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Canadia Open Downhill Photos at Crankworx 2010

August 25th, 2010 9:27am

Canadia Open Downhill Photos at Crankworx 2010

After almost two weeks of festivities at the 2010 Crankworx festival in Whistler, the largest bike event in North America wrapped up with the Canadian Cup Downhill race. During the week of racing and riding mayhem, everyone on the mountain got to view the rock drop and the rock of "deth" as it was painted, as they floated above the section of the course that ran directly under the chair lift. Every trip up the mountain, competitors and those who came to sample the famous destination got to scope that section of the course via that chair until it was finally open for practice.

 

What looked like a smooth, steep course before practice turned into a knarly steep technical course with an abundance of breaking bumps exposed rock and roots. One by one, hundreds of competitors descended on that course during practice. Each one beating up the course a little bit more until it was rough and ready for the Pros to take it on in the last event of the Crankworx. It should be noted that this is one of the few events where all categories get to race on the same course as the pro's. A real chance to compare your times with the worlds best.

 

Notibly absent from the 2010 Crankworx race was last years winner Sam Hill and the entire Santa Cruz team. Sam's absence was to be expected given his injuries this season but not not sure why the Santa Cruz team stayed away with the next world cup and championships in North America also. So it was left to the the current UCI points leader Gee Atherton (photo left) to see what he could do. All Gee did was go out throw down a methodically smooth run to take the victory by 5 seconds.

 

Justin Leov of Trek World Racing on his way to another podium in the Canadian Open Downhill

Leov negotiating the last steep section of the course. This section is a lot steeper than it looks. note the Tree angles

 

Second place went to Lewis Buchanan (SCO) with a time of  3:09.16 while Justin Leov (NZL) maintained a pace almost exactly the same as Buchanan's to come in at 3:09.20.

 

“This was a real tough course to ride today,” says Atherton. “It has been a long season and I am excited to go from here onto the World Championships in Mont-Saint-Anne.”

 

Atherton was later crowned "King" of Crankworx with a victory in dual slalom and a third in the Big air dh. Quite the form heading into worlds....

 

steve smith rode the bottom of the coure on his rim.

 

Canadian Speedster Steve Smith (Evil bikes) rode the bottom half of the rough course on a flat rear tire. Not slowing down on this super steep section Smith went on to roost the bottom corner on his rim then boost the jump out of the trees. It was one of the most impressive riding feats I have had the pleasure to witness and showS his desire to win.

 

Brenden Fairclough riding to a 6th place

 

Monster Energy Team Rider Brenden Fairclough is one of the smoothest riders on the world cup but could only manage a 12th place on this day.

 

Joe Smith from Team Kona on a great run to 6th place

 

The lone Kona Factory pilot Joseph Smith came across the pond and made the most of it with a great run and a 6th place showing for his efforts.

 

poster boy Kenny Smith riding the DH discipline

 

Poster boy Kenny Smith whose picture was inside every Crankworx program descending some obscene rock in Utah, takes his Evil bike down the last steep section of the course for 25th.

 

Kiernan Bennett of New Zealand

 

Kiernan Bennett of New Zealand (and DRD/Tomac racing)  was just named to his home countries World team. You'll see him at the World Championships in a couple of weeks. A couple of bobble on the course made him pay and gave him a 32nd position.

 

Tyler Morland

 

No one should be this good and actually work in the bike industry. Tyler Morland who works the PR machine for SRAM by day and then transforms into a ripper on the weekends showed the world class field he can throw down. Tyler took 8th place and can do his own write up on the whoppin he gave.

 

Location: News >> Canadia Open Downhill Photos at Crankworx 2010


 
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