Crankworx Official Event Guide 2022 by Pacific Coastal Publications LP

THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE IN MOUNTAIN BIKING

OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE 2022

Thank you to all our partners

OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE 2022

Welcome Letter

The Insiders’ Guide to Crankworx Whistler

Unstoppable Emil

From the desk of Darren Kinnaird, Managing Director of Crankworx

Emil Johansson’s meteoric rise from small town Sweden to the top of the Slopestyle mountain

A day in the life of the world’s best mountain biking festival

Kidsworx

Map & Schedule of Events

A Decade of Daring

Little shredders take centre-stage at Crankworx

Get your festival all planned out with the centrefold spectator map and schedule

Red Bull Joyride, the world’s ultimate Slopestyle event turns 10

WHISTLER PUBLISHING Limited Partnership

Crankworx Top Contenders

The Art of the Wheels

Names to keep an eye on for when the festivities begin

Deep Summer and Dirt Diaries presented by SWATCH, make their long awaited return to Olympic Plaza

Production and Art Direction: AMIR SHAHRESTANI Published by Whistler Publishing LP, a division of Glacier Media Group.

ON THE COVER: JAY FRENCH ERIK FEDKO

DARREN KINNAIRD Managing Director of Crankworx

AVING NOT HOSTED CRANKWORX IN WHISTLER since 2019, it is hard to find the words to describe how special it feels to be coming home. But I will try. In March of 2020, our team pulled off a successful season kickoff festival in Rotorua. Buzzing, we packed up our bikes and boarded flights home to BC. Days later, the world turned upside down. In this new and uncertain reality, our team worked to find ways to keep the wheels of Crankworx safely moving. For two years, we kept the dream alive. Over the course of the rest of 2020 and through 2021, we staged six Crankworx series’, bringing racing and competition to eight communities in Canada, Austria, and New Zealand. In limited numbers and under strict guidelines, we gathered, raced, and celebrated. But through it all, one crucial element was missing. I want to dedicate this Crankworx Whistler, our 19th, to that core group that completes us and makes us who we are: you, the fans. While we know you’ve been following the action from home, we have missed seeing your smiling faces, hearing your deafening cheers, chainsaws, and cowbells, celebrating your accomplishments in amateur races, and feeding off your energy and stoke. Over the 10 days of Crankworx Whistler 2022, I can’t wait to see you in the valley cheering on your heroes in EWS Whistler, and to line up for Fitz alongside you heading up to catch the Whip-Offs. I am beyond stoked to sit next to you on the grass in Whistler Olympic Plaza for the photo and video competitions, and to highfive you as we pass each other in the Crankworx Expo along the village stroll. I will be rallying behind your groms as they take part in Kidsworx and CWNEXT races. I look forward to enjoying a cold one with you as we watch the best Slopestyle riders in the world throw down for the 10th anniversary of Red Bull Joyride. I will be there with you soaking up every moment, celebrating that after three years, Crankworx is finally home. On behalf of the athletes and all those who make Crankworx Whistler possible: thanks for being here to share this moment in our collective history. It’s been a long road for all of us, so let’s do this one right. Darren Kinnaird Managing Director of Crankworx

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2022 Line

www.gibbonswhistler.com | 1-888-823-7932

THE INSIDERS’ GUIDE TO CRANKWORX WHISTLER

CATHERINE BERGLUND

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE WORLD’S BEST MOUNTAIN BIKING FESTIVAL BY ALISON TAYLOR

here’s no better way to experience these mountains and this town than during Crankworx when Whistler is at its very summertime best. For 10 days in August Whistler puts on the ultimate show—the best mountain bikers in the world competing at the very best arena in the world. It doesn’t take long to realize why Whistler is the ultimate stop in the world tour. Here is your guide to making the most of all Crankworx and Whistler has to oﬀer during the 10-day festival. From morning to night, here’s how to enjoy a day in the life of a Crankworx junkie.

RIDE THE TRAILS Set your day up the right way by getting on your bike. The Whistler Mountain Bike Park may be the heart of the action for all things Crankworx, but Whistler’s soul can be discovered in the dirt beyond the Village, home to more than 200 single track trails, snaking all over the valley with more added, it seems, every year. That’s all thanks to the local bike club—the Whistler Oﬀ Road Cycling Association, or WORCA. The club has a hand in Crankworx too, working with organizers for the Enduro World Series (EWS), part of which takes place on local trails. The EWS events take place over the ﬁrst weekend of Crankworx, beginning Friday August 5. “WORCA is very excited to see the return of Crankworx and the enthusiasm for mountain biking that is such a part of the summer culture of Whistler,” says club president Dale Mikkelsen. “WORCA is keen to share our amazing singletrack 6 CRANKWORX WHISTLER OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE 2022

GETTY IMAGES, STOCKSTUDIOX

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network with the world, with several trails being featured in the Enduro World Series! There are so many great trails in the Whistler Valley that are not in the bike park and accessible only by pedal power. So if you’re visiting Whistler for Crankworx, or anytime, grab your trail bike or enduro bike and challenge yourself in the valley.” Check out the sidebar for some of Mikkelsen’s insider suggestions.

CHILL OUT After working up a morning sweat, it’s time to chill out before heading back out again. If you’re lucky enough to be staying in a Village hotel, like Crankworx partner Aava Whistler, go for a dip in the outdoor pool. But Whistler has you covered if there’s no pool at your lodgings. There are five valley lakes in the area, all easily accessible by bike or bus. The most popular is arguably Lost Lake, close to the Village, in the heart of Lost Lake Park, and has the added bonus of Whistler’s long-established nudie dock for those who want to bare it all. If Lost Lake is busy, get ready to explore beyond to Alta, Alpha, Green and Nita Lakes. Whistler’s lakes are clean and refreshing and the perfect way to cap off a morning ride and ready yourself for the day ahead.

