OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE 2025
Long time running
marks its 20th edition
Crankworx Whistler
28 A heritage of speed Crankworx Whistler 2025 features four downhill races
7
Welcome letter From the Managing Director of Crankworx World Tour
14
Score of Scores: 20 Years of Joyride in Whistler
24
Adaptive MTB Takes the Stage in 2025
PULLOUT
Now and Then
A commemorative poster of legendary athletes and moments from the past 20 years
34 Pump Track
Check out this staple of Crankworx Whistler
38
May the best trick win The Outdoor Research Trick Showdown joins Crankworx Whistler
On the cover: DESIGN: Lou O’Brien Creative / PHOTOGRAPHY: Jake Paddon, Clint Trahan
Crankworx Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb and the Resort Municipality of Whistler are grateful to be based and operate on the unceded shared territory of the Lil’wat7úl (Lil’wat) Nation and the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation, and respect and actively commit to a deep consideration of their history, culture, stewardship and voice.
HELLO / K’ALHWÁ7AP / NUU
As you arrive in the beautiful mountain town Whistler, you are visiting the unceded shared traditional territories of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. The Skwxwú7mesh Lil’wat7úl Cultural Centre (SLCC) in Whistler invites you to take time during your visit to connect more deeply with the land, its stories, and the people who have called it home since time immemorial.
While Crankworx celebrates the strength, dedication, and unity of participants and communities, it also offers a meaningful opportunity to learn more about the rich cultural and spiritual heritage that surrounds you. We encourage you to visit the SLCC, where Cultural Ambassadors are here to share knowledge, answer questions, and offer insight into the living culture of the Squamish Nation and the Lil’wat Nation.
Our immersive guided tours and exhibits share our history, language, art, and ways of knowing that continue to shape this territory. Whether you’re new to the area or returning, we hope your experience here includes time for reflection, learning, and cultural connection.
Thank you for your visiting us and honouring our presence with respect for the land and your interest in the stories of our people that have long existed here. We look forward to seeing you at the SLCC and sharing in this moment of celebration and understanding.
Huy Chexw / Kukw`stumc`kalap / Thank you
Mixalhítsa7 Alison Pascal Curator & Co-Director of Culture - Lil’wat Nation, Skwxwú7mesh Lil’wat7úl Cultural Centre (SLCC) in Whistler
Cheximiya Allison Burns Joseph Co-Director of Culture - Squamish Nation, Manager of IYA Program, Skwxwú7mesh Lil’wat7úl Cultural Centre (SLCC) in Whistler
Ella Connelly at the Whistler Enduro, Crankworx 2024. CLINT TRAHAN
DARREN KINNAIRD
Managing Director, Crankworx World Tour
WELCOME TO THE 20TH EDITION OF CRANKWORX WHISTLER!
It’s a true honour to welcome you back to Whistler for this milestone year - two decades of unforgettable moments, gravity-defying runs, and the global mountain bike community coming together in one extraordinary place.
Crankworx Whistler is more than just the world’s biggest mountain bike festival; it’s an annual homecoming. Here, the best athletes on the planet share the trails with amateurs, families, future stars, and fans who simply love to ride, watch, and soak up the energy that only Crankworx can bring. Whether you’re dropping into your first race, chasing podiums, or cheering from the sidelines, we’re stoked to have you with us.
This 20th anniversary is all about celebrating what makes Crankworx Whistler the beating heart of mountain biking. We’re excited to see the return of legendary events like the OG CDN OPN DH - an icon in its own right - and to debut fresh competitions like the Outdoor Research Trick Showdown and the Bosch eMTB Challenge, bringing even more ways to ride, compete, and create unforgettable memories.
From the thrill of Red Bull Joyride to the technical battles of our three Downhill races or the Specialized Dual Slalom, the crowd-favourite Whip-Offs, breath-taking adaptive racing, and the energy of Kidsworx and CWNEXT events, there’s truly something here for everyone. It’s this variety that keeps the spirit of Crankworx alive - welcoming riders of all ages, categories, and styles to be part of our big family.
We are privileged to host this festival on the traditional, unceded territory of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. We are deeply grateful for their stewardship and the enduring cultural heritage that enriches this land we’re so lucky to enjoy.
A huge thank you to the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb, the Province of British Columbia, our community, local businesses, and of course our incredible partners and sponsors for your unwavering support. Your passion fuels this festival year after year.
So here’s to 20 incredible years, and to the memories we’ll make together this week - on the trails, in the village or on trackside watching some of the world’s greatest riders. Let’s celebrate this special chapter of Crankworx Whistler, and the people who make it the ultimate experience in mountain biking.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT!
Darren Kinnaird Managing Director, Crankworx World Tour
BY DAVID SONG
CRANKWORX WHISTLER MARKS ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Acertain song on The Tragically Hip’s 1991 album Road Apples has a chorus that goes: “it’s been a long time running…it’s been a long time coming…it’s well worth the wait.”
