Deep Summer Wildcard for Crankworx Whistler - Winner

Jul 18, 2016 at 14:53
by Official Crankworx  
Images for Deep Summer Wildcard for Crankworx Whistler - Winner blog.

The votes are in and the winner is ready to roll—or shoot as the case may be.

Whistler's Chris Pilling is the 2016 Wildcard photographer for Crankworx Whistler's Samsung Deep Summer Photo Challenge. Pitted against five other outstanding photographers, Pilling's video slideshow of three days shooting in the Whistler area will be up against some big talent and he couldn't be more excited.

"It’s been on my mind for the past four years. Every time it comes up, I’ve been scheming and planning and I’m just really excited to finally put it out in the open and show everybody in this community, and the industry, what I am capable of," said Pilling, who works as an electrician's apprentice by day.

Images for Deep Summer Wildcard for Crankworx Whistler - Winner blog.

Pilling has been shooting at a semi-professional level for five years and describes one of the three photos he submitted for Pinkbike viewers to gauge his work as his most amazing photo to date. Shot from The Malamute, in Squamish, B.C., it shows rider Dylan Forbes rolling out over a 15-foot shelf, a 200-foot drop to the forestry yard below leaving no room for error.

"He had to do the transition and make a hard left-hand turn immediately after," said Pilling, who positioned himself in front of the drop, so he could push Forbes from his bike should he come too close to the edge.

Shown from two angles below, it's the kind of evocative style Pilling is hoping will earn him a top spot in the competition come Wednesday, August 17. The Samsung Deep Summer Photo Challenge is based in Whistler Olympic Plaza and begins at 8:30 p.m., dusk. From August 13 to 16 the six photographers featured will work with a team of hand-selected riders to build their perfect showcase of the region's gnarly trails and the talented riders whose creativity never ceases to find lines.



Tickets can be purchased for $8 online at Crankworx.com, as can tickets for the video competition, Dirt Diaries, which will take place the evening prior. Dirt Diaries showcases videos of six mountain bike athletes, whereas Deep Summer highlights the talents of the many still photographers, which keep mountain biking on the cover of magazines the world over.

The five other photographers featured for the Samsung Deep Summer Photo Challenge this year are Simeon Patience, Ben Haggar, Tommy Wilkinson, Baxter Redfern and Ashley Barker. Each will be competing to secure either the judge's first pick or the favour of online voters. For 24 hours following the show, fans will be able to log onto Crankworx.com and vote for their favourite show; the shows will all be embedded on the website and featured on the Crankworx YouTube account.

The athletes featured for Dirt Diaries include the rider Pilling used for his Malamute shot, Dylan Forbes, NSMB.com photographer and filmmaker Ollie Jones, Josh Lewis, Enduro World Series videographer Richard Cunynghame, Mike Gamble and Kiwi enduro pro, Eddie Masters.

The photos Pilling submitted to win the wildcard are:

Images for Deep Summer Wildcard for Crankworx Whistler - Winner blog.

Dylan Forbes rolling a climbing route in squamish. 15ft after the transition is a 200ft drop into the logging yard below. No fall zone is an understatement here.

Dylan Forbes rolling a climbing route in Squamish. 15ft after the transition is a 200ft drop into the logging yard below. No fall zone is an understatement here.


Dylan Forbes rolling a climbing route in squamish. 15ft after the transition is a 200ft drop into the logging yard below. No fall zone is an understatement here.

Another angle on Pilling's favourite shot.


Images for Deep Summer Wildcard for Crankworx Whistler - Winner blog.


MENTIONS: @officialcrankworx / @WhistlerMountainBikePark / @chrispilling


Images for Deep Summer Wildcard for Crankworx Whistler - Winner blog.


Author Info:
officialcrankworx avatar

Member since Jul 14, 2011
363 articles

22 Comments
  • 20 0
 congrats dude
  • 2 0
 Thanks!
  • 3 0
 $8 a ticket? Was it not free last year? Or do you only need a ticket if you want access to a seat and the bar?

Either way, sweet shots, good to see Chris getting a chance this year.
  • 2 0
 Must be for the front of stage seating area. Sitting on the grass with beers ftw
  • 4 0
 This is great! i accidentally gave him a low score and couldn't figure out how to change it. What I love about his photos is that they gave a sense of landscape and scale.
  • 3 0
 it was that last shot that won it
  • 2 0
 aye thats who i voted for!!
  • 2 0
 Congrats Chris! It's awesome and you deserve it! Good luck Smile
  • 1 0
 Thanks M!
  • 1 0
 Your show was amazing! Hope you win the Pink Bike poll! Congrats to you and your team!
  • 2 0
 Crazy stuff
  • 2 0
 Yew bud! Stoked on this!
  • 1 0
 Sweet Action, much deserved and good luck Chris!
  • 1 0
 Thanks Reg!
  • 1 0
 Nicely done sir!! Congrats!! Sweet shots right there!!
  • 1 0
 Nice one Chris!
  • 1 0
 Thanks Robb!
  • 1 0
 Gladiator styles
  • 1 0
 Way to go dude!
  • 2 0
 Thanks!
  • 1 0
 MY DUDE!!!! slayyyyyyyyy







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