Since 2004, the Whistler Valley—with its legendary singletrack, rock gardens, punishing ascents and vertiginous descents—has been home to Crankworx Whistler, where the globe’s top mountain bike athletes come to showcase their skills.
Crankworx is the sport’s peak celebration and competition, evolving over the last 20 years into an international festival series with stops beyond Whistler (namely, Rotorua, Cairns and Innsbruck).
Continuing through July 28th, Crankworx Whistler beckons pro riders of various disciplines, as well as high-spirited amateurs and young riders competing in Kidsworx. In short, Crankworx Whistler is the ultimate celebration of all things MTB.
Highlights (So Far):
Garbanzo DH
Packed with big jumps, tight, extended steeps, massive drops and lots of freeride, the heart-palpitating, keynote Garbanzo DH event saw top international riders and talented locals duking it out against the clock on a newly designed track.
Designed by Whistler Mountain Bike Park, the course delivered a truly white-knuckle experience for racers and spectators alike.
Spanning a gruelling 7 km (and a 3400-foot top-to-bottom) this race pushes riders to their absolute limits and beyond. Competing for valuable points towards the esteemed King & Queen of Crankworx title, the start list was packed with elite riders.
Sharing the podium with Australian Ryan Gilchrist, US rider Richie Rude clinched victory with a narrow margin of 4.523 seconds. Given his race time, the fastest of the day, of just under 12:36 minutes, this was a remarkable feat. Reflecting on his performance, Rude said, “I made sure we have our lines dialed in, and, I think, also just being big Enduro guys, this is kind of our track.” Kiwi Matt Walker came third despite losing his chain halfway down the trail.
On the demanding Downhill track, BC’s own Georgia Astle took the top spot riding her freeride bike, sharing the podium with fellow BC rider Emmy Lan and the current leader in the race for the Queen title, Martha Gill. Shania Rawson narrowly missed the podium by less than half a second, still collecting valuable points in the royal battle for the crown.
Air DH
The legendary A-Line trail, known for its iconic drops, endless jumps, and massive sculpted berms, played host to the Air DH race while thousands of spectators gathered at Skier’s Plaza to witness the spectacle.
Last year’s champion, Jill Kintner (US), successfully defended her title with a remarkable performance. She was followed closely by Amy Morrison (US), who took second place, and Georgia Astle, who finished third. On the men’s side, Ryan Gilchrist again emerged victorious, with Australian Jackson Frew and Richie Rude taking second and third place respectively.
For both Gilchrist and Frew, this podium placing means valuable points for the King of Crankworx battle, with Gilchrist expanding his lead, followed by Tuhoto-Ariki Pene and Frew. In the battle for the Queen’s title, Martha Gill could also increase the gap between her and Jordy Scott, where it was only 8 points going into the festival last week. Shania Rawson currently sits in third place. The official crowning takes place on Friday after the Outdoor Research Speed & Style awards. Find the full King & Queen of Crankworx standings here.
Dirt Diaries: Showcasing Creative Talent
On Wednesday the focus shifted to Whistler Olympic Plaza for the Dirt Diaries competition. Six filmmakers presented their 4–6-minute videos, which were produced earlier this summer, showcasing mountain biking in the Whistler Valley and Whistler Mountain Bike Park.
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The event drew a large audience eager to see creative storytelling and cinematography. Each filmmaker brought a unique perspective, and the judges Cassie de Colling, William Biname, Hailey Elise, Justin Wyper, and TJ Walker faced a tough task in selecting a winner from such high-caliber entries. In the end, Lil’wat Nation’s Sandy Ward took home the top prize.
Specialized Dual Slalom: Intense Racing on a Loose Track
On Thursday the Specialized Dual Slalom event drew a big crowd eager to witness the thrilling head-to-head battles. The track conditions added an extra layer of challenge, with the loose surface testing the skills of all riders.
For the women, it was a British gold medal matchup, with Martha Gill triumphing over her compatriot Ella Conolly. With that victory, Martha Gill secured her first Whistler Gold. Erice Van Leuven (NZ) rounded out the podium in third place after defeating Janelle Soukoup (US).
In the men’s competition, Jackson Frew from Australia clinched the top spot, recovering his mojo after crashing hard in practice. Brady Stone (NZ) placed second, and Nikolas Nestoroff (US) secured third place, edging out local rider Tegan Cruz.
Follow the rest of the Crankworx action here.
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