 GETTY IMAGES, STOCKSTUDIOX

STROLL THE STROLL After your morning fun exploring Whistler, it’s time to get into the Crankworx groove. Look no further than the Village Stroll. Whistler was designed for this kind of festival, coming alive with all kinds of activities like the tech and demo zone with all the latest and greatest on display. It’s set up to be a fun and interactive experience, designed to get you wandering through the Village and enjoying the vibe of the mountains. Sign up for the free workshops and events. This will also get you stoked to get back on your bike! Also, don’t forget to look up. That’s Whistler Mountain calling, home to the world’s biggest bike park. crankworx.com

RIDING BEYOND There’s a little something for every mountain biker when visiting Whistler. Take this advice straight from WORCA club president Dale Mikkelsen: “If you’re a strong intermediate rider, then the Cheakamus area is your mecca with modern, technical and flowing singletrack easily accessible off the Cheakamus Interpretive Forest Trail Head. Ride up the Farside and Farout climbing trails and then up SCAP to the Hi’s - a triple threat of amazing singletrack - Hiside, HiHi, and Highline. From the top of Highline turn right on the Microwave Road and grind a few steep hills to get to Tunnel Vision, a classic that is being reinterpreted into a modern enduro track, flowing right into HindSight (used in the 2018 EWS). From the bottom of Hindsight, it’s a beauty of a climb up SingleTrack Mind to get back to the Microwave Road. Turn right off the road and onto Business Time, an absolute stellar test of technical ability, up and down. When you hit the junction to Upper AMPM, drop down this short section and straight into Lower AMPM - probably one of Whistler’s most ridden trails, right back to the staging area. If you’re looking for expert terrain like none other, WORCA would recommend hitting up the “Trilogy” on the famous Westside. The Westside is chock-a-block with steep technical and gnarly terrain, but the Trilogy is a taste of all the greatness of the Westside. Climb up the Stonebridge paved road and then up the Darwin’s Climb. From the top of Darwin’s, it’s a right turn onto the Flank trail into beautiful terrain to the top of the Trilogy. The Trilogy starts with Rockwork Orange and warms you up with some amazing black diamond slabs and rock rolls along with some of the punchy jank famous on the Westside. From Rockwork, you dip back onto the Flank for a few seconds and then drop into Korova Milkbar, which drops even steeper and burlier with some super advanced rock moves (but there are single black ride-arounds for the hardest moves). From the bottom of Korova, you’re into Wizard Burial Ground - a true Whistler test-piece. Don’t be ashamed if you have to walk many (or most) of the features on this trail, but it’s amazing to ride and understand that the Trilogy was a piece of the 2017 EWS. Imagine racing these three trails! From the bottom of Wizard, you’re not done. Hit up Lower Beaver Pass to get you down to Alta Lake Road. Carrying on with the enduro theme, this trail was part of the 4th stage of the Canadian National Enduro Championships in 2021.

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AFTERNOON PARK LAPS Think of every superlative out there to describe something outstandingly awesome. That gives you some idea of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Biggest. Greatest. Coolest. Once you get up, you’ll soon understand. There’s about 5,000 vertical feet of lift-serviced trails in four main zones. This year the Creek Zone is closed due to upgrades to the Creekside Gondola and Big Red Express. Don’t worry—there’s plenty of park still to ride! You’ll see little groms ripping it up and beginners finding their first downhill flows. There’s absolutely something for everyone. Here’s another insider tip that will help you along the way: Though the park is very well signed and it’s easy to find your way, it also pays to download the Trailforks app and see exactly where you’re going and how to get there.

ADOBE STOCK

ENJOY A LEGENDARY APRÈS After park laps, there is no other place to go than straight for an après. Don’t shower. Don’t change. Don’t even think of doing anything else except enjoying that welldeserved beer. It will never taste as good as it does right at this moment. Though Whistler has a renowned après scene, talked about the world over, it’s really hard to beat the GLC patio for après during Crankworx. With its prime spot nestled into the base of Whistler Mountain, the GLC is known for its legendary après scene summer and winter, festival or no festival. Crankworx, however, provides non-stop action as the backdrop with the patio a mere stone’s throw from the park’s legendary A-Line trail. You can almost feel the same thrill as the athletes…from the comfort (and safety) of your patio chair! Looking for a relative break from the frenzy? Cinnamon Bear Bar in the Hilton Whistler has an oﬀ-the-beaten-path patio, with live music daily.

SEAN ST. DENIS

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MEET YOUR HEROES Speaking of athletes…Make sure you know exactly what’s going on with the Crankworx pro action by checking out the daily schedule at crankworx.com. Now, here’s one of the best tips from the inside. While you’re hanging out at the ﬁnish line or cheering on at the medals ceremonies, don’t be afraid to say hello to your heroes. “The athletes are very approachable,” says Crankworx Managing Director Darren Kinnaird. “They’re so great with kids.” Often athletes will take photos; they’ll sign jerseys; they’ll give high ﬁves. It’s one of the best things about Crankworx; your heroes are in the crowd, making the most of their Crankworx experience too. FLORIAN BREITENBERGER

WHISTLER AT DARK As dusk settles and the sun begins to dip behind the mountains, bikes are washed and stored away ready to ride again the following day, Whistler transforms once again. Crankworx brings back Dirt Diaries presented by SWATCH and the Deep Summer Photo Challenge once again. Here’s where you get to see another aspect of mountain biking’s creative juices. Dirt Diaries brings the big screen to Whistler when five separate filmmakers showcase their talents in fourto six minute videos showcasing an athlete in each. It never disappoints. Dirt Diaries kicks off at 8:30 on Thursday Aug. 11. Don’t miss it. The same is true of Deep Summer which takes

