show in Whistler as riders arrived on Friday and quickly jumped on the Dual Slalom track to practice for Saturday’s event. This is the first event of Crankworx 2009. The Dual Slalom is to be followed by the Crankworx Block Party MC’d by Darcy Turenne. Whistler Crankworx 2009 is now fully underway.
Sunday Update: Pro DH - Mick Hannah continues his come back at the Sea Otter Classic beating Greg Minnaar, Andrew Neethling, Justin Leov, and Brian Lopes to top the Pro Men’s Podium. The track had not received any real moisture in over a week. The weather was well into the 80s. After a weekend of practices by well over a thousand contestants, the course was blown out in so many spots. However, it remained very fast if not on the edge. While many mock the difficulty of the Sea Otter DH course, the speed and conditions of this years course made it tricky. Many riders blew off the course. Tracy Moseley won the Pro Women’s DH followed by Melissa Buhl, Kathy Pruit, and Claire Buchar.
Sunday also saw the Pro Dual Stunt finals. Brandon Semenuk beat Kyle Strait in the final. Brandon seemed to be training hard to fit into his tight pants. This training really benefited Brandon, as with Dual Slalom, the better one does the longer they compete. Brandon was as strong in his final against Kyle Strait as he was in the first round. Check out Miles’ Dual Stunt video below.
Check out more Photos from Pat Branch at PBmedia.us
Dual Stunt Video by Miles “Shovelpick” Sullivan
Saturday’s Pro Dual Slalom
Sam Hill broke the qualifying curse and beat Cody Warren, and Jarred Rando then Gee Atherton to take top spot in Pro Men’s DS. Melissa Buhl carried on her winning ways and beat Olympian Jill Kintner and Kathy Pruit to take the top spot in Pro Women’s DH. Many riders crashed do to the dusty dry conditions and the deteriorating course. Ducan Riffle, Eric Carter, Kathy Pruit, Jill Kintner, Mikey Haderer, Nathan Rennie, last year’s winner Greg Minnaar and many more.
The competition was stiff. Jared Rando and Gee Atherton actually tied after posting two head-to-head runs. They gave the tie breaker to Jared due to his winning of the last run. The sun was hot, over 80 and no clouds. This added to the break down of the course as the mornings moisture was wicked away. It also added to the fatigue of the riders. Before his final’s match with Sam Hill, Cody Warren told me he was falling apart. Cody stayed close to Sam in the first run, but then crashed in the second losing any opportunity to make up the differential with Sam. Melissa Buhl was tough all day. Check out the photos from the competition. Our video on the Dual Slalom is going to be a full on documentary with over 30 interviews to work with. We expect to release that as a Feature Video with in a week to 2 weeks.
Note: For those of you from the PNW. Darrell Jameson and Clinton Fowler each took 2nd in their respective Cat 1 Dual Slalom competitions.
Friday’s DH Practice.
Friday Update: Wind is gone and the sun is out baby! Tomorrow is the Pro-Dual Slalom. It’s going to be sick. Tonight’s video work covers Pro DH practice.
In general Sea Otter is chaotic, frantic, windy, dusty, crowed, but it’s like the first day of high school. With everyone looking for their old friends, taking runs with people they only see while racing, hanging out at the pump track and looking at all the NEW GEAR.
This morning JD of SRAM set me up with a new cartridge for my Boxxer Team. I never let go of the bike. I rolled up, he pulled the old cartridge, adjusted the oil, put the new one in and test the fork. Then I was gone. Thanks SRAM.
Team Mechanics Talk Bike Setup for Sea Otter - riding examples
Thursday Update: When we arrived it was windy to the point of making riding difficult. Now the wind is gone, but it is cold. Seattle cold. Can’t complain though, because we all have the opportunity to be on our bikes. Or, with bikes.
I came down to central California early to get some sun and ride and shoot local trails. In this first video I met up with Evan Turpen a few days before Sea Otter 2009. We road his training trails. He explains the importance of training trails versus downhill trails. We then go and hit up some dirt jumps.
They say this weekend’s weather will be in the 70s or 80s. Can you say Sunblock? Eat your heart out PNW. Love you all!