Mountain bikers of all ages and backgrounds no doubt feel thusly about Crankworx Whistler.
Not just the flagship item of the Crankworx World Tour (CWT) it spawned, this event represents the beating heart of a sport defined by maverick zest. Such riders live with an urge to push the limits of speed, amplitude and old-fashioned gnarliness, but they’re not often solitary creatures.
Instead mountain bikers like to share their adrenaline-fueled exploits with others, putting themselves on a stage for others to gawk at—and more importantly, to be inspired by. Crankworx Whistler remains committed to furthering this mission on the eve of its 20th anniversary.
Festival attendance has remained robust over the years, with over 300,000 attendees each year since 2022 when the event made its glorious return from a COVID-mandated hiatus. This August’s lineup of activities could generate an even larger turnout, especially as excitement for the 20th edition builds.
MARGUS RIGA
DAN CARR
New attractions on tap include a freestyle contest dubbed the Outdoor Research Trick Showdown, and the BOSCH eMTB Challenge geared towards amateur, advanced and professional ebike riders. The OG CDN OPN DH is back to its original village venue, complementing the RockShox Canadian Open Downhill now held at Creekside’s 1199 track, and Red Bull Joyride will follow up its groundbreaking women’s debut last July with an encore.
Familiar favourites like the Specialized Dual Slalom, Air DH, Pump Track, Official Whip-Off World Championships presented by POC and the Canadian Open Enduro are, of course, returning.
Riders who take particularly well to this eclectic menu of disciplines battle for the annual King and Queen of Crankworx titles. Australia’s Ryan Gilchrist is poised to defend his crown heading into Whistler, while Czech Olympic hopeful Sabina Košárková tops the ladies’ rankings at present.
In order to truly appreciate where Crankworx is going, however, one needs to revisit where it’s been.
‘HERE WAS THIS INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EVENT IN OUR TOWN’
The Sea to Sky area has served as an incubator for biking progression since the 1980s, when it played host to all kinds of BMX jam sessions. The Whistler Mountain Bike Park’s 1999 opening galvanized the community, attracting visionaries like Paddy Kaye and Chris Winter who masterminded Joyride Bikercross (a race format not to be confused with today’s Red Bull Joyride slopestyle extravaganza).
By 2003, the Whistler Summer Gravity Festival emerged as an umbrella beneath which all gravity-assisted mountain bike disciplines would be practiced. A year later, that festival adopted its current name: Crankworx.
Claire Buchar has been on board since pretty much the beginning. She remembers the days of Joyride Bikercross and still looks back fondly on the inaugural running of Crankworx Whistler.
“It was amazing. Here was this internationally recognized event in our town,” said the former Canadian national teamer.
2015
CLINT TRAHAN
KIKE ABELLEIRA
Canadian Open Enduro, Crankworx Whistler 2024. ROB PERRY
“I guess it felt a little bit more grassroots back then. There were a lot of locals racing before it had grown…but that [growth] happened quickly because it was just so popular and competitive.
“Everyone was super excited to have a bigger race in our town, since there was no World Cup or anything like that. Crankworx quickly turned into an awesome platform for people to show what they can do, prove themselves and get recognized. We were all for it…I mean, come on, it was the Whistler Bike Park. It was like the perfect venue.”
The Deep Summer Photo Challenge gave mountain bike photographers something new to compete for in 2009, and a year later Darren Kinnaird assumed the role of Crankworx general manager. He and his team have worked dutifully to expand the festival, not willing to sit on their laurels.
Kaye crossed paths with Crankworx again in 2011, facilitating the establishment of what would become Red Bull Joyride. Local legend Brandon Semenuk proceeded to win it five times in his career—an unrivalled accomplishment. Speaking of unrivalled, there’s no mountain biking competition quite like Joyride, which routinely draws crowds of 35,000 people.
It’s not realistic to properly delve into every notable Crankworx moment since then within the confines of one article—there are just too many—but let’s touch on a few highlights.
Stevie Smith became the first man to win all three Crankworx downhill races in 2012, the same year a novel hybrid discipline called Speed and Style was introduced. The Dirt Diaries video contest kicked off in 2013, and tsunamis of public support buoyed 14-yearold Finn Iles into his maiden Whip-Off in 2014.
By 2015, Crankworx had implemented equitable prize money for both male and female riders. Women took part in Joyride for the very first time last year, with Sweden’s Alma Wiggberg authoring a historic triumph.
“It’s good that [the organizers] keep thinking ahead and not getting complacent with just doing the same old thing every year,” said Buchar. “They’re smart. They know what they’re doing, and they have a lot of experience in running a big event like that.”