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place at 8:30pm on Tuesday Aug. 9. This is a photo showdown, with photographers telling their stories of mountain biking through their unique lens. Both events will have you looking at your dirt lines in a new light. And let’s not forget about the parties and more parties and even more parties happening throughout the Village. Soak up all the fun Crankworx has to oﬀer. One more insider tip before signing oﬀ: Once you experience Crankworx, you too will be hooked. Start planning for 2023 while you’re here—scope the trails you want to ride next year, make your dinner reservations and plan ahead for another epic adventure. Stay tuned to all the action and events at crankworx.com

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EMIL EMIL JOHANSSON’S METEORIC RISE FROM SMALL TOWN SWEDEN TO THE TOP OF THE SLOPESTYLE MOUNTAIN

BY HARRISON BROOKS

hen it comes to Sweden’s Emil Johansson, reaching the upper echelon of the mountain biking world was never supposed to happen. Unlike those who grew up in or around Whistler with world-class mountain biking in their backyard their entire lives, Johansson’s path to Slopestyle superstardom was a lot harder to predict. Despite describing the sport as “niche” in his area, with just a handful of other mountain bikers in his hometown of Trollhättan, Sweden, it was evident from an early age that Johansson had a passion for the sport. “Where I grew up, there’s nothing. There’s just country stuff everywhere. So the fact that I’m doing what I’m doing is just like, it wasn’t meant to be. There wasn’t a path to it.

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 CLINT TRAHAN

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I found my path. I made a path,” he said. That path began around seven years old when he got his first mountain bike, mostly just to get to and from school and maybe “jump a few curbs” on the way. A few years later, Johansson got his first real dirt jumper bike and he started hitting the few small trail jumps his town had to offer. Around that same time, as his passion and excitement for the sport grew, Johansson started looking for bigger and better challenges, which led to him taking the bus to an indoor park an hour from his home where his skill really started to take shape. “It took me a while to figure out and also convince my parents that this was something I wanted to do, and there was a future in it,” said Johansson. “Of course my mom was scared at the beginning … But after them seeing my passion and my drive and how strategic I am about things, they’ve been very supportive in helping me the best they can.” In 2016, at 16-years-old, Johansson burst on to the scene, making a name for himself on the world stage by landing in a top-five spot at four major Slopestyle events, including a podium finish at Maxxis Slopestyle where he claimed third-place. He then followed that up with another stellar year in 2017, with five podium finishes out of eight events, leading to the number one ranking in the Freeride Mountain Biking (FMB) Diamond Series Standings. “Everything went into that [early success]. Basically, choosing riding over anything else,” he said. “It’s hard for me to find a word for it in English. I kind of fully lost myself in it. I fell shoulder depth in it. It’s crazy to look back and see the success I had so early on, it was obviously something I didn’t really expect to happen.” But equally as quickly as Johansson reached the top of the sport, it all came falling back to earth in 2018. At first, it was brushed off as him just being rundown from the amount of biking he was doing. Then came the on and off illnesses with the body not recovering the way it should, followed by the “insane amount of back pain.” And with even the doctors not knowing what was wrong with him, Johansson’s budding and fast-rising career looked to be in jeopardy, with no guarantees that he would ever be able to compete again. “It was heartbreaking, fully. I was damaged from that. Honestly, I couldn’t say anything else. I knew my potential; I knew what I had inside me and what I wanted to do with my life. I just felt like I was watching my life pass without any input on in which direction it was going. I hated it,” he said. “And after trying time and time again to get on my bike and just suffering back pain, you start thinking like, ‘Can I really do this?’

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There was a lot of question marks.” It took eight months for doctors to ﬁgure out Johansson was battling an autoimmune disease in his thyroid. After being diagnosed and beginning treatment for the disease, it didn’t take Johansson long to get back on his bike. But without practicing for nearly a year, as well as losing nearly 40 pounds due to his illness, the journey to get back to the top of the sport looked to be a long road. And maybe it would have been for CLINT TRAHAN

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 CLINT TRAHAN

a different rider, but miraculously, Johansson was able to pick up right where he left off finishing fourth at Red Bull Joyride in 2018, which he views as one of the pinnacles of his career and the starting of a new chapter that he hopes will continue being written for years to come. Johansson followed that up with backto-back seconds at the first two events of 2019, before finally getting back to the top of the podium at the Tom van Steenbergen Invitational at Big White. From there, Johansson hasn’t looked back, winning every single Slopestyle event he has competed in, leading to him being named the 2021 Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Champion and the second-ever winner of the Crankworx Triple Crown of Slopestyle, all at just 22-years-old. crankworx.com

This year, with a Slopestyle win at Crankworx Innsbruck already under his belt and a return to Whistler on the horizon, Johansson’s only goal is to keep the good times rolling and continue following his passion for mountain biking, regardless of the results. “My goal for this year is just to do what I want, kind of focus on the things I’m truly passionate about and follow my heart with that stuff,” he said. “To me, it’s the joy of going out riding bikes with my friends, it’s the process of learning a new trick and mastering a very difficult task. It’s filming stuff, it’s traveling, it’s getting to know people, just having fun, really. As long as I enjoy it, there’s no limit to it.” Down the line, Johansson said he would like to branch out from Slopestyle and get into some more “big bike stuff.”

