Kintner and Ropelato win Crankworx Dual Slalom!

Mitch Ropelato and Jill Kintner moved through all the rounds and onto the podium here at Whistler today. In the men's final Ropelato went up against Mick Hannah and took both rounds, while Kintner took both rounds against last year's winner Micayla Gatto. Kyle Strait took the bronze for the men, and Manon Carpenter for the women.

Mens Top 3

1. Mitch Ropelato
2. Mick Hannah
3. Kyle Strait

Womens Top 3

1. Jill Kintner
2. Micayla Gatto
3. Manon Carpenter


It's hard to argue with numbers. When it comes to racing some formats prove to be more popular than others with the crowd and dual slalom may just be the favourite. In just five short years now the Kokanee Crankworx dual slalom has shown that it can draw the crowds and again in 2011 the course was lined top to bottom several rows deep while all of the nearby tabletops on the dual giant slalom course were packed with people.

It was in 2002 that the UCI made the decision to drop dual slalom in favour of Four Cross, whether that was a good decision or not will be left for time to decide. The Sea Otter Classic did not follow along with the UCI format and continued hosting a dual that is always the most watched event. It was 2007 when Crankworx add dual slalom to the race schedule. A popular racing format not just with the crowd but also with the riders as everyone from the four cross specialist to the downhill all-stars rolled up to the gate. You would think that the odds on favourites would be the four cross racers, groomed track, tight jumps and berms it comes closer to resembling the four on four racing than the root and gnarl that the downhill crowd attack on a regular basis. Looking at the winners over the past events would prove you wrong though. Since the first race in 2007 the downhillers track record has been stellar with several wins to their credit. The first race was won by Greg Minnaar, in 2008 it was JD Swanguen while in 2009 it was Kyle Strait who came out to dominate and then last year none other than Gee Atherton stood onto of the podium.

During yesterdays practice session all of the usual suspects were looking strong. Unlike downhill where there is timed qualifying/seeding runs and a regular race schedule that gives you a good idea of who is hot there is no timing in dual slalom practice. Watching everyone tee up the course and dial in their lines did not give any insight in who would make it through the rounds and into the finals. All world cup racers look fast and the naked eye cannot differentiate a hundredths of a second difference in time. Then there is a racer's hunger as well that comes into play when they are sitting in the start hut and staring down their rival. Competitiveness is an amazing thing, the drive to win can be the final factor that pulls a rider ahead.

The clouds held back their fury yesterday but this morning all of Whistler awoke to rain. Pouring down from the moisture laden clouds that congested the valley it filled any slight depression and saturated the ground making for rather wet and muddy conditions. The amateurs took to the course first, a blessing in disguise for the later pro rounds. As rider after rider hammered down the course the dirt became packed down and tacky. A dual track that is grippy leads to exciting head to head racing.

The rain actually tapered off in the afternoon and pretty much stopped by the time the Pro Category took to the track. The first order of business was to knock down the men's field to a manageable number. In the first couple rounds there were some surprising upsets as North Vancouver shredder (and skier cross world champion) Chris Del Bosco showed up Brendan Faircloth and Mitch Ropelato out powered non other than Brian Lopes. With a small women's field there was not much happening until the semi finals came around.

After the dust (mud) had settled it was two former winners of the Crankworx dual slalom facing off. Jill Kintner and Micayla Gatto fought two hard battles with Jill coming out on top. In the men's field Mitch Ropelato crushed all who lined up beside him until he was sitting in the same spot as last year. The last two to line up on the course in the big final, it was Mitch and Sik Mick Hannah. The whole shebang came down to the last run, with Mick in front on the top half of the course it looked like the Aussie was going to take the top step of the podium. Apparently Ropelato did not want to stand in the shadow of first place again, at the halfway point the young rider let it all hang out and when the checkered flag dropped it was Mitch who nudged Mick out, taking the 2011 Kokanee Crankworx dual slalom title.




Crankworx Dual Slalom Results

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