HEART OF THE TOUR
As previously alluded to, Crankworx has been an international phenomenon for some time. It graced Winter Park, Colorado from 2007 to 2011, reached Les Deux Alpes in 2012, touched down in Rotorua three years after that, had an Innsbruck stop which ended in 2024 and another in Cairns that’s still going strong. However, make no mistake: Whistler is still viewed as hallowed ground.
“Crankworx quickly turned into an awesome platform for people to show what they can do, prove themselves and get recognized.”
TOP- Left: Deep Summer Photo Challenge, pictured above in 2016, first came to life in 2009. SCOTT ROBARTS Right: A rider gets some serious air at the 2016 Whipoff. CLINT TRAHAN
BOTTOM: Brandon Semenuk, winner of the first Red Bull Joyride in 2011. BLAKE JORGENSON
GMC SIERRA EV AT4
“Whistler is where Crankworx was born and it still feels like the heart of the tour,” opined two-time Queen of Crankworx Caroline Buchanan. “It’s unique because you have the world-famous bike park and all the events wrapping up right in the vibrant village. It’s the perfect blend of world-class riding, parties, nightlife, industry dinners, tourists and passionate spectators. There’s nowhere else that brings the mountain bike community together in such an electric way.
“20 years is a huge feat and something I have been proud to start in, from humble pump track beginnings as a BMXer crossing over into the world of mountain biking 12 years ago. I have seen the options expand, and as a rider who never wanted to specialise in only one event…the Crankworx World Tour has allowed athletes like myself to
challenge the progression and evolution of mountain biking.”
Such progression has continued thanks in large part to Kidsworx, which allows seven to 12-year-old riders an opportunity to venture into eye-opening contests geared towards their needs. A bevy of successful locals, from Jackson Goldstone to Tegan Cruz, view Kidsworx as an essential part of their development.
“It’s pretty cool to see an event as big as Crankworx pay so much attention to the youth,” remarked Cruz, who just celebrated his own 20th birthday. “As a kid…I was just enjoying my first event and racing with all my friends in Whistler, but through the years I started to really appreciate them acknowledging that kids are the future of the sport. [Kidsworx] is a great platform for all the youth to come out
TOP (left to right): Kidsworx B-Line Crankworx Whistler 2016. Kidsworx made its debut in Whistler in 2012 and has been a key component of the festival worldwide ever since. SEAN ST DENIS Whistler athlete, Jesse Melamed at the Whistler DH in 2024. ROB PERRY
BOTTOM (left to right): Caroline Buchanan, two-time Queen of Crankworx. CHRIS PILLING Georgia Astle at the Garbanzo DH, Crankworx Whistler 2018. FRASER BRITTON Local athlete, Tegan Cruz pictured competing at Crankworx Whistler 2024, started his Crankworx journey at Kidsworx. CLINT TRAHAN
and race.”
As of early July, 1,040 athletes have united for a total of 2,306 entries into Crankworx Whistler’s various competitions. Sea to Sky fans are likely interested to see if Jesse Melamed wins the Canadian Open Enduro for a third straight time, if Georgia Astle makes it four consecutive Garbanzo DH victories, or if Cruz improves on his current third-place spot in the King rankings.
Buchar feels that, while Crankworx has grown with the sport of mountain biking, it has also helped the sport grow: a sentiment that most, if not all of her peers are likely to agree with. This festival has been a long time running, and it’s most definitely been well worth the wait.
Presented by Gibbons Whistler
Score of
20 Years of Slopestyle in Whistler
BY VINCE SHULEY
When people think of Crankworx, they think of Red Bull Joyride. No other event during this annual mountain bike festival garners such prestige and attention. The Joyride course is not hidden away on the forested trails or far-flung peaks. Every summer it rises from the ground at the base of Whistler Mountain, culminating with tens of thousands of onlookers eagerly awaiting the next rider to drop in.
After 20 years of slopestyle competition at Crankworx, the airtime is longer, the tricks are gnarlier and the level of skill is beyond compare. The gargantuan berms and jumps are roughed in by machine then meticulously finished by hand, sequenced to flow for a near-perfect run, providing riders are on their A-game.
“We’ve really locked in our footprint on the hill for managing speed,” says lead builder Justin Wyper, who’s been digging dirt on the Joyride course for more than a decade. “If the course is consistent, riders don’t have to worry about having enough (or too much) speed. That way, they can stay focused on planning and executing their tricks.”
The amplitude of jumps dwarfs anything from the earlier years of Joyride, but safety is still very much top of mind when Wyper and his team of builders put the finishing touches on the sculpted features.
“If riders do crash, we design the jumps with long landings so they can roll and slide, rather than hitting the flat ground with a big impact,” he adds.
Riding the Fitzsimmons Chair—the main lift artery of the Whistler Bike Park—over the Boneyard venue reveals the level of detail and care taken when putting the final touches on the Joyride course. Dirt is run through a machine to remove larger rocks, then painstakingly raked and sifted again by hand. The resulting fine soil makes up the top layers with that smooth, buffed finish you see on the course on competition day.