But for now, his sole focus remains on Slopestyle, where he is eyeing a second straight Triple Crown—or with the addition of a fourth tour stop in Cairns, Australia, maybe even the first-ever quadruple crown. And even though every other rider out there is looking to take that top spot from him and disrupt another Triple Crown performance, the biggest obstacle in his way, according to Johansson, is himself. “Slopestyle is so individual. And even though I have really great opponents, the biggest opponent of them all is myself,” he said. “If I can’t get two runs together, it doesn’t matter how good or bad someone else performs, I won’t perform better. So that’s kind of the way I look at it. Everyone gets a run down the hill, and from there, it’s up to the judges.” 

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LITTLE SHREDDERS TAKE CENTRE-STAGE AT CRANKWORX

JAY FRENCH

The Rutherford family at Kidsworx 2018 JAY FRENCH

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JAY FRENCH

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KIDSWORX OFFERS LOTS OF COMPETITION FOR ALL AGES BY ALISON TAYLOR

hen it comes to mountain biking and competing at Crankworx Whistler, it’s a family affair for the Rutherfords of New Plymouth, New Zealand. The family of five — two older boys and one girl—had their first taste of the action in 2018 when Brook was ten, Camden, nine, and Addie, seven. All three competed in all the Kidsworx events—B-Line, Enduro, Pump Track, BMX, and the Village Crit. And that’s with sharing one BMX bike between all three for the last two events, rushing from finish line to start gate and back again so everyone could have a chance to compete. It was, says dad Craig Rutherford in an email from NZ, “the trip of a lifetime.” The Rutherfords were hooked, returning 2019 and gearing up for 2020 when COVID put the brakes on their plans. Now, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, their enthusiasm has not waned one bit. “Now we are finally getting to come back August 2022 with border now open and we can’t wait!” says Rutherford. “They boys are now in the Crankworx Next (CWNEXT) age group, and Addie will be doing Kidsworx.” Brook, Camden and Addie are just one part of the next generation of Crankworx riders who get to showcase their budding talents at the annual festival. That’s one of the great things about Kidsworx, says Kidsworx supervisor Carly Fox. “It’s really awesome to see (the kids) progress,” she says. This isn’t just for local kids. At the last Kidsworx in Whistler, there were kids from 16 countries around the world. Often times there are waitlists for events and some even sell out. It’s a testament to the mass appeal of the festival. “The kids can see the pros that they love,” adds Fox. “It’s all so visible…so accessible.” For Brook, Camden and Addie, Crankworx 2022 is jam packed with competition. Transitioning up from Kidsworx to CWNEXT, the older boys will be competing in Air DH, Dual Slalom, Pump Track and Camden is also doing the EWS80 Enduro. Addie will be competing in the Kidsworx Enduro, B-Line, Pump Track and the A-Line Girls 1012 Invitational. Doing it all in a place like Whistler, the birthplace of the event, is extra special. The trails are hard and fast; the level of competition is better than anywhere else in the world; and, the vibe, with all the best riders in the world congregating in one place to push their limits, is unbeatable. And for the Rutherford family, Crankworx is about way more than biking competitions. “We met a lot of new people (over the years) and making friends was definitely a big highlight—some of the Whistler kids have come over to Rotorua (another stop in the Crankworx World Tour) so we have been able to see them again,” says Rutherford. “Riding with so many amazing riders and improving the kids riding, we all enjoyed being part of such a well-organized event for kids. Other highlights include watching all of the events, doing bike school, bears and chipmunks—it was an amazing overseas experience.” For the full schedule of events, including the five competitive Kidsworx events, check out crankworx.com  crankworx.com

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Official Whip-Off World Championships PRESENTED BY POC

Crabapple Hits, Whistler Mountain Bike Park (Take the lift) A

DAY 9 SATURDAY, AUG. 13

Red Bull Joyride

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Rockshox Canadian Open DH Whistler Mountain Bike Park A

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Dirt Diaries PRESENTED BY SWATCH

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STAY TUNED TO CRANKWORX.COM/ WHISTLER/SCHEDULE FOR THE FULL AND MOST UP-TO-DATE SCHEDULE, INCLUDING TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION TIMES, KIDSWORX, AMATEUR AND CWNEXT RACING, PARTIES, AND MORE.

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KIKE ABELLEIRA STEPHANIE NYCHKA Women’s Only Riverside Jump Jam, Crankworx Whistler 2018

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A decade of daring

RED BULL JOYRIDE, THE WORLD’S ULTIMATE SLOPESTYLE EVENT TURNS 10 BY ALISON TAYLOR

t’s been 10 years since Red Bull signed on as an oﬃcial partner of Crankworx Whistler, marking 2022 as a decade of supporting the world’s biggest Slopestyle event—Red Bull Joyride. Red Bull’s involvement has undoubtedly taken the Crankworx Whistler marquee event to the next level, bringing even more cachet and credibility, as well as a massive global audience. After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, all eyes are trained on Whistler. Defending champion Emil Johansson perhaps sums it up best, on the heels of his gold medal win at the Innsbruck Slopestyle in June. “Could not be more pumped for it,” says the Swedish phenom of Red Bull Joyride, seven

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 JAMES STOKOE

weeks out of the contest which takes place Saturday, August 13 in the Boneyard at the base of Whistler Mountain. “It’s the event we’ve all been waiting for to return since 2019.” That pent up energy is fanning the flames for a competition that is set to be one for the ages… in true Whistler Crankworx fashion. At the 10-year milestone, Crankworx Whistler takes time to look back on Red Bull Joyride with some of the people who have shaped the story of its evolution to get it where it is today—at the top of its game.

