Steve Smith (CAN), claimed first with a time of 4:07.79; Brian Lopes (USA) took second place +3.75; and Mick Hannah (AUS) took third place +5.01. In the Pro Women category, Emmeline Ragot (FRA), claimed first with a time of 4:35.25; Micayla Gatto (CAN) took second place +.86; and Claire Buchar (CAN) took third place +1.00.
“It was fast and dusty but I prefer it that way,” said Steve Smith. “It’s pretty exciting to win both the Garbanzo Downhill and the Air Downhill as I haven’t won either of these events before.”
The Men’s Pro category consisted of an amazingly talented field full of UCI World Cup racers including Steve Smith, Mick Hannah, Marc Beaumont, Jared Graves, Andrew Neethling, and more. The Air DH course runs the entire length of A-Line, finishing at the base of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park with the legendary GLC Drop. A-Line is arguably the most celebrated DH course in mountain biking, with nearly 50 jumps on the course. A-Line is the benchmark all DH courses strive to emulate.
“The course was very dry and fast this year,” said Tristan Merrick, event announcer and racer. “Incredibly Steve Smith was able to shave more than five seconds off last year’s winning time and now holds the Crankworx Air DH record.”
Thursday is a huge day at Crankworx Whistler with the Teva Best Trick Showdown followed by Ultimate Pump Track Challenge presented by Rock Shox. The live webcast for the Teva Best Trick Showdown will be at 4:00pm-6:00pm and for the first time the pump track will be located down in the village in Whistler Olympic Plaza and a live webcast powered by Red Bull Media House will be from 8:00pm-9:00pm.
The village-wide expo and demo zone will be hopping and make sure to check out the Jeep® Rocks and Roads course where visitors will be able to experience the vehicle’s unparalleled capabilities while manipulating obstacles that demonstrate the wild ride that only Jeep® can deliver. The course and on-road test drive includes a stability ramp, a boulder crawl, a log pile and a 16-foot dirt mountain to demonstrate traction. The test drive area will run until August 19, 2012.
Current event photography HERE.
Videos of the Day by Pinkbike and Vimeo HERE.
Live Streaming Webcast Schedule for Crankworx Whistler 2012
The webcasts, powered by Red Bull Media House, are live streamed at www.crankworx.com, www.redbull.com/bike .
Saturday August 11
– REPLAY – Canadian Open Enduro
– REPLAY – Dual Speed & Style presented by AVID
Sunday August 12
– REPLAY – Garbanzo DH
Wednesday August 15
– Air DH – 3:30pm-5:30pm
Thursday August 16
– Teva Best Trick – 4:00pm-6:00pm
– Ultimate Pump Track Challenge presented by Rock Shox – 8:00pm-9:00pm
Friday August 17
– Red Bull Joyride Qualifiers – 1:30pm-3:00pm
– GIANT Dual Slalom Amateur – 3:30pm-5:30pm
– GIANT Dual Slalom Pro – 6:00pm-8:00pm
Saturday August 18
– Red Bull Joyride Finals – 5:30pm-7:30pm
Sunday August 19
– Jeep Canadian Open DH – 3:00pm-5:00pm
The ninth annual Crankworx Whistler is presented by Whistler Blackcomb and the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Crankworx Whistler is the biggest annual event held in Whistler and is also the largest freeride mountain bike festival in the world. Crankworx Les 2 Alpes took place for the first time July 9-15, 2012 and was the first Crankworx event to take place outside of North America. This new event will build on Crankworx’s legendary legacy in the arena of freeride mountain biking.