ABOVE:
LEFT: Red Bull Joyride, Crankworx Whistler 2024. ROB PERRY
Lucas Huppert competing at Red Bull Joyride in 2022. CHRIS PILLING
“The water is our glue out here,” says Wyper. “Once you remove all the rocks and add the right amount of water, it packs together so well. Once it dries, it’s almost in a concrete-like state. That lets us shape it to exactly what we need, without worrying about it falling apart.”
To further reinforce the sides of the jumps, weeks before the event the builders spray hydroseed to encourage grass to grow. This has three benefits; the roots help shield the jumps against erosion from rain and wind, the softer grass surface is safer for riders to fall on, and it adds to the overall aesthetic of the course. When you have tens of thousands of spectators on game day and many, many more tuning in from around the world, this attention to detail matters.
A LONG-TERM VISION
Slopestyle riding has evolved massively over the last 20 years, but so have the events themselves. The roots of Crankworx lay in the Summer Gravity Festival, which was created to encourage non-wintersports
tourism in Whistler. The first iteration of the festival’s flagship event was called Joyride Bikercross, organized by Whistler locals Chris Winter and Paddy Kaye in 2001. The idea was to send four riders simultaneously down a course featuring tight bermed corners and fast jumps. Freeriders were dropping in shoulder to shoulder with World Cup downhill racers and it instantly drew the crowds. The next couple of years saw the event transform from a wild four-cross race into a judged event with riders throwing BMX-style tricks, what we now refer to as “slopestyle.”
Mountain biking revolved heavily around racing at the time and hosting a World Cup Downhill event in Whistler was being considered, but the visionaries of Crankworx knew there was a better way to promote Whistler—and the sport of mountain biking—without being at the mercy of international bodies like the UCI.
“Freeride was such a new movement at the time, and it was ungoverned, so we decided to lean into that,” says Mark “Skip” Taylor, a marketing consultant and key influencer behind the original World
TOP (left to right): Red Bull Joyride, Crankworx Whistler 2011. BLAKE JORGENSON. Brett Rheeder, Red Bull Joyride winner, Crankworx Whistler 2016. CLINT TRAHAN
BOTTOM (left to right): Greg Watts during the 2015 Red Bull Joyride. CLINT TRAHAN Joyride Crankworx Whistler 2007. CRANKWORX ARCHIVES Erik Fedko riding high amongst smoky skies at the Red Bull Joyride 2018. KIKE ABELLEIRA
Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF) before kickstarting Crankworx in 2004. “We took the learnings from the WSSF and came up with the Crankworx brand. We wanted to embrace the energy that Paddy Kaye and Chris Winter had brought from the first slopestyle and make it a marquee event.”
(Note: The name “Joyride” has not been consistent over the last 20 years, with the term “slopestyle” often differentiating the flagship event from the other racing events held during the week of the festival. But the spectacle and progression of freeride mountain biking has remained consistent.)
The growth of Crankworx-fuelled by its signature slopestyle event at the end of the week-was significant in its first few years.
“The attention the slopestyle got…. There was a year early on when all of a sudden we had 30,000 people attending,” recalls Taylor. “Before drones, we had to hire helicopters to shoot aerial footage. We sent the heli down the valley to shoot all the cars lined up to get into town. The mainstream media were all asking for shots they could use for their
DIRT DIARIES HAS BEEN DRAWING A CROWD SINCE 2012. ROB SHAER
TheearlydaysofCrankworx. CRANKWORXARCHIVES
Downhill racing at it’s best on the new Canadian Open DH course that opened in Whistler Creekside in 2023. ROB PERRY
King & Queen of Crankworx 2018, Sam Blenkinsop & Jill Kintner. FRASER BRITTON
Canadian Open DH first showed up on the Crankworx schedule in 2007. SCOTT ROBERTS
The Canadian Open Enduro began in 2009. Pictured here in 2014.
CLINT TRAHAN
Brett Tippie pictured with Marcelo Gutierrez the 2013 Garbanzo DH winner. BRYN SCOTT
BRANDON SEMENUK WINNER OF THE 2011 RED BULL JOYRIDE HAS WON A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES.
Steve Smith cruises over “Heckler’s Rock” at the CanadianOpenDH. CLINT TRAHAN
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ISTHE1199TRACKINWHISTLER,WHICH OPENEDATRIBUTETOSTEVIESMITH,WAS IN2023.