know what it was,” recalls Justin Wyper, who is building the Joyride course this year. The Slopestyle riding cribbed a little bit of

A LITTLE HISTORY Slopestyle competition in Whistler dates back pre Red Bull, even pre Crankworx. In 2003, a grassroots  CLINT TRAHAN upstart festival called the Whistler Summer Gravity Festival made its mark on the Whistler’s summer something from many sports, and riders events line up and it was clear it had tapped threw it all together on the side of the into something special. The following mountain, putting on crowd-pleasing feats on year the name changed to Crankworx and 17-year-old Paul Basagoitia took the top spot their bikes. By the time Red Bull came on the scene at the Slopestyle event…on a borrowed bike. as partner in 2011, the Slopestyle event at “Back when it started, we really didn’t crankworx.com

Crankworx was already well-established and the riding was getting better and better every year. The athletes, and Red Bull, took it to the next level. “A brand like Red Bull is so well known for doing really cool things,” says Darren Kinnaird, Crankworx’s managing director. “The global awareness (of Crankworx Whistler), the exposure, has grown dramatically by Red Bull’s involvement. The world has always known about Crankworx Whistler but they brought it to a much bigger audience.” Today, more than 35,000 people line the side of Whistler Mountain, settling into dusty spots along the track to cheer on the 14 select competitors. Millions more watch at home. It’s no exaggeration to say that Red Bull Joyride is the Superbowl of mountain biking. “Joyride is one of a kind, absolutely love the event and the crowd there,” says Johansson. “It is impossible to measure it to any of the other stops.” Meanwhile, rider progression has been exploding year over year as riders take their skills and talents to new heights.

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 FRASER BRITTON

“Now it’s such a science,” says Wyper. “It comes down to inches, not only on the riding but in the building.” If anything points to just how far Red Bull Joyride has come, it’s the course itself. Adds Kinnaird: “The course is a real reflection of the evolution of the sport.”

IF YOU BUILD IT… THEY WILL RIDE IT For the past ten years, Paddy Kaye, owner of Joyride Bike Parks, has been at the helm of the design and build of the Red Bull Joyride. Every year, after the winner is crowned, and the 10-day Crankworx Whistler festival wraps up for another year, the course is dismantled and flattened, the slate wiped clean. No other Slopestyle course is like that. It is both a blessing and a curse. “We get to change it accordingly every year,” says Kaye. The overall footprint essentially remains the same. Over the years, Kaye and his team, with collaboration and input from the athletes and Red Bull, has figured out how

to use the slope to manage speed and build the Red Bull style features accordingly. It has been continually refined over the past decade. “You can’t just put a jump anywhere,” says Kaye, pointing to the Fitzsimmons chairlift running right above the course, operational during the event for the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. “We’ve had 10 years to learn a lot of lessons and apply them,” he adds. This year marks the first time Kaye is handing over the reins; Wyper, who has been working at Joyride Bike Parks since 2015, can also hold his own on his bike with the best. Wyper’s design will be different for the 10-year milestone. Take the traditional “whale tail” feature which is typically a step up jump into a landing. This year there is an added twist; instead of jumping up on the whale tail, there will be a jump to drop into the feature. “That’s just one example,” says Wyper. “Every feature has a little bit of a twist from what we’ve done in the past.” This year, in collaboration with five-time Red Bull Joyride gold medallist and local

20 CRANKWORX WHISTLER OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE 2022

legend Brandon Semenuk, Wyper was also involved in a project called ‘Realm,’ designed to celebrate the upcoming 10-year Red Bull Joyride anniversary. ‘Realm’ features Semenuk, with a cameo from Wyper, riding four unique features designed to allow riders to explore and push their creative limits. Fans were asked to vote on their favourite feature with the fan-favourite—the Sphere— to be a part of the 2022 Red Bull Joyride course. The Sphere looks like a large satellite dish. “I’m really excited to see how each rider looks at it, interprets it and rides it,” says Wyper. Wyper will likely be the first rider down the 2022 course, testing his design, seeing if what he imagined in his head, translates on the ground and in the air. It is, he admits, a little daunting, dropping into something for the first time, even though the features are tested throughout the building process. “You don’t know until you get tires on the ground,” he says. Then again, only a select few can ever ride the Red Bull Joyride course. Hard to say no to that, he adds. crankworx.com

 JAY FRENCH

THE “WHISTLER” FACTOR

 JAY FRENCH

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Ten years on and the traditions, the mystique of Red Bull Joyride are now firmly cemented in Whistler lore. “We’ve purposefully created special traditions that only happen here in Whistler,” says Kinnaird. Take the champions dinner with invitations that go out to all former champions from Basagoitia to Semenuk. At that dinner, the previous year’s winner is presented with a ring (Semenuk has five, even a pinkie ring). It comes in a shot glass in the world’s coldest vodka tasting room at the swanky Bearfoot Bistro. These traditions highlight the gravitas of Red Bull Joyride, the recognition of what it takes to be in this select company, the best in the world, the boldest, the mostdaring. Only a few can do what they do. Johansson has waited three years to get his ring. “What it takes to win has been on an exponential curve,” said Kinnaird. He points to local legend Semenuk as the one who set the bar a decade ago on what it takes to win—the mental focus, the

dedication to the sport, the drive to be the best. In 2011, the first year of the Red Bull partnership, Semenuk took home his first gold, a feat then repeated four more times. “They’ve become so focused and so serious so they can overcome the daunting-ness of what they’re doing, which is truly mind-blowing,” says Kinnaird. Unlike the early days of Slopestyle, the wild west of sorts, now there is much at stake. “We’ve launched careers through this,” Kinnaird adds. “Winning it, you’re at the pinnacle of your sport.” The riding has come so far in the last decade from Semenuk’s corked 720 in 2014 to Johansson’s double truck drive down whip in 2019. While in many ways, the ten years with Red Bull marks a coming of age of sorts, in other ways there is a sense that this could be just the tip of the iceberg with more to come. “It doesn’t feel like the end,” says Kaye, who has been there since the beginning. “It feels like it’s been a decade and… let’s do another one.” 

