The Air DH Race at Crankworx

Aug 12, 2010
by Justin Brantley  
RIDER BRIAN LOPES CLAIMS SIXTH CRANKWORX AIR DH WIN

The Air DH took over the Whistler Mountain Bike Park with over 381 competitors ripping down the most famous DH course in the world, A-Line. Brian Lopes continued his reign in the No. 1 spot with a sixth (fifth in a row) Air DH title, scoring the fastest time of the day at 4:15.69. The Air DH field housed many current UCI World Cup riders and also saw a few previous World Cup riders reach the podium.Mens Winners!

The Air DH course runs the entire length of A-Line, finishing at the base of the 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. “It was definitely a fast course today compared to last year,” said Leslie Tomlinson, event announcer and mountain bike Olympian. “The dry conditions definitely contributed to the faster times.” Lopes’ time was nearly 5 seconds faster this year.

Mens top three

1st - Brian Lopes
2nd - Sam Blenkinsop
3rd - Gee Atherton


photo
Brian Lopes was the defending champ last year and held it down for first!

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Sam Blenkinsop had a very pinned run coming within .48 sec of lopes for second!

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Gee Atherton put down a run to win! Came close with a 3rd place finish!

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Bryn Atkinson, pinned, and came in 4th!

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Fabian Cousini came in 5th!

Womens Winners!

In the Pro Women category, Anne Caro Chausson (FRA) was able to hold off current world champ Emmeline Ragot (FRA) to take the top spot with a time of 4:38.21; Rachel Atherton (GBR) took third with a time of 4:41.15.

Womens top three

1st - Anne Caroline Chausson
2nd - Emmeline Ragot
3rd - Rachel Atherton

photo
Anne Caroline Chausson with a very fast run for the victory!

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Emmeline Ragot coming in 2nd!

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Rachel Atherton Coming in hot, taking home third place!

Here are some more pics of the action!

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Troy Brosnan was killing it!

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Andrew Neethling!

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Mike Sylvestri was putting it down! Coming in

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Greg Watts showed up for the race, and placed 34th, beating a ton of top dudes! Good job Watts!

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Even Turpen from Aptos, CA takes home 6th!

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Kevin Aiello takes a tricky line!

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Tyler Paksi shredding the upper portion

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Gee Atherton pinned!

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Jill Kintner on the very first of a few dozen jumps on track.

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One of the most iconic corners in mountain biking.

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Step down into the corner and stay on the gas, you're going to need it.

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The once famous 4 pack, is now a 3 pack.

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TWhips will be few and far between today my friend, it's about going fast.

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ok, I lied.

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Mini double.

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Sure there is a lot of jumps, but this is truly what the Air Dh is about. Legs and lungs. get Anaerobic and stay there for 4:20.

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Ropelato shows just how far people are sending this jump, even crossing from side to side, you still land to flat.

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Vanderham getting his race on, getting ready for World's!

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A little bit of style further down.

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Blenki almost took the win, he flat landed the hell out of this thing and got hucker head big time.

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The A Line master. Brian does it again.

Stay tunned for more events all throughout the weekend!

-Pinkbike

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59 Comments
  • 6 0
 I wouldn't call A-Line a 'DH' course....I agree it is world renowned, and the most world renowned trail of it's kind....however it's kind should not be referred to as a DH course. Flow trail, jump trail etc would be fitting. As for most world renowned DH course, I dunno, Ft William?
  • 4 7
 well its a course that goes downhill, does it not? so its a downhill course. just because its not a part of any DH series doesn't make it anything else. plus calling it a flow or jump trail just sounds stupid.
  • 7 1
 Dude it's AIR downhill it's supposed to give the person who is the most comfortable in the air at high speeds the win the real dh races at crankworx are Garbo and Canadian open
  • 3 0
 or keep it grounded and go faster ?
  • 1 1
 I have never seen him on A Line, but I hear that Lopes tactic is to pump before all the jumps so that he is not getting much air and keeping his wheels on the ground so he can pedal more. Makes sense.
I can see both sides of this argument pretty well, but i'm inclined to think this is a DH track because (on top of skill and fitness), it is a real strategic race where you have to pick a smart line as well as take a few risks, sure the course has tons of jumps, but there are also short tech sections and loose sections - that combination sounds like a DH race to me.
  • 3 1
 Not sure why people get their tight panties in a twisted bunch over whether it's a DH trail. List assisted 1200 vertical feet with jumps/berms and a couple gnarly sections plus rock drops sounds like a DH trail to me. Flowy jumpy DH trail for sure. People should get out and ride more.
  • 2 3
 How can it be a world renowned DH course if the winner did it on a shorter travel bike?
  • 1 0
 Shorter, not short. And because he is a pinner ?
  • 2 0
 sea otters is done on short travel bikes. is that not a dh race either?
  • 1 0
 I didnt say its not DH race just that there are a lot better as they require full DH bikes, but yeh he is a pinner!
  • 1 0
 There is a big difference in the style of riding in western Canada when compared to Europe. There aren't as many gnarly steep technical trails here as you guys have across the pond, the trend recently has gone to wide, smooth and jumpy trails. We still have some wicked old-school DH trails but a lot of the new stuff is a lot like A-Line. Personally I like the fast and flowy trails, even switched up to a short-travel bike because it is more playful.
  • 1 0
 "Not as many gnarly steep technical trails here..." I would disagree with this comment. Many of the more famous tracks at BC bike parks are wider and smoother...however, there are many steep tech tracks all over the province in and out of bike parks. Sun Peaks and Kicking Horse are raw, steep and rocky bike parks. Mount 7, Loops local trails, Garbonzo and Mount Washington all have steep, technical riding. Moose Mountain, Kelowna, the Interior of BC....the list goes on.
  • 1 0
 I don't know if you have ever ridden in Italy, Sweden or Switzerland. The mountains there each have literally dozens of trails off of each peak, most of those trails are pretty much equivalent to goat trails. I said that we still had plenty of steep tech trails, however in Europe wide fast trails are extremely rare. I have a few colleagues from Sweden that I ride with and they are constantly amazed by the difference in trails. When I rode over there I finally understood what they are talking about. Kickinghorse's trails are almost billiard table smooth compared to most of the tracks I rode over there. Reminded me of riding down the scree on Mt. Yamnuska.
  • 3 0
 All I want to know is, did Watts beat Rachel Atherton? I heard there was a bet between them, slowest time had to kiss a fat chick.
  • 1 0
 that sounds rather interesting
  • 1 0
 Watts did beat Rachel..