Harriet Burbidge-Smith at the first women’s Red Bull Joyride. CLINT TRAHAN 2024
JAKOBJEWETT
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MIRANDAMILLER
JACKSON FREW
JACKSON GOLDSTONE
ERIK FEDKO
MARTHAGILL
CHANCEMOORE
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DAVIDGODZIEK TEGANCRUZ
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DIRT DIARIES HAS BEEN DRAWING A CROWD SINCE 2012. ROB
Downhill racing at it’s best on the new Canadian Open DH course that opened in Whistler Creekside in 2023. ROB PERRY
King & Queen of Crankworx 2018, Sam Blenkinsop & Jill Kintner. FRASER BRITTON
Canadian Open DH first showed up on the Crankworx schedule in 2007. SCOTT ROBERTS
SHAER
The Canadian Open Enduro began in 2009. Pictured here in 2014.
CLINT TRAHAN
Brett Tippie pictured with Marcelo Gutierrez the 2013 Garbanzo DH winner. BRYN SCOTT
Adaptive MTB Takes the Stage in 2025
BY VINCE SHULEY
Mountain bikes and e-bikes have rapidly evolved in recent years, but so too have adaptive MTBs. While in the past they were mor or less custom fabricated for individuals, these threewheeled and four-wheeled machines are now commercially available to anyone looking to hit the trail or access their local bike park. The bikes are designed with articulating front ends, electric motors and advanced controls that cater to various disabilities. A movement of adaptive athletes in Canada has been pushing what is capable on these bikes, and they’ll be competing at their own sanctioned event at Whistler
ABOVE: Gustavo
Crankworx this year.
“It’s actually the third year we’ve had races at Crankworx and the second year we’ve had all three races of Tech, Flow and Dual Slalom,” says Alex Cairns, an adaptive MTB competitor from Squamish who has lobbied Crankworx for the inclusion of adaptive events. “It’s a positive step for adaptive sports for sure, but we have athletes who can ride features like Filthy Ape (in the Garbanzo Zone) and double black trails like Upper and Lower Joyride. We’re excited to see where we can take it with Crankworx in the future.”
LEFT (top + bottom) The 2024 Crankworx Whistler Adaptive Jam Session
LEON BUTLER
Ortiz competing in the Specialized Dual Slalom at Crankworx Whistler 2024 ROB PERRY
AMTB TECH RACE
Monday, August 11, 10am
Back for a second year, the aMTB Tech race send riders down the twisting blue “Orient Express” trails in the Fitzsimmons Zone — Ninja Cougar, Karate Monkey, Samurai Pizza Cat, Ho Chi Minh and Naughty Hands. Riders will navigate tight corners, berms, rollers, root drops and rock gardens.
AMTB FLOW RACE
Sunday, August 10, 2pm
The aMTB Flow Race is the fastest adaptive event at Crankworx with riders choosing their lines down the berms and jumps of B-Line. While it’s a smoother trail than the Tech Race, to put down a winning time, riders need to hold and gain speed at every opportunity. A great race for spectators looking to see how fast these bikes can go.
SPECIALIZED DUAL SLALOM
Monday, August 11, Finals at 1pm
Visit our website for more community events and the latest event schedule: crankworx.com/schedule/#whistler
In addition to the three race events, there will also be demonstration event for adaptive MTBs called aMTB First Tracks. If you’re looking to try adaptive MTB riding or are simply curious about how the bikes work, athletes and representatives from adaptive MTB brands Bowhead and Sport-On will be there to answer questions and show you how and what they ride. You can even try the bikes for yourself, with models available to demo for all ages and various disabilities. Able bodied folks are welcome and encouraged to attend. aMTB First Tracks is an opportunity for anyone to discover the experience of adaptive mountain bike riding.
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BY DAVID SONG
A heritage of speed
Crankworx Whistler 2025 features four downhill races, including a return of the OG Canadian Open
One cannot make a proper appraisal of Crankworx Whistler’s two-decade legacy without bringing up its fastest athletes.
We’re talking about the generals of gravity, the princes and princesses of pace. We’re talking about downhill riders—who else?
The fundamentals of downhill mountain bike racing remain unchanged to this day: get to the finish line quicker than anybody else and try not to lose your lunch—or your good health—whilst doing so. A small mistake can lead to a bonejarring tumble, and even a puny error might knock you one one-hundredth of a second out of medal contention.
Speeds are high, and stakes are arguably even higher.
Jackson Frew competing at the Canadian Open DH on the legendary 1199 track, Crankworx Whistler 2024.
CLINT TRAHAN
AERIAL ATTACK
The godfather of Crankworx downhill events is the Air DH, scheduled for Aug. 12 this year. Established as a 50-jump race down A-Line in 2002, it quickly became a staple once the Whistler Summer Gravity Festival rebranded as Crankworx Whistler two years later.
Perhaps the most well-known mountain bike trail on Earth, A-Line’s jumps and berms attract flocks of people every year like moths to a flame. Some, like Bailey Goldstone of Squamish, don’t really check out anything else in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. A-Line is meant to be fun and stylish for those who can get vertical, but approach it like a race and the whole experience changes.