CRANKWORX WHISTLER OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE 2022 21

Crankworx

Top Contenders BY HARRISON BROOKS

ith no Crankworx World Tour stop in Whistler for the past two years, the hype is building for what is sure to be one of the most exciting parties of the year when Crankworx Whistler returns on August 5 to 14. With many of the world’s best mountain bike riders set to be competing at the event, here’s a handy guide of names to watch for when the festivities begin.

JAMES STOKOE CURTIS KEENE

BAS VAN STEENBERGEN

JAKE PADDON

22 CRANKWORX WHISTLER OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE 2022

When talking about top contenders for the title of King of Crankworx, there’s no better place to start than the reigning two-time King, Bas van Steenbergen. The 28-year-old Epe, Netherlands native and current Vernon, B.C. resident dominated the Air Downhill and Dual Slalom fields last year to the tune of six top-three finishes. Currently sitting third in the King of Crankworx standings after the tour’s first stop in Innsbruck, Austria, van Steenbergen said his main goal this year is defending his title as King of Crankworx for the third year in a row. Of all the challenges and obstacles he will face this year chasing that goal, the biggest will be “keeping things consistent … and not getting in my own head too much as well,” he said. “The goal is always to win, and so is everybody else’s. [I] Just have to do what I do, and if it happens, great.” The biggest challenger for the crown, according to van Steenbergen, will be French rider Tomas Lemoine as he is strong in many disciplines, and even competes in Slopestyle, where van Steenbergen gets no points.

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Bas van Steenbergen calling Tomas Lemoine his biggest challenger for the crown is no understatement. Lemoine has found himself inside the top five of the King of Crankworx standings in three of the last four years with a fourthplace finish in 2019 and 2021 and a second overall finish in 2018. On the back of his Speed & Style win at Crankworx Innsbruck this year, the 25-year-old Lemoine currently sits second overall in the King of Crankworx rankings, seven points higher than van Steenbergen. When asked about the keys to keeping ahead of van Steenbergen and finally reaching that top spot in the standings, Lemoine said with a laugh, “I have to be fast and land my tricks everywhere and all the time.”

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CRANKWORX WHISTLER OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE 2022 23

VAEA VERBEECK

CHRIS PILLING

One of the most dominating riders from the last four Crankworx World Tour’s, Granby, Quebec native and Vernon B.C. resident Vaea Verbeeck is looking to stretch her Queen of Crankworx podium streak to five straight. Coming off a blown ACL in mid-May, Verbeeck was still able to compete one month later at Crankworx Innsbruck where she managed three top five finishes to keep herself in the early running for a repeat Queen performance. While the hope is to defend her title as Queen, she said the knee injury has “been helpful in lowering expectations and just doing as much as I can while still enjoying myself. ” “It was crazy to think I could make it a whole week of racing at the time. Only riding my slalom bike for five short laps back home had me raising my leg and recovering on the couch for 24 hours afterwards. I made peace that I might just be hanging out … at the Innsbruck round, but it turned out to be a great success.” When Crankworx Whistler rolls around, the 31-year-old rider plans to be hitting the slopes in all of the Air Downhill, Dual Slalom, Whip Off, Speed and Style, Pump Track and Downhill events.

KIALANI HINES

For the Burien, Washington-born Kialani Hines, there’s no bigger motivating factor heading into the 2022 Crankworx World Tour than finishing second to Vaea Verbeeck in both 2021 and 2019. “I think it’s never really sunken in to how close I have been to being Queen of Crankworx, not once but twice. I want it really bad, but I’m in a totally different place than I was when I started Crankworx and so is the competition,” said the 25-year-old San Diego resident. “It’s a huge motivator for me, but I can’t deny that the competition is fierce and only getting harder with each race that comes.” When Crankworx Whistler comes around, Hines will be competing in four events including Pump Track, Dual Slalom Air Downhill and Speed & Style. And while she’s excited about the opportunity to build on her current sixth-place ranking, she’s most excited about the “overall vibe” of the Whistler event. CLINT TRAHAN

CLINT TRAHAN

HARRIET BURBIDGE SMITH

The 26-year-old Canberra, Australia native is about as chill as it gets for a professional athlete who’s in the running for Crankworx’ highest honour. Despite being so close to the Queen of Crankworx title, ﬁnishing third overall last year, Burbidge-Smith’s only goal for this year’s Crankworx World Tour is to “have fun and ride bikes.” “I ﬁnd motivation from pushing my riding mostly. I love riding my bikes and I love the events. That’s more than enough to motivate me,” she said. “If I am in a position to win, yo, I’ll be stoked, but I’m more focused on enjoying the tour and riding the best I can.” Adding to the excitement of this year’s tour for Burbidge-Smith is the addition of a fourth tour stop in Cairns, Australia. “I think the more stops the better and more unique locations the better,” she said. “Australia is a rad place, and I can’t wait to ride in front of a home crowd!”

24 CRANKWORX WHISTLER OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE 2022

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HOME

COMING BY HARRISON BROOKS

hile excitement is high among all riders for the return of Crankworx Whistler after a two-year hiatus, for some the return hits a little closer to home, literally. Some of the Sea to Sky’s best riders will be coming home to compete in front of friends and family when the party comes to town in August. Here’s your guide to the local talent to keep an eye out for.