www.crankworx.com/whistler/images/stories/results_airdh.pdf
  • 2 0
 them are some good photos!
  • 14 53
flag sam-hopkins (Aug 12, 2010 at 13:22) (Below Threshold)
 blinky would have won if he went faster
  • 3 0
 course looks awesome, photo's are amazing, one day i WILL ride A-line! congrats to Gee and Rachel both getting 3rd!!! and of course congrats to Brian Lopes and Anne Chausson
  • 6 0
 fair play to watts, what a legend!, he probley was tricking everything!
  • 8 1
 no shit.
  • 12 1
 brilliant observation there sam-hopkins!
  • 12 3
 yer, and blinky would have come lower down if he went slower
  • 9 0
 Good to see Rachel's back on the bike again.
  • 16 3
 Blenky would have placed the same if he went neither slower or faster.
  • 1 1
 that is a good point Mr. Bank
  • 6 2
 Bank... you're a GENIUS! Razz
  • 2 6
flag tom666 FL (Aug 12, 2010 at 13:46) (Below Threshold)
 I rode A-line when I went to whistler. It was way too hard because I allways over jump everything and try to air rocky sections because its more fun.
  • 7 2
 Bank, that's only true if everyone else also went neither slower or faster....
  • 5 1
 either or, neither nor!
  • 1 1
 i like these articles with multiple photographers in them.
  • 1 0
 Yes for Rach and Gee :>
  • 2 1
 And no coverage of the juniors?
  • 3 0
 I was hopeing people would see the humour in my comment, but clearly you didn't
  • 2 0
 cheer up sam it made me laugh when i read it Razz haha
  • 1 0
 lopes is a fucking animal, running the shortest travel fork i can see in those pictures, too
  • 2 0
 Damn I wish Blinky woulda won. Lopes has won it for years.
  • 1 0
 All those pics were amazing, i want to go to whistler right....now.
  • 1 0
 Lol at Troy Brosnan's RaceFace, looks god damn evil!
  • 1 0
 feels weird seeing Brosnan on a single crown...
  • 2 0
 Yeah Tyler!
  • 1 0
 Lopes and Ibis HD!!
  • 1 0
 That bike is at top spot on my wish list!
  • 1 1
 Is there any video footage of this?
  • 1 0
 dirt.mpora.com/news/lopes-chausson-win-crankworx-airdh.html video at the bottom of the article
  • 1 0
 Nice vid, some quality flashing too Wink
  • 1 0
 Sweet, thanks.
  • 1 0
 beautiful pictures!
  • 1 1
 Very crisp and clean shots
  • 1 1
 GET SUM ET!
... and whos blenki? last time i checked its blinki.
  • 1 0
 Well considering his last name is spelt Blenkinsop it would make sense to call him Blenki rather than blinki but whatevs.
  • 1 0
 www.descent-world.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Blinky-DC-08-06-2008-15-31-27.JPG
my bad. its blinky
  • 1 0
 Sick pictures man!
  • 3 0
 yeah and those bikes are legit, i wan to ride whistler so bad
  • 1 4
 I went to whistler a few weeks ago, I rode A-line but I nearly died so many times. LOL horray for over jumping everything.
  • 1 0
 i was there a few weeks ago two rode a bit of A-line having never jumped b4 that day went well..sorta!
  • 1 0
 haha, I'm a dirt jumper who had never ridden much downhill before, so I was poppin' off lips and whipping everything.
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