“You have to know how to scrub and stay low, pump and absorb,” said retired World Cup athlete Claire Buchar. “You have to know how to corner and hit berms. It’s challenging because you’re going against the clock, but you don’t want to over-jump stuff. You want to be as efficient as possible.”
Buchar remembers that most everybody rode the Air DH on a downhill bike in the early days, as trail bikes were evidently not in vogue back then. As Crankworx drew in more individuals from a BMX background, the lighter and faster trail bikes gained widespread acceptance.
Equipment selection may have changed over time, but one thing about Air DH has so far remained constant: Jill Kintner supremacy. The five-time Queen of Crankworx from Seattle, Washington has prevailed at this event 10 years in a row—that’s not a misprint—and remains unflappable well into her early forties.
BELOW: BasVanSteenbergen riding the Air DH, Crankworx 2024.
RIGHT: Richie Rude competing in the Garbanzo DH, Crankworx Whistler 2024.
CLINT TRAHAN
LOCATED ON THE 2ND FLOOR OF THE MARKET PAVILION BUILDING ELEVATOR ACCESS AVAILABLE 209-4368 • Main Street
‘YOU JUST HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO SUFFER’
Then there’s Garbanzo: a monstrous course that, quite frankly, defies imagination. It is seven kilometres in length and features 1.36 kilometres of elevation change. Ride it and you’ll experience a quarter of an hour in white-knuckling, pulse-pounding purgatory as your body groans and your brain wonders why you even signed up.
In 2004, Cedric Gracia needed 15 minutes and 17.54 seconds to emerge victorious at the first Garbanzo DH. He was a crowd favourite in Whistler despite representing France and the United States, and he edged out British Columbia’s own Tyler Morland (15:24.38) who placed second. Rounding out the top three was Nathan Rennie of Australia (15:25.55).
Among pro women, it was Kathie Pruitt, an American who managed a golden effort (17:29.89). Anka Martin from South Africa, nabbed silver (18:15.98) and bronze went to another B.C. rider, Angela Teng (18:40.69).
Notwithstanding a five-year hiatus brought about by COVID-19, Garbanzo has always been a part of Crankworx Whistler’s legend…and people keep registering for it.
“Back in the day, an event like the Garbo DH was insane, unheard of. Now, it’s essentially just enduro,” said Miranda Miller, the 2017 UCI downhill world champion from Squamish. “I love Garbo, and I honestly don’t really know why. I think what I like about it is that there is no tactic. If you’re not going all out, you’re not going fast enough. It has to hurt the whole way down. I also know the Garbo track like…better than anything. I know that track so well.”
Pembertonian Tegan Cruz loves Garbanzo because he doesn’t think any other race tests an athlete’s focus, mettle and speed endurance like it can. There’s no life hack to make things less painful—all one can really do is train hard and strengthen one’s hands before race day on Aug. 11.
“You just have to be prepared to suffer for 12 to 13 minutes,” Cruz quipped.
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ORIGINAL SPEED
A classic-style downhill joined Crankworx in 2009: the Canadian Open DH. It was fast, it was furious, and until the 1199 track opened two years ago it was the Sea to Sky’s gold standard for gravity-assisted racing.
But wait, there’s more: in 2025 the original version of the Canadian Open is returning as its own discipline (abbreviated as the OG CDN OPN DH) on Aug. 9, with the RockShox Canadian Open DH moved to Aug. 14 and 15.
“The old Canadian Open was rad. I never had great race runs there, but that didn’t stop me from loving the event,” Miller said. “My favourite Canadian Open memory was going up the chair with [the late Stevie Smith] before the race, and we were joking about what we’d do if the prize money was one million dollars. Stevie said he’d put hockey armour on and ride f-ed up fast.
“I hope that I can race it again this year, perhaps [get] some redemption for my 20 something year-old self, but we’ll have to see how much time I have on my bike beforehand. While 1199 is cool, to me, the finish in the village is the best.”
Buchar helped build the OG course. She recalls an iconic place known as Heckler’s Rock, located beneath the Fitzsimmons Chair at the convergence of multiple trails.
“There was a big jump going into it. People from the chair could see and people on that rock could have a really good vantage point,” said Buchar. “It kind of turned into heckling, yelling at people. There was booze involved and there was a bit of debauchery involved. It kind of got out of hand a few times… so they had to put a fence up.
“For athletes, the [OG CDN OPN DH] was an opportunity… to really showcase your skills. I think it’s cool [the organizers are bringing it back]. I think a lot of people will be stoked and want to race it.”
‘THE MOST CHALLENGING COURSE WE HAVE’
Last but by no means least, we have the aforementioned RockShox Canadian Open DH on Creekside’s new and alreadyrevered 1199 track.
1199 was built during a seven-year period using leftover infrastructure from the 2010 Winter Olympics. It’s a 2.4-kilometre long technical proline with 500 metres of descent that takes athletes from near the top of Creekside Gondola to a finish area just above Creekside Village itself.