JAKE PADDON

GRACEY HEMSTREET

The star of Sunshine Coast, Gracey Hemstreet could not be more excited for the return of Crankworx Whistler, especially considering this year will be her first chance to compete in the Elite category. The 17-year-old is off to a terrific start to the year already claiming five podium finishes on the Downhill Junior World Cup circuit. But once Crankworx rolls around, Hemstreet will be expanding her horizons to everything the festival has to offer, not just downhill. ”I will be in every event in Whistler, except the Enduro. Super excited to be in Elite for everything as well and to go in my first Whip-Off event,” she said. “My goals for this year is to have fun on my bike and do the best that I can. The biggest obstacle will probably be racing in the pro category, but I’m excited to see where I stack up.” While she may not have the experience of the women she’ll be facing just yet, Hemstreet is sure to be a racer to keep your eyes on for years to come.

26 CRANKWORX WHISTLER OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE 2022

CHRIS PILLING

GEORGIA ASTLE

Being her hometown event, the 24-year-old Whistler product has been competing in Crankworx Whistler since 2014, so to say she’s a veteran when it comes to the Whistler Bike Park would be an understatement. This year Astle will be competing in Air Downhill, Dual Slalom, Speed and Style, Whip-Oﬀ, “maybe Pump Track” and the Enduro World Series. Coming into Whistler, Astle’s goal is to land on a podium or two, but said her biggest obstacle is being over tired especially after competing in the enduro race. But either way, whether it works out or not, Astle is just pumped to be able to be back competing at home in front of friends and family again.

JAKOB JEWITT

At just 19-years old, Squamish biker Jakob Jewett is going into just his second season on the Downhill World Cup circuit. crankworx.com

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But despite the experience gap between him and some of the top riders in the field, Jewett has shown tons of promise and potential nabbing multiple top-10 finishes in 2021. Coming off a 12th-place finish in Downhill at Crankworx Innsbruck, Jewett is pumped for the return of his home event and for more chances to “mix it up with the top elites” in the field. “I’m more stoked than ever to have [Crankworx Whistler] back. Its super fun to have all my friends and family around for the whole week of racing. The event was good to me back in 2019, so I hope we can make 2022 even better,” he said. Last time the event took place in Whistler, Jewett was competing in the Youth category and rode his way to a first-place finish in Air Downhill and a third-place finish in Downhill.

four seconds, across eight races. While his focus is set more on World Cups than Crankworx at this point in time, he’ll still be one to watch in Whistler as every time Goldstone lines up at the start gate, he’s got a shot at landing on the podium.

 CLINT TRAHAN

JESSE MELAMED

 CLINT TRAHAN

FINN ILES

Whistler’s own Finn Iles rose to fame in the mountain biking world way back in 2014 right here at Crankworx Whistler, where, as a 14-year-old who was only able to compete in the 16-andup event because of the #LetFinnIn campaign, won the Official Whip-Off World Championships against some of the world’s top riders. Using that as a catalyst for his future career, Iles never looked back and has continued dominating on the world stage ever since. So far this year, in five races, Iles has multiple podium finishes on the World Cup circuit and at Crankworx Innsbruck. Keep your eyes peeled for Iles when Crankworx Whistler rolls around as he’s sure to amaze in any event he’s in.

While Squamish’s Jesse Melamed has built his career in the enduro world, he’s no one trick pony. At the 2020 CLIF Crankworx Series Melamed branched out, competing in multiple disciplines outside of enduro, even landing on the podium in a couple and finishing top 10 in each event. When Crankworx Whistler rolls around it’s unknown which events he will be competing in, but coming off a season where he finished third in the overall EWS standings, Melamed is sure to be a favourite for the top spot in the enduro race, and might even be a surprise contender in some other events as well.

LUCAS CRUZ

With world-class mountain bike trails in his backyard growing up, it’s no wonder Pemberton’s Lucas Cruz has reached the upperechelon of the sport. Now a four-year veteran on the World Cup circuit, the older Cruz brother has been competing in Crankworx Whistler since he was in his early teens, when he burst on to the scene in the junior category with first-place finishes in Dual Slalom and Air Downhill and a second-place finish in Downhill in 2018. He followed that success up the following year, finishing first in the junior category in Downhill and Air Downhill at Crankworx Whistler. While he hasn’t been able to get back to those heights in the last two seasons, save a first-place Dual Slalom win in Kicking Horse in 2020, with the home course advantage and a crew of friends and family to cheer him on in Whistler, don’t be shocked if Cruz can steal a podium or two in August.

TEGAN CRUZ  CLINT TRAHAN

JACKSON GOLDSTONE

Following in the footsteps of Iles, Squamish’s Jackson Goldstone, at just 18-years-old already has more podium finishes than not so far in his professional career. Dating back to 2019, across all 32 events he competed in, Goldstone has only missed the podium five times, with nearly half of those being first-place finishes. This year, the Red Bull sponsored athlete has continued his dominating pace, already snagging four first-place finishes and 28 CRANKWORX WHISTLER OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE 2022

Despite posting a DNF in the U19 Downhill event in Innsbruck earlier this year, don’t count the 16-year-old Pemberton native out just yet. The younger Cruz brother is sure to be a contender when he lines up at the start gate in Whistler. While he’s bound to be one of the youngest racers in the U19 category, he might just wow you, especially when it comes to his strongest event: Pump Track. Forgoing the U19 Pump Track race in Innsbruck to compete in the Pro category against the world’s best riders, Cruz still managed to claim a top-five spot in the event. Add in the home-course advantage in Whistler and it’s not inconceivable to see Tegan Cruz standing on the Pump Track podium in August.  crankworx.com

