Today was the start of loads of a week jammed packed full of shenanigans, good times, racing, carnage, heckling, bike porn, demos and so much more you need to be here to experience it. The week does have a name and it's none other than Kokanee Crankworks.
First up on the racing side of things was the Fat Tyre Crits. The race format was 20minuets then the bell meaning 5 laps to go with the added bonus of sprint laps for quick cash. The last riders had to keep the hammer down for when the motor bike passes you your race is over. Riders get off the line with a mass start then ride around around 700meter course taking around 50 sec to complete a lap with tight turns, loose gravel corners and paved path ways ready to take your skin off any part of your body.
The ladies were off first with a keen eye on how they all handled the course before the guy took to the track.10 ladies we are the start line with elbows out ready to make in it into the cash.
The Fanny Packette of whistler was riding strong finishing in 4th over all. Early on in the race she was sucked into a slower riders pace and then went for the brake away but couldn't pull back the gap.
Kathrine Short had a great tactical race and it showed with here taking the Win for the ladies.
Kathrine put the hurt on the ladies early on to get a feel for who had pace. The other 2 competitors who were up the front with her made a poor tyre choice opting for 1.5 slicks. The final corner and sprint to the finish was loose gravel making it hard to get up the front if you wernt with in striking distance. Kathrine layed down the hammer and they tyres got her the edge and a sweet pay check to boot.1st lap for the Ladies
Inter mission made for a great laugh. This old couple had been cutting laps all around the village. The lady wore the pants in this relationship or did she. towing the guy every where with a huge smile.
This rider went down on the 5th lap. Poor tyre choice saw him get loose it in the gravel and flat. Riders started out with the 1.5 slick like you can see here was a death trap. almost the entire field went to a 2.0 fast rolling mtb tyre.
Jamie Biluk from Team Rocky Mountain had a ok race but it proved to much for the downhiller going out in the 10th lap.
1st Lap for the guys, though dylan went down but thankfully he was still on the bike
Dylan Wolsky riding for Bike Co had the same fate as his partner Fanny. Riding super strong he was with in striking distance of the leaders but getting stuck behind a slightly slower rider the lead bunch of 4 got away. He hung on then they had a extra kick and he was left to solo ride comfortably into a 5th place.
Then there was 4 these guys were out the front the entire race proving to have the best race strategy.
3 local guys from left to right were helping cheer on the crits. Jarred "kootaney" Wilson will be in the mix this year guy is a silent assassin on the bike. Shane "buddy guy" Gayton knows a thing or two about ripping up a trail he has loads of skill and can hold his own with the pro guys and will be hopeing for some good results.
Paul Stevens riding for NSMB, Specalized, Sram is a English guy that has come along way from when he first stept foot in canada. He can take the bull buy the horn's 360 it, then ride it to finish and beyond then go back for more. Big things to come from this guy!
Final lap and it's on like donkey kong. Lopes took the win making him even harder to catch as the "winningest" rider at crankworks.
They all rode strong and tactically. Matt Ryan made a novice mistake of wearing head phones in the race and when it came to the bell lap he thought it was a cash grab so eased of the pace only to find out it was the finish.
2 laps to go
Aussie pride 3rd, 4th, 5th place were all Aussies.Dylan and Charlton having a moment after the 20min of torture race. Smiles all around after they collected there winnings.
Good and bad sight. The RCMP are on to it with the bike theft being a massive high at the moment. This truck had 11 bikes in it. hopefully they were all legitimate owners bikes and not stolen ones. Thanks RCMP for the doing what you can to help riders out.
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