Flat Out, Not Pedaling at Whistler's First Phat Wednesday

The Phat Wednesday race series presented by Kokanee kicked off last night for the 2014 season. Easily one of the best race series in the world. It’s like mates racing on a very grand scale with amazing prizes and beer all for just ‘5 bucks’ a week. Now this might be beer league, but its competitive beer league with a stacked line up of racers hitting the trails each week from world cup pros to first time racers.

Cornering skills were crucial if you had any chance of keeping momentum without a chain

We stuck with tradition for the first race of the season and raced on B-Line down Heart of Darkness and into the Skier’s Plaza. 226 bikers came out get their fix of racing action and 44 racers took things one step further and went chainless. In a tradition started way back by Adam Billinghurst, riders have the options of taking off their chains in a winner takes all side bet.

The ominous storm clouds threatened a wet and rainy race but thankfully held off

Topping the podium, once again, was fastest man of the evening, James McSkimming (Open Male) with a time of 5:29.16. Leading the Females was Claire Buchar, also no stranger to the top and the only Female to crack 6 minutes. Finn Iles lead the Junior Males and Greg West came out ahead in the Master Males. Bailey Goldstone was also on top with the fastest Junior Female time of the day.

When it came to chains off, Claire Buchar proved she couldn’t be beat, with or without a chain and Jack Iles had the most flow with the quickest Chainless time of the day at 5:36.23.


Despite the construction of the GLC deck, we were able to squeeze into the bar for après and awards and a nice cold Kokanee, or 2 or 3. And some lucky riders even walked away with draw prizes thanks to our bike park sponsors, SRAM, Avid, Garbanzo Bike and Bean, Pinkbike, Kokanee, Turvativ and Go Pro and others.

Phat Wednesdays continue next week with a new trail, announced Tuesday afternoon, on the big sign at the bottom of the park or on our Facebook group Phat Wednesdays. The first PhaSt Friday Enduro is this Friday, May 30. A short, 3 stage Spring Enduro in a closed bike park. Registration is open online whistler blackcomb.com or at Guest Services.

Remy Metailler adapting the speed tuck on his way to equal 2nd in the chainless category


Hitting the brakes was not an option for those that chose to race chainless. It was all about working the rollers.

For those that opted to keep the chain on it was a leg burner

Open Men
1. James McSkimming
2. Jack Isles
3. Sean Faulds

Open Women
1. Claire Buchar
2. Sarah Leishman
3. Lula Darquier

Master Men
1. Greg West
2. Andrew Gunn
3. Mathieu Hebert

Junior Men
1. Finn Isles
2. Bracken Camilleri
3. Brad Jansen

Junior Women
1. Bailey Goldstone
2. Stephanie Denroche

Chainless Men
1. Jack Isles
2. Zander Geddes & Remy Metalier

Chainless Women
1. Claire Buchar
2. Sarah Leishman
3. Simmone Lyons

For full race results visit whistlerblackcomb.com/bike

Photo Credit: New Guy Photography