THE ART OF THE WHEELS BELOVED CRANKWORX PHOTO AND FILM COMPETITIONS, DEEP SUMMER AND DIRT DIARIES PRESENTED BY SWATCH, MAKE THEIR LONG-AWAITED RETURN TO OLYMPIC PLAZA  JAY FRENCH

BY BRANDON BARRETT

or the unfamiliar, Whistler would seem a town filled with philistines. Given its reputation as global mecca for both skiing and mountain biking and its legacy as the alpine host for the 2010 Winter Olympics, if you didn’t know any better, you might think Whistler didn’t give two shakes of a ski pole about the arts. You, dear reader, would be wrong. “It’s not true. We’ve got so much arts and culture and talented people here that do so much more than just ride bikes and ski,” says Jacquie McLean, organizer of two of Crankworx’ most popular and beloved events, the Deep Summer Photo Challenge and the Dirt Diaries presented by SWATCH Video Competition. Making their return to the festival lineup for the first time since 2019, you’d be hardpressed to find two other events that

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better harness the deep well of creativity on display in the worlds of biking and art. “I think these competitions are great platforms for those creatives to have a space in Crankworx and meld those two communities together. They’re already so well connected but giving a voice to that connection through Crankworx is super important and a big reason why everyone is so excited for the two competitions to come back,” McLean says. For the uninitiated, here’s how it works. Deep Summer invites five action-sports photographers (and one wildcard) from across the globe to Whistler to compile the most epic downhill slideshow they can in a jam-packed three-day span. When all is said and done, each photographer will screen their slideshow, set to music, under the stars at Olympic Plaza, offering their distinct perspective on riding in mountain biking’s mecca. Dirt Diaries presented by SWATCH

takes a similar approach, except on the video side of things. Five filmmakers are invited to produce a four- to six-minute video showcasing a slice of one Crankworx athlete’s diary. Teams must feature the Whistler Valley and world-renowned Whistler Mountain Bike Park in at least a quarter of their video—other than that it’s creative carte blanche. As in years past, the only given ahead of either competition this August is to expect the unexpected. “Some people are very visual and like to play with lights. Others have asked about putting drawn images onto their photos. Others have talked about doing something quite funny, others more serious and meaningful,” McLean relays. “We’ve got everything from people thinking about inclusivity to nature to the whole storytelling process. I think we’re really going to see a range of different ideas and projects that come out of it and they’re all going to look

CRANKWORX WHISTLER OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE 2022 29

visually different, too.” “Different” is the name of the game for local action-sports photographer Jeremy Allen heading into Deep Summer. Living in the Sea to Sky for the better part of a decade, Allen relishes the chance to wow his hometown crowd at Olympic Plaza along with the thousands expected to watch online. “It meant the world to me to get selected because when I first moved to Whistler … I remember going to the Deep Winter and Deep Summer competitions and just being dumbfounded,” he says. “It was one of those dreams of mine: to get up onstage and be a part of the show and demonstrate what I’m really capable of. It’s been a pretty surreal experience.” Known for his dynamic, high-energy photo shoots, the Red Bull photographer will be taking somewhat of a different approach for the high-profile event, asking a question that hasn’t been far from many-a-Whistlerite’s lips over the years: What does it mean to be local? “It might take us into a different realm of local, is all I can really say,” he admits. “It’s going to be very different than what people are expecting to come out of my portfolio.” Unlike Allen, Dirt Diaries presented by SWATCH competitor Blake Hansen has never actually been to Whistler before, a

perspective the Utah-based filmmaker and rider isn’t shying away from. “I think that’s fun and different and unique. A lot of people have spent a lot of time there and I haven’t, so rather than be said about it, I want to try to make that a central part of the story and then basically have my friends see what kind of things I can get injured on,” she jokes. As a trans athlete and director, Hansen is used to bringing a fresh view to a sport that still presents numerous barriers to entry for the LGBTQ community, and her final film exemplifies how important representation is in ever-evolving mountain bike scene. “To me, representation is super important,” she says. “At times it feels very vulnerable to just be so out and open, especially with all the kinds of weird and crazy things that are happening in the world these days. So I try not to centre myself too much in it and let my presence do the talking.” Highlighting the sport’s growing inclusivity was a major consideration for McLean and the Crankworx team as they were thinking about what they wanted a reimagined Deep Summer and Dirt Diaries presented by SWATCH to look like. This year’s fields comes close to gender parity, not something you would see even five or 10 years ago, and a new wrinkle in Deep Summer requires photographers to incorporate into their

show shavings from Whistler’s Community Reconciliation Canoe, a months-long project at the local Indigenous museum, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC), that invites anyone from the community to contribute to the carving of the final canoe. “They will have the opportunity to weave that element into their Deep Summer Photo Challenge slideshow however they would like,” explains McLean. “Basically the goal is to build connection between Crankworx athletes and creatives with SLCC ambassadors to really facilitate authentic Indigenous storytelling in Whistler. We want to create awareness by capturing this story through their photography and capture these athletes and community in Whistler connecting to the land by engaging in learning and taking a turn at this carving.” The Deep Summer Photo Challenge hits Olympic Plaza at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, with the winning competitor taking home the $5,000 prize. Check out the whole field at crankworx.com/event/deep-summerphoto-challenge. Dirt Diaries presented by SWATCH, meanwhile, comes to Olympic Plaza at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11. The winning team will earn the $5,000 prize, with $3,000 going to second and $2,000 going to third. Check out the entire field at cranworx.com/ event/dirt-diaries. 

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