Wooden Booter Brings New Style to Whip-Offs

The deluge making headlines across France brought new game to the European Whip-Off Championships presented by Spank in its inaugural trip to Les Gets. Starting up a mud-slick hill and heading toward a wooden ramp and gap jump, the riders had their work cut out for them in this, the first competition of Crankworx Les Gets, and the winners rose to the challenge.


“That was actually the hardest whip event I’ve attended ever. I’ve never really hit wooden jumps in my life, so it was a new thing for me,” said Casey Brown (CAN). “I feel it was a good learning experience. I had to really tone my whip off a bit because I couldn’t really carve off the lip; I didn’t feel confident in that. So it was quite different.”


Brown effectively owns the women’s division of the event at the moment, having taken the win in all three stops in 2015 Crankworx World Tour and the first stop of 2016, the Official Oceania Whip-Off Championships presented by Spank in Rotorua, New Zealand. And once again, she managed to get the most air and sideways style to take home the win. Bernardo Cruz (BRA) joined her at the top of the podium, after churning out run after run of amplitude-popping air. He too topped the podium in France last year, and said he wasn’t so sure he had it in the bag when he showed up in Les Gets this week.

“For the first time, it was a bit scary… It actually was the first time I hit a wood jump, but then it was good,” he said. “When we get a dirt jump, we can lean over a bit more, especially because it was a bit wet today. So, it was a bit scary to lean over, but then we made it.

Despite the mucky conditions, nearly 80 invited competitors came out to compete and open the first Crankworx Les Gets festival to a sold out resort in the French Alps. The qualifying athletes were whittled to 20 finalists before smashing out a 20-minute jam session which commentator, Cam McCaul was quick to label among the gnarliest whip-offs he’s seen.


When the mud finally stopped flying, even the judges couldn’t decide who should be labelled the winner. Though very different in their styles, Cruz whipping both ways and Howard claiming extreme amplitude, Cruz finally threw down a super-clicked whip and claimed first place. Cruz topped a field with Ryan Howard (USA), Louis Reboul (FRA), Anthony Rocci (FRA), Sam Blenkinsop (NZ), Carson Storch (USA), David McMillan (AUS), Brook Macdonald (NZL), Tyler McCaul (USA) and Anton Thelander (SWE). Howard placed second and Reboul third.

With several women in the women’s division, it was one of the best turnouts for the new sport. Brown bested super-competitor Jill Kintner (USA) and newbie, Elizabeth Redzbetz (ITA), for the win.


The finals for the Crankworx Les Gets Dual Speed & Style are due to run Thursday, June 16, however, weather conditions are expected to postpone the event until Friday, June 17. Please stay posted for news.

Results Men:

1. Bernardo CRUZ (BRA)
2. Ryan ‘R-Dogg’ HOWARD (USA)
3. Louis REBOUL (FRA)

Results Women:

1. Casey BROWN (CAN)
2. Jill KINTNER (USA)
3. Elizabeth REDZBETZ (ITA)

Crankworx will be webcast live on Crankworx.com and Pinkbike.com, and Slopestyle will be broadcast exclusively on Red Bull TV and Crankworx.com. The schedule is:

Crankworx Les Gets Dual Speed & Style and Women’s Dual Slalom 5:30 p.m. CEST on Thursday, June 16 in Les Gets, 8:30 a.m. PST on Thursday, June 16 in Whistler and 3:30 a.m. on Friday, June 17 in Rotorua, New Zealand

Les Gets Pump Track Challenge presented by Rockshox 8:00 p.m. CEST on Friday, June 17 in Les Gets, 11:00 a.m. PST on Friday, June 17 in Whistler and 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 18 in Rotorua, New Zealand

Crankworx Les Gets Slopestyle 4:30 p.m. CEST on Saturday, June 18 in Les Gets, 7:30 a.m. PST on Saturday, June 18 in Whistler and 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 19 in Rotorua, New Zealand

Crankworx Les Gets Downhill presented by iXS 2:00 p.m. CEST on Sunday, June 19 in Les Gets, 5:00 a.m. PST on Sunday, June 19 in Whistler and 12:00 a.m. on Monday, June 20 in Rotorua, New Zealand

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MENTIONS: @officialcrankworx

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