Crankworx Packs `Em In

The second annual Crankworx freeride mountain bike festival went off during the first week of August. Over the course of five days, the world’s best mountain bikers competed for cash and prizes totaling over $30,000. Downhill, Biker X, Big Air, Slopestyle--the event covered every aspect of big hit riding. On top of all that there were fun races for all ages, live music acts, patio parties and roving street entertainment.

GRACIA WINS JIM BEAM AIR DOWNHILL Cedric Gracia took top honors in the Jim Beam Air Downhill. This year's course was three times the length of last year's . It started at the top of the Park's newest machine-built trail, Freight Train. The action continued down A-Line, sending riders down 3,400 feet of vertical and over 200 plus tables, drops, berms and rolls. Cedric Gracia won with a time of 4:15:61

Cedric Gracia put himself ahead of Brian Lopes of the United States by .74 of a second. Steve Peat of Great Britain took third with a time of 4:16.45, only .84 of a second behind Gracia. "The Air Downhill is a classic race and I hope it goes on forever," says Adam Billingurst, a Whistler local who placed seventh and clocked in at 4:21:48. "A-Line makes for a fun, smooth course compared to conventional downhill courses. The thing is, when you are going the speeds that we are, you have to make sure you aren't hitting the jumps with too much speed and overshooting the landing."

For the Pro Women, Sabrina Jonnier of Switzerland placed first with a time of 4:41.78 followed by Whistler local Jenn Ashton at 4:47.33. Third place Fionn Griffiths of Great Britain came in right behind Ashton with a time of 4:47.57.

Four-wheeler Stacy Kohut, of Whistler, blew his competition away hitting first with a time of 5:26:24, more than a full minute ahead of Eric Lindsley in second with 6:26:47, and John Therien in third with 6:50:84.

LOPES WINS NISSAN BIKER X Brian Lopes of the United States emergED triumphant in the Pro Men’s category after getting the holeshot and holding his lead through a grueling dirt course riddled with drops, table tops and berms. When the dust finally settled, Cedric Gracia of France stood in second, Bas De Bever of the Netherlands in third and Kyle Strait of the USA in fourth. Jill Kintner of the USA defended her title in the Pro Women's Division and took first over Anneke Beerten of the Netherlands in second, Fionn Griffiths of Great Britain in third and Whistler's own Jenn Ashton in fourth. "Victory is sweet every single time," says Kintner." The course is super fast and the atmosphere here is way better than at other races. There is less pressure and it seems like it is more about having fun."

PAUL BASAGOITIA WINS SLOPESTYLE...AGAIN Backflips, tailwhips, and 360s were the order of the day at the Pro Invitational Slopestyle presented by Full Throttle. Paul Basagoitia of Nevada threw them all down to successfully defend his title.

"Paul's run was both technical and big," says Scott Hart, Crankworx judge creative director for Decline Magazine. He did a 360 off the quarter-pipe and went with speed into two big backflips. After that, he sealed the deal with a tail whip off the Giro trailer."

The 18-year old phenom is clearly leading the way with an arsenal of tricks that defeated a field of 24 pros including superstars such as John Cowan, Richie Schley, Cedric Gracia.

Crowd favourite and B.C. boy, Darren Berrecloth came in second with a run that ranked slightly less than Basagoitia's. "In my opinion, his 360 off the road gap was the best trick of the night," says Paul Rak, Head Judge. "It was unbelievable."