Whistler Bike Park - Phat Wednesday - Race 1

The first Phat Wednesday of the season. It’s the true marker for Whistler locals that summer has kicked off. It’s the post work race that isn’t a race. Welcome to Beer League where you spend $5 to race a stacked field of locals down some of your favourite trails. At the end of the night, you all celebrate over a few refreshing pints of Kokanee and have the chance to win a ton of prizes just for turning up.

Foot out, flat out. Chris Kovarik on his way to fastest man of the day

Race one for the season followed Phat Wednesday tradition with the B-Line challenge. B-Line may be the little brother to the well-known A Line but it is a Whistler Mountain Bike Park classic that shouldn’t be forgotten. B-line is certainly not your traditional technical DH race but it does confirm who is the true king and queen of cornering. To take the cornering test to the next level an optional chainless category has been formed by the riders. Throw an extra $5 in the pot to compete for the chainless title and winner takes all cash prize.

Seth Sherlock one of the Groms getting some airtime on B-Line

The junior field had a strong representation with over 20 races taking to the course. Stephanie Denroche took the win for the Junior Female with a time of 3:42.33 which would have placed her top 10 in the Open Women. It was a similar story for Bracken Camilleri in the Junior male. Camilleri put in an impressive run showing the talent to come from this junior, his winning time of 3:17.73 would have seen him take second place in Open Men. In our final Junior category, the 13 and under Groms Lucas Cruz took the top spot with an 11 second lead over second place Jackson Goldstone.

Kari Mancer looking fast on lower B Line

In the female open category it was a battle between chainless and chains. Leonie Picton took the overall women lead with a time of 3:29.34 just a mere 1 second ahead of Claire Buchar. Buchar continued the tradition and chose to race chainless and took the title for Female open chainless. Lula Darquier rounded out the female open podium.

Leonie Picton on her way to victory

The male field were treated to an extra category this year with the Veterans Male added for those 40+. In a field of 11 Brett Gossman took the win for Veterans. The Master Male (30-39) field was strongly contest with a bunch of names that could easily have been in open men and many of whom have stood on the open men podium in previous years. In the end Shane Gayton took the old man title with a time of 3:20.04 from Chris Young in second. Adam Billinghurst rounded out the podium in third and continued his chainless supremacy winning the Master Male Chainless title.

Cornering, where this race was won or lost.

The Open Men category came down to a battle of the chainless, proving that you don’t need to pedal on B-Line. Only two racers in the top 15 actually had a chain on and the entire podium were all chainless. The fast man of the night went to Chris Kovarik with a time of 3:16.62. Three seconds back was Ian Morrison with a 3:19.63 and Remy Metailler finished up in third place.

The B Line Chainless Champions for 2015, Adam Billinghurst (masters male), Chris Kovarik (open male) and Clair Buchar (open female)

Let the après begin. Thanks to GLC for hosting another awards night and keeping the racers hydrated

Benjamin Oakley was one of the many racers who decided to take on a Hawaiian theme for the night

Siobhan Allen from the events team. Next time you race make sure you thank the amazing event staff and volunteers, without them we'd be all stuck geeking out on Strava.

A field of 265 racers turned up for race one of the Phat Wednesday Series for 2015

Phat Wed Results - May 27

Phat Wed Chainless Results-may 27

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

Photo Credit: Laurence Crossman-Emms