“1199 is the most challenging race course we have in B.C.,” remarked Miller. “It is quite full-on from the moment you drop in…and I think that is a great tool for up-and-coming racers in the area. You have to work hard all weekend to tick off features, adapt to conditions and change your lines as the track changes.
“I would say it has changed my Canadian Open experience in two ways. I’m at the end of my career, this is obvious, but the past couple years 1199 has kept me motivated to take chances and race this challenging track. It’s cool to see how my confidence and skills have evolved from the early Crankworx days until now. I’m a much better rider and racer, but the young women racing now are so much more dialled at a young age, it’s really cool. The last way [1199] has changed my Crankworx experience is that honestly: it’s kind of stressful.”
In comparing 1199 to the OG CDN OPN venue, Cruz opined: “1199 is a bit of a different beast. It’s quite a bit longer, very steep, rough, technical and fresh, whereas the Canadian Open track has a lot more years of racing on it, so it’s a lot more hard-packed. I’d say the intensity for all the racers out there is just as high. Two different tracks, both very technical and physically demanding.”
TOP: The original Canadian Open DH course (pictured at Crankworx Whistler 2016) is making a come back under a new name “OG CDN OPN DH” CLINT TRAHAN
BOTTOM: The new Canadian Open DH course, that runs on the 1199 track has already become legendary. Crankworx Whistler 2024. ROB PERRY
BY DAVID SONG
‘A good fan event’
Adam Billinghurst returns to build Crankworx Whistler’s Pump Track after a five-year hiatus
Crankworx Whistler 2025 wouldn’t be quite complete without another running of the Ultimate Pump Track Challenge, which is scheduled for Aug. 16 just a few hours after Red Bull Joyride.
For those who haven’t witnessed it before, a pump track features a series of berms and rollers that riders must navigate using momentum alone: no bike chains, no pedalling. In Whistler, the format has always been head-to-head: two athletes drop out of parallel gates and each must reach the line before his or her opponent to advance.
Adam Billinghurst found himself involved with venue creation once more after taking a five-year break. He built Whistler’s first-ever Crankworx Pump Track in the early 2010s, before the tour made its overseas debut in France, and remained on board for nearly a decade.
“I think it’s a good fan event,” Billinghurst opined. “It’s pretty accessible. It’s easy to understand if someone wins a head-to-head race, and it has the same sort of bike skills—cornering, bumping, bike control—that you need to win any other race.”
Some have described the former local’s course build as “artistic.” Billinghurst was tight-lipped about details regarding his latest handiwork, but did say: “I want it to be visually stunning and ideally look like it was fabricated somewhere and just dropped into place—which is a hard thing
to do out of dirt. I’ve got some pretty good shapers and I feel like we’ve obtained some pretty good-looking tracks in the past.
“It’s a small space to build a track [above the Joyride venue] and the head-to-head format is also a challenge because you have to build a mirrored track. If we change the format one year and just have a single track, we could have a more interesting track, but it would not be headto-head racing, which is what people seem to want.”
Ryan Gilchrist had the luxury of treating 2024’s Ultimate Pump Track Challenge as a victory lap after wrapping up his King of Crankworx title prior to the event, but dominated nonetheless as the only person to clock under 12 seconds on any of his runs. Yet Gilchrist’s fellow Australasians Jackson Frew, Tuhoto-Ariki Pene, Bailey Meares and Jayce Cunning have medals of their own this year and could continue to push hard.
On the women’s side, Jordy Scott prevailed in Whistler’s last Ultimate Pump Track Challenge to salvage what was otherwise a forgettable final leg of the tour for her. Scott might need every possible point to overcome Czech maestro Sabina Košárková in this year’s Queen of Crankworx battle, while others like Caroline Buchanan and reigning Queen Martha Gill are still very much in the hunt.
“I think everyone’s generally pretty happy with [the pump tracks in
Whistler],” Billinghurst said. “All the events have gotten better over the years and the level of competition is pretty amazing right now. It’s a good opportunity for locals to show their stuff too. I find there’s always some fast kid that comes out of the woodwork and does pretty well.”
Dr. S. Torabian the owner and principal Dentist at Whistler Dental clinic welcomes all Crankworx athletes and visitors to Whistler, BC.
We pride ourselves in providing exemplary dental care to our community in addition to providing prompt care to visitors who might be in need of emergency service or short term solutions.
Dr. Torabian recently completed his "Masters Clinician Program in Implant Dentistry" from the prestigious gIDE institute to pursue his passion in Implant dentistry.
We also have specialists who travel to our office for more advanced procedures so our patients do not have to travel long distances to receive the care they need.
