A Day of Contrast at Crankworx Whistler: From the Wild Garbanzo DH to Creativity at the Deep Summer Photo Challenge
After a five-year hiatus, the beast is back. The Garbanzo DH, known for its extreme challenges, welcomed athletes seeking an extra tough test of their skills. Spanning a gruelling 7 km, 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. This beautiful, sunny day ended with the Deep Summer Photo Challenge, drawing spectators to Whistler Olympic Plaza to witness the powerful presentation of creative talent showcasing mountain biking and the indigenous community in the Sea to Sky region.
Sharing the podium with his teammate 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 and sharing the podium with the current leader in the King of Crankworx standings, Ryan Gilchrist, Richie Rude said, “I think we just made some good, I guess, strategies and 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 and therefore the ability pedal halfway down the trail.
On the demanding Downhill track, 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.
Garbanzo DH – Women’s Results
- Georgia ASTLE (CAN)
- Emmy LAN (CAN)
- Martha GILL (GBR)
Garbanzo DH – Men’s Results
- Richie RUDE (USA)
- Ryan GILCHRIST (AUS)
- Matt WALKER (NZL)
Find the full results here.
From Action to Creativity: Deep Summer Photo Challenge
Beyond the Garbanzo DH, today was packed with events catering to everyone. From Expo to Kidsworx activities like the RockShox Pump Track Clinic, an Adaptive event and the kick-off of Slopestyle training for Red Bull Joyride, the day concluded with the Deep Summer Photo Challenge. Hundreds of spectators gathered at Whistler Olympic Plaza to watch six talented, up-and-coming photographers present their work on the big screen. Despite having had only three days during this Crankworx Whistler festival to shoot their content, the creatives delivered spectacularly, covering mountain bike action and showcasing the rich culture of Whistler in partnership with the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.
Judges Erin Hogue, Eliot Jackson, Rob Perry, Tom Richards and Heather Young faced a tough task assessing all submissions based on categories like storytelling, composition, community integration, and creativity. After careful deliberation, Joel Ducrot was announced as the winner of the 2024 Deep Summer Photo Challenge, walking away with $ 5,000 CAD, and exposure across Crankworx channels. Fans eager for more creative coverage of the Sea to Sky area can look forward to Dirt Diaries, often dubbed as the “Cannes of the mountain bike world”, tomorrow at 7:30pm at Whistler Olympic Plaza.
Today marks the half-time point of this year’s Crankworx Whistler, but the festival is far from over. The coming days promise exciting events like the Air DH and Official Whip-Off Championships presented by POC on Wednesday, the Specialized Dual Slalom and Ultimate Pump Track Challenge on Thursday, and the Outdoor Research Speed & Style on Friday. Red Bull Joyride will draw spectators into Whistler’s Boneyard on Saturday, before the Canadian Open Enduro concludes Crankworx Whistler 2024 on Sunday. Additionally, there will be more community events, tech talks, athlete signing sessions and much more. Find the full schedule here.
For spectators looking to elevate their Crankworx Whistler experience, select VIP Passes are still available for Red Bull Joyride, offering complimentary snacks and refreshments, and the best seats of the festival with unobstructed views.