June 2, 2006 (Whistler, BC.) – The third annual Kokanee Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival, one of the world’s largest freeriding events, has announced an open format competition in their signature event – the Boneyard Slopestyle Expression Session. All athletes will be required to qualify on Thursday, July 27 in order to compete in the finals on Saturday, July 29.

“Historically the Boneyard Slopestyle has been invitational, but feedback from the riders has led us to open up the competition,” says Seb Fremont, Kokanee Crankworx Operations Supervisor. “An open format will produce the ultimate arena for the evolution of mountain biking. With no boundaries, everyone is invited to come out and measure themselves against the big guns. The open format will also allow spectators to watch the best riders compete during the qualifying heats on Thursday and the finals on Saturday so they are going to get two fantastic shows.”

There will be a $100 entry fee for all riders and the event will be capped at 80 participants with all entry fees going towards the cash prize purse. The top five riders from three heats plus the next top eight scores will move on to compete in Saturday’s finals.

Paul Basagoitia, two-time victor in the Boneyard Slopestyle, won his first professional title at the event in 2004. Last summer, at just 18 years old, he proved that his amateur win was no fluke by pulling out an arsenal of tricks that defeated a field of 24 pros including superstars John Cowan, Richie Schley and Cedric Gracia.

The third annual Kokanee Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival is set to go off July 22 to 30 in Whistler, BC. Expanding to nine days of serious excitement both on and off the hill, the festival will be bigger and better than ever with an exciting lineup of freeride events and downhill races as well as Canada Cup cross-country and downhill events.

Kokanee Crankworx showcases Whistler as the ultimate downhill biking playground by combining impressive stunt sessions and mind-blowing speed events with the world’s best mountain bikers competing for cash and prizing totaling over $30,000. The event line-up, which takes place in Whistler Blackcomb’s famed mountain bike park and throughout Whistler Village, also includes an outdoor expo, pro riding demonstrations, free music and entertainment.

Kokanee Crankworx is presented in partnership by Tourism Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. At centre stage of Kokanee Crankworx is the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. With over 200 km and 3,855 feet of lift-serviced gravity-fed, adrenaline-fueled descending trails, the Bike Park is the unequivocal leader of lift-accessed mountain bike parks in the world.

For more information about Kokanee Crankworx – Whistler’s premier freeride mountain bike festival – please visit www.crankworx.com

About Whistler
Whistler is a year-round adventure destination located 75 miles north of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and site for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Consistently rated among the top ski resorts in the world, Whistler is a cosmopolitan and diverse community that welcomes travelers seeking recreation and natural beauty four seasons of the year. Whistler has the world’s most diverse offering of mountain biking terrain, attracting all disciplines of mountain biking from cruising to cliffs. >From 150 miles of singletrack trails and 200 km of lift-accessed downhill runs in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, to trials parks and 20 miles of the paved Valley Trail system, there’s something for every rider.