Dr. T and associates at WD provided many other services including but not limited to
• Emergency dental care
• Invisalign clear aligner therapy
• Simple and complex bone regeneration and Implant Therapy
• Cosmetic Smile makeover
• Full mouth Rehabilitation
• Teeth Whitening
• Botox
• Wisdom Teeth Extractions under Sedation
• Root Canal therapy
Please
LEFT: The crowds have no trouble taking it all in with plenty of track-side spectator options at this Crankworx favourite. ROB PERRY
ABOVE: Ryan Gilchrist showing the crowds how its done at the Pump Track competition during Crankworx Whistler 2024. ROB PERRY
Crankworx Whistler kick off
Kidsworx Enduro
Whistler Bike Park A
OG CDN OPN DH
Whistler Bike Park A Aspire
FRIDAY, AUG 08
SATURDAY, AUG 09
The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center in Whistler’s Upper Village H
SUNDAY, AUG 10
Canadian Open Enduro
Whistler Bike Park & Whistler Valley Trails A
Kidsworx B Line DH
Whistler Bike Park A
aMTB Flow DH
Whistler Bike Park A
aMTB Tech DH
Whistler Bike Park A
Garbonzo DH
Whistler Bike Park A
MONDAY, AUG 11
Specialized Dual Slalom Whistler (U19/U17/U15/aMTB)
Boneyard, Base of Whistler Mountain Bike Park B
Crankworx Whistler Air DH
Boneyard, Base of Whistler Mountain Bike Park
Deep Summer Photo Challenge
Olympic Plaza, Whistler D
TUESDAY, AUG 12
WEDNESDAY, AUG 13
Official Whip-Off Championships presented by POC
Boneyard, Base of Whistler Mountain Bike Park B
THURSDAY, AUG 14
RockShox Canadian Open Downhill (Group B)
1199 Trail, Creekside Zone of Whistler Mountain Bike Park C
Dirt Diaries
Olympic Plaza, Whistler D
Bosch eMTB Challenge
Creekside Zone of Whistler Mountain Bike Park F
FRIDAY, AUG 15
RockShox Canadian Open Downhill (Group A)
1199 Trail, Creekside Zone of Whistler Mountain Bike Park F
Outdoor Research Trick Showdown
Boneyard, Base of Whistler Mountain Bike Park B
SATURDAY, AUG 16
Red Bull Joyride
Boneyard, Base of Whistler Mountain Bike Park B
Ultimate Pump Track Challenge
Boneyard, Base of Whistler Mountain Bike Park B
Specialized Dual Slalom Whistler
Boneyard, Base of Whistler Mountain Bike Park B
Expo Tents
SUNDAY, AUG 17
DAILY
Whistler Skier’s Plaza, Creekside Timing Flats & Creekside Plaza E+F+G
Stay tuned to crankworx.com/ schedule/#whistler for the full and most up-to-date schedule, including training & qualification times, Kidsworx, Amateur and CWNEXT racing, parties, and more.
BY DAVID SONG
May the best trick(s) win
The Outdoor Research Trick Showdown joins Crankworx Whistler on Aug. 15 for the first time
It is only fitting that Crankworx Whistler unveil a brand-new item to add some flavour to its 20th anniversary lineup.
The Outdoor Research Trick Showdown is the festival’s latest freestyle event. Currently scheduled for Aug. 15, expect this contest to showcase eight invited men and four women vying for supremacy by throwing down their most jaw-dropping and creative maneuvers.
Riders will be matched up at random to go head-to-head, trick-fortrick with each other in a series of knockout-style battles with guest athletes on hand to evaluate their merit. Only one from each division can remain standing at the end, and there is a vital wrinkle: no repeat tricks will be permitted.
“We started talking about this contest last fall, looking for a way to create something fun, fresh, and exciting with our partner Outdoor Research. We pitched this format and they loved it,” said Crankworx managing director Darren Kinnaird. “Bringing Outdoor Research athletes in as judges adds an extra dimension we’re really stoked about. Fans can expect big tricks and intense battles to kick off the final
weekend of Crankworx Whistler 2025.”
Christopher Colpitts, senior manager of sport at Crankworx Events Inc., likens the Trick Showdown to an NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Basketball fans reading this article might recall fondly the high-flying antics of Vince Carter, the epic who’s-gonna-blink-first duel between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon, or the unlikely emergence of 5-foot-7 Spud Webb above his more physically-imposing opponents. No matter who you’re thinking of, the memory of their feats likely brings a smile to your face.
Mountain bike fans can look forward to a similar level of energy and buzz with the Trick Showdown. In previous years, their best source of aerial acrobatics might have been the Whip-Off World Championships: an event that unfolds much like a jam session for riders. It’s fun to watch, but good luck keeping track of who’s on pace to win as long trains of athletes hit the jump in rapid succession.
At the Trick Showdown, however, there’s nowhere to hide and everything to gain.
The Whip-off World Championship was the place for big tricks at Crankworx Whistler 2024, the inaugural Outdoor Research Trick Showdown is sure to turn heads. ROB PERRY
