Whistler Bike Park Phat Wednesday - Race 5

The best way to celebrate Canada Day in Whistler? Bikes, races, good friends and a few beers at the GLC. Phat Wednesday was the perfect cap to a very hot Canada Day in Whistler. Numbers were down this week most likely due to the heat or the celebrations but those that made it to the start line had a great night. The course this week was the Oriental Express - Ninja Cougar, Karate Monkey, Samurai Pizza Cat to Ho Chi Min. Race conditions were made challenging due to the weather, temperatures were above 30, trails were dry and dusty, add to that dense trees, blue skies and patchy light!

Denis Courchesne leaving a dusty trail on Ninja Cougar

The training has finally paid off for Remy Metailler and he finally managed to have a clean run and convincingly take his first victory for the season and for first time ever beat Chris Kovarik. Kovarik had a tough night and just missed out on the podium. Sebastian Jensen took second place 7 seconds back from Metailler with Denis Courchesne rounding out the podium.

Remy Metailler finally cracking the number 1 and beating Chris Kovarik for the first time.

The Open Women’s category was a familiar affair with Claire Buchar taking first place. Buchar was 9 seconds clear of her nearest rival, Leonie Picton and Lula Darquier took third place.

Rays of sunshine through the trees made for tough light on the race track.

In the Veteran Male category, the return of familiar face from previous years come in and clean up. Chad Hendren recovering from knee surgery had a fantastic race to take 1st place with a 12 second lead to Peter Schenk in second and Dave Stratton rounding out the podium.

In true Canadian spirit the hecklers were out on Canada Day.

In the Masters Male Shane Gayton stepped back onto the top step of the podium after a couple of weeks in second. Adam Dagg and Steve Storey were second and third consecutively.


Unfortunately no junior females made it out for round 5 but in the groms (13 and under) it was Lucas Cruz taking the win with an impressive time of 3:51.41 which would have placed him 18th in open male and 1st in Junior Male. In Junior Male Jessie McAuley took 1st place with Ben Wallace second and Ian Milley third.

Check out the video to see how Remy won by over 7 seconds.


Gavin Stanton from the Grom category ripping up Ninja Cougar.

Whistler Bike Park Phat Wednesday - Race 5 Rsults

For more information on the Phat Wednesday series please visit Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

Photo Credit: Laurence Crossman-Emms

---

MENTIONS: @WhistlerMountainBikePark, @remymetailler, @Laurence-CE

---