Another Pre Otter Video Coming Tuesday Night. Then stay tuned for our daily videos from Sea Otter. Follow immediate results from my phone via Twitter.
Times may be tough, but industry optimism is strong
Monterey, CA (March 3, 2009) – In spite of a challenging economy, cyclists remain in the saddle. Early registrations for the 2009 Sea Otter Classic are strong. And other cycling events, organizations, and businesses are reporting good showings for the 2009 season. Continue reading ‘Sea Otter 09 is coming!’
At this years Crankworx there was yet another new event on the mountain for folks to enjoy. It was a marriage between the huge, fast action of last years 4x, and the tight, flowy party of dual slalom. Giant Bikes stepped up to the alter and produce the two races the Giant Slalom. For Video and Story Continue reading ‘The GIANT Giant Slalom’
So Whistler Blackcomb is at it again. They bring us the most diverse gravity bike event of the year - Kokanee Crankworx. Gee Atherton wins the Garbanzo DH. This race is one of the longest Downhill Races in the world. It rained to make an already grueling track that much more difficult:
“We practiced on dry trails well before the race, so when the rain came, it changed everything,” says first place winner Gee Atherton. “You had to pick new lines and just go for it.”
Gee Atherton (UK), grabbed first with a time of 14:20.4; second place was Sam Hill (Aus), with a time of 14:37.8; third place went to Marc Beaumont (UK), with a time of 14.44.6 and fourth place went to Dan Atherton (UK), with a time of 14:50.0.
“This was not an easy track to begin with and the weather made it even tougher,” say Sam Hill, second place in this year’s Monster Energy DH. “I had a crash in the middle of the course and one of my shoes came off, I had to stay strong and keep motivated to make up the time.”
The top rider in the women’s category was Rachel Atherton (UK), with a time of 16:48.9; Fionn Griffiths (UK), took second place with a time of 17:25.1; Denise Uyesuqi (CAN), took third place with a time of 18:32.7; and Whistler local Rebecca McQueen took fourth with a time of 18:41.9. On a note close to home, Seattle’s own Joy Mutoli placed 9th in the pro women. Way to go Joy!
For the second year in a row, and by “popular demand” Kokanee Cranworx on Saturday held the Dual Slalom. The up and coming racer JD Swanguen beat out many more seasoned racers. The course was technical and damp and according to Stacy Kohut, “the weather really forced the athletes to be conservative to stay on track.” Nico Vink took second. Chris Herndon of Decline/Team America took third ahead of his teammate Cody Warren. In the Pro Women Anneke Beerten took first ahead of Rachel Atherton. Fionn Griffths finished third and Kathy Pruitt was fourth.
Closer to my home in Seattle, Luciano Worl took 2nd in the Junior X. Watch for him! Brad Tibbs and Clinton Fowler both took 4th in their categories. You can watch them featured in our video on the Fluidride Cup DS here.
This video of the Fluidride Cup #2 Dual Slalom tells that story of grassroots dual slalom. Sure the pros are the stars, but in the local scene, even the fans yelling from the sideline get their 15 minutes. Some may claim that dual slalom is destined for “Friday nights under the lights.” Who really knows. The truth is, it’s fun and it’s making a comeback.
You can watch this low resolution version here, or you can (right click and save) and download an HD quality version here (Apple TV format playable with any updated quicktime player).
Also the podcast is always a better quality than the flash video here.
It’s Monday Morning and the rain has come. Whistler has been very dry, so this moisture is giving the trails a much needed perk up. There are no events today, but tomorrow is Women’s Worx and it would be great if the rain stayed away for that event. So far, we have seen the youthful riders come out on top of the experienced riders. Kyle Strait over Brian Lopes in the Dual Slalom, for example. Or, Miranda Miller on top of the Pro Women’s Garbanzo DH. However, there were expected results. Jill Kintner showed why she is one of the most talented gate racers on the planet, by winning the Dual Slalom handily. Sam Hill was on the Garbanzo Podium. Crankworx is proving to be the best bike